Change Your Administrator Name Through System Settings
To change the name of an administrator account on your Mac, open System Settings, navigate to General, then select Users & Groups (or just Users on newer macOS versions). Click the lock icon to unlock the panel, enter your administrator password, then right-click the account you want to rename and select "Advanced Options." Change the Full Name field to your new name, then click OK. The change takes effect when ready.
The process differs slightly depending on your macOS version. On macOS Ventura and later, Users & Groups moved to a different location in System Settings. On older versions running Big Sur or earlier, you'll find it under System Preferences instead. Either way, you need administrator privileges to make any changes to account names.
Your short account name (the one that appears in the terminal and file paths) is separate from your full display name. Most people only need to change the full name, which is what appears on the login screen and in Mail. The short name rarely needs changing and requires more steps if you decide to alter it.
Key Takeaways
- Open System Settings, go to General, then Users & Groups, and unlock the panel with your administrator password to change an account name.
- Right-click the account you want to rename, select Advanced Options, and edit the Full Name field to update how the account displays.
- The full display name and the short account name are different—changing the display name is simpler and covers most situations.
- You must have administrator privileges on your Mac to change any account name, including your own.
- The name change takes effect when ready without requiring a restart or logout.
Step-by-Step Instructions for macOS Ventura and Later
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click General. Scroll down and click Users & Groups. You'll see a list of accounts on your Mac. Click the lock icon in the bottom-right corner of the window and enter your administrator password when prompted.
Find the account you want to rename in the list. Right-click it and select "Advanced Options" from the menu. A sheet will open showing detailed account information. In the Full Name field, delete the current name and type the new one. Click OK to save your changes. The new name appears on the login screen and throughout your system within seconds.
If you don't see the lock icon or Advanced Options menu, make sure you're signed in with an administrator account. Standard user accounts cannot change any account names, including their own. If you're trying to rename your own account and it's the only administrator account on the Mac, you won't be able to lock the Users & Groups panel, but you can still proceed with the rename.
Changing the Account Name on Older macOS Versions
On macOS Big Sur, Monterey, and earlier, the process is nearly identical but located in a different place. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences instead of System Settings. Look for Users & Groups in the list (not in a sidebar). Click the lock icon, enter your password, then right-click the account and select Advanced Options.
The Advanced Options sheet looks the same on older versions. Change the Full Name field and click OK. The change applies when ready, just as it does on newer macOS versions. If you're unsure which macOS version you're running, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and look at the top line under System Software.
Understanding Full Name vs. Short Account Name
Your Mac account has two names that serve different purposes. The Full Name is what you see on the login screen, in Mail, and in most places throughout the system. The short account name (also called the username) is what appears in the terminal, in file paths, and in network addresses. For example, your full name might be "Sarah Mitchell" while your short name is "sarahmitchell" or "smitchell."
Most people only need to change the full name, which is the simpler process described above. Changing the short account name is more complicated because it affects file paths, permissions, and system settings throughout your Mac. Unless you have a specific reason to change the short name, leave it alone. If you do need to change it, you'll need to create a new administrator account, transfer your files, and delete the old account—a process that takes significantly longer.
What Happens When You Change an Administrator Name
When you change the full name of an administrator account, the change appears when ready in most places: the login screen, the top-right corner of the menu bar, Mail, Messages, and any other apps that display your account name. Your home folder location does not change—it still uses the short account name in the file path. Files you created before the name change remain accessible without any action on your part.
Other users on your Mac will see the new name in shared folders and when you send them files. If you use iCloud or other cloud services, those accounts remain linked to your Apple ID, not your Mac account name, so the change doesn't affect them. Passwords, login credentials, and permissions all stay the same—only the display name changes.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If the lock icon doesn't appear or you can't unlock the Users & Groups panel, you're probably signed in with a standard user account rather than an administrator account. Only administrator accounts can change any account names. If you need to rename your own account and you're the only administrator, you may need to create a temporary administrator account first, then use it to rename your main account.
If the Advanced Options menu doesn't appear when you right-click an account, make sure the Users & Groups panel is actually unlocked—the lock icon should show an open padlock. If it shows a closed padlock, click it and enter your password again. On some older Macs, the right-click menu might not work; try clicking and holding instead, or use Control+click.
If you change a name and it doesn't appear in certain apps, try logging out and logging back in, or restarting the app. Some applications cache account information and need to refresh. Restarting your Mac will definitely resolve any display issues, though it's rarely necessary.
When You Might Need to Change an Administrator Name
Common reasons to change an administrator account name include correcting a misspelling from when you first set up your Mac, updating a name after marriage or personal preference, or making the account name more professional if you use your Mac for work. You might also rename an account if you inherited a Mac from someone else and want to personalize it.
If you're setting up a Mac for someone else and want to create an account with their name, you can do this during the initial setup process. If the Mac is already set up, you can create a new administrator account with the correct name and transfer files from the old account, then delete the old one. This is more work than straightforward renaming, but it's useful if the original account name was created incorrectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my administrator name without entering a password?
No. You must unlock the Users & Groups panel by entering an administrator password, even if you're changing your own account name. This is a security feature to prevent unauthorized changes. If you've forgotten your administrator password, you'll need to use your Apple ID to reset it or create a new administrator account.
Will changing my administrator name affect my files or passwords?
No. Your files remain in the same location and remain accessible. Your passwords for Mail, Wi-Fi, and other services stay the same. Only the display name changes—nothing that affects how your Mac functions or what you can access.
What's the difference between changing the name and creating a new account?
Changing the name updates only the display name and takes seconds. Creating a new account means setting up an entirely separate user profile with its own files, settings, and passwords. If you just want a different name to appear on the login screen, rename the existing account. Create a new account only if you need a separate workspace with different files and settings.
Can I change an administrator name if I'm logged in as a different user?
Yes. As long as you're logged in with any administrator account, you can change the name of any other account on the Mac. You'll still need to unlock the Users & Groups panel with an administrator password, but it doesn't have to be the password for the account you're renaming.
Do I need to restart my Mac after changing an administrator name?
No. The name change takes effect when ready. You don't need to log out, restart, or do anything else. The new name appears on the login screen and throughout your system right away.