The fastest way to rename your admin account

To change the administrator name on Windows 10, open Settings, go to Accounts, select Your info, and click the account name at the top of the page. Type the new name you want and press Enter. Windows will ask you to sign out and back in for the change to take effect. The whole process takes about two minutes.

This method works if you are signed in as the administrator. If you need to rename a different admin account or cannot access Settings, you will need to use the Local Users and Groups tool or Command Prompt instead — both are built into Windows 10 and do not require any downloads.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app is the simplest way to rename your own admin account, and the change appears when ready after you sign out and back in.
  • If you need to rename a different administrator account, use Local Users and Groups by pressing Windows key + R, typing lusrmgr.msc, and right-clicking the account name.
  • Command Prompt can rename any admin account if you run it as administrator, using the command: net user oldname newname.
  • Windows 10 also has a built-in Administrator account that is usually hidden; you can rename it the same way as any other admin account.
  • After you change the name, your user folder path does not change, so shortcuts and file locations continue to work without any updates.

Using Settings to rename your own account

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Click Accounts in the left menu, then select Your info at the top. You will see your current account name displayed near the top of the page. Click on it directly.

A text box will appear with your current name highlighted. Delete the old name and type the new one. Press Enter when you are done. Windows will tell you that you need to sign out for the change to take effect. Click Sign out now, or wait until your next login — either way, the new name will be active as soon as you sign back in.

This method only works for your own account. If someone else is logged in as administrator and you need to rename their account, you will need to use Local Users and Groups or Command Prompt instead.

Renaming a different admin account with Local Users and Groups

Local Users and Groups is a Windows tool that lets you manage all accounts on your computer. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type lusrmgr.msc and press Enter. Windows will open the Local Users and Groups window.

Click the Users folder on the left side. You will see a list of all accounts on your computer. Find the administrator account you want to rename, right-click it, and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready, though the person using that account will see the new name only after they sign out and back in.

If Local Users and Groups does not open, your version of Windows 10 may not include it — this tool is not available in Windows 10 Home edition. Use Command Prompt instead.

Using Command Prompt to rename an admin account

Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as administrator. Windows will ask for permission; click Yes. You are now running Command Prompt with the highest level of access.

Type this command exactly as shown, replacing oldname with the current account name and newname with what you want it to be:

net user oldname newname

Press Enter. If the command works, you will see a message saying "The command completed successfully." If you see an error, check that you spelled both names correctly and that the account you named actually exists on your computer. The new name takes effect when ready.

Command Prompt works on all editions of Windows 10, including Home. It is also the only method that works if you cannot sign in to the account you want to rename — you can rename it from another admin account using this command.

Finding and renaming the hidden Administrator account

Windows 10 includes a built-in Administrator account that is usually turned off and hidden from the login screen. You can rename it using the same methods as any other account, but you first need to turn it on.

Open Command Prompt as administrator (Windows key + R, type cmd, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter, click Yes). Type this command:

net user administrator /active:yes

Press Enter. The hidden Administrator account is now active. You can rename it using Local Users and Groups or by typing:

net user administrator newname

If you want to hide it again later, type net user administrator /active:no in Command Prompt as administrator. Most people do not need this account and should leave it turned off for security reasons.

What happens to your files and folders after you change the name

When you rename your administrator account, Windows does not rename your user folder. If your old name was "Sarah" and your new name is "Sarah Okafor," your user folder stays at C:\Users\Sarah. This means all your files, shortcuts, and program settings continue to work without any changes on your part.

The only place you will see the new name is on the login screen, in Settings, and in the Start menu. Behind the scenes, Windows still refers to your account by its original folder name. This design prevents broken links and lost file associations.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the Settings method does not work, make sure you are signed in as the administrator. Standard user accounts cannot change their own names through Settings. If you are a standard user and need to rename your account, ask the administrator to do it for you using Local Users and Groups or Command Prompt.

If Command Prompt says "The system cannot find the file specified," you may have misspelled the account name. Type net user with no other words to see a list of all accounts on your computer. Find the exact spelling of the account you want to rename and try again.

If you see "Access denied," you are not running Command Prompt as administrator. Close it, press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of just Enter. Click Yes when Windows asks for permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my admin name if I forgot my password?

No — you need to sign in as an administrator to change any account name, including your own. If you forgot your password, you will need to reset it first using another admin account or a password reset disk. Once you can sign in again, you can rename your account using any of the methods above.

Will changing my admin name affect my email or Microsoft account?

No. Your Windows account name and your Microsoft account are separate. Changing your Windows admin name does not change your email address, password, or anything in your Microsoft account. If you want to change your Microsoft account name, you do that through the Microsoft website, not through Windows.

What if I rename an admin account and now cannot sign in?

Sign in with a different administrator account. Once you are logged in, use Local Users and Groups or Command Prompt to rename the account back to its original name, or to a name you remember. If you only have one admin account and cannot sign in, you may need to use Windows recovery options or contact Microsoft support.

Can I have two admin accounts with the same name?

No. Windows requires each account name on the same computer to be unique. If you try to rename an account to a name that already exists, you will get an error message. Choose a different name or delete the existing account first.

Does renaming an admin account affect programs I have installed?

No. Programs do not depend on your account name — they depend on your user folder, which does not change when you rename your account. All your installed programs, settings, and files remain exactly where they are.