The two ways to rename your administrator account

Windows 10 stores your administrator account name in two places: the login screen (what you type to sign in) and the user folder name on your hard drive. You can change the name that appears on the login screen through Settings without touching the folder. If you want to change the folder name too, you need the Local Users and Groups tool, which is faster than renaming through Settings alone.

The Settings method works on all Windows 10 machines. The Local Users and Groups method works on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions—not on Home edition. If you have Home edition and need to change the folder name, you will need to create a new administrator account and transfer your files, which takes longer.

Both methods require you to be signed in as an administrator. If you are not sure whether your account has administrator rights, you can check in Settings under Accounts > Your info—it will say "Administrator" under your name if you have them.

Key Takeaways

  • The login screen name and the user folder name are separate; changing one does not automatically change the other.
  • Windows 10 Home edition can only change the login screen name through Settings, not the folder name.
  • Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education can change both through Local Users and Groups, which is the faster route.
  • You must be signed in as an administrator to make either change.
  • Changing the login screen name takes about two minutes; changing the folder name takes longer and may require restarting.

Changing the login screen name in Settings

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then press Enter. Go to Accounts on the left side, then select Your info at the top.

Under your account name, you will see a blue link that says "Rename your account." Click it. A dialog box will appear with your current name highlighted. Type the new name you want—it can be up to 20 characters—and click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Finish.

The new name appears on the login screen the next time you sign out and back in. Your user folder name on the hard drive does not change. If you only need the login screen name to be different, you are done.

Changing both the login name and folder name in Local Users and Groups

This method works only on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. If you have Home edition, skip to the section below.

Press the Windows key and type "lusrmgr.msc," then press Enter. Local Users and Groups will open. Click the Users folder on the left. Your administrator account will appear in the list on the right. Right-click it and select Rename.

Type the new name and press Enter. Windows will ask you to restart your computer. Click Yes. When you sign back in, both the login screen name and the user folder name (visible in File Explorer under C:\Users) will show the new name.

If Local Users and Groups does not open, you have Windows 10 Home edition. Use the Settings method above instead.

What happens to your files and programs when you rename

Renaming your account does not move or delete any of your files. Everything in your user folder stays where it is. Programs you have installed will still work because Windows keeps track of the account by a hidden number (called a security identifier), not by the name you see on screen.

Shortcuts on your desktop and in the Start menu may briefly show the old path, but they update automatically the next time you restart. If a shortcut stops working, right-click it, select Properties, and check that the path shows your new user folder name.

If you cannot rename because you forgot the password

You cannot rename an account while signed out of it. If you have forgotten the password to your administrator account, you will need to reset it first. You can do this through the login screen by clicking "I forgot my password" and answering your security questions, or by using a password reset disk if you created one before you forgot the password.

If you do not have a password reset disk and cannot answer your security questions, you will need to create a new administrator account from the login screen, then use that account to reset the original one. This process varies depending on whether your account is linked to a Microsoft account or a local account.

Renaming a built-in administrator account

Windows 10 comes with a hidden built-in administrator account separate from your everyday account. Most people never need to rename it. If you do need to, the process is the same: open Local Users and Groups, find the account named "Administrator," right-click it, and select Rename.

The built-in administrator account is disabled by default. If you enable it, be aware that it has no password protection unless you set one. For security, most experts recommend using your regular administrator account for daily work instead of enabling the built-in one.

Troubleshooting: the name did not change or changed only partially

If you renamed through Settings but the folder name did not change, that is normal—Settings only changes the login screen name. Use Local Users and Groups to change the folder name too (if you have Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition).

If you renamed through Local Users and Groups but the change did not take effect, restart your computer and sign in again. If the old name still appears, check that you are signed in to the correct account—you may have multiple administrator accounts.

If you see an error message saying the name is already in use, another account on the computer already has that name. Choose a different name and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my administrator name without restarting?

If you use Settings to change only the login screen name, you do not need to restart—the change takes effect when you sign out and back in. If you use Local Users and Groups to change the folder name, Windows will prompt you to restart, and you must do so for the change to take effect.

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

No. If your Windows account is linked to a Microsoft account, the Microsoft account email stays the same. The name change only affects what appears on your Windows login screen and in your user folder. You can verify this in Settings under Accounts > Your info, where it will show both your local account name and your Microsoft account email.

What if I share my computer with other people?

Each person on the computer has their own account and folder. Renaming your administrator account does not affect other accounts. Other users will still see their own names on the login screen and in their own user folders.

Can I change the administrator name back to what it was before?

Yes. Use the same method you used to change it—either Settings or Local Users and Groups—and type the old name. There is no limit to how many times you can rename an account.

Do I need to change my password when I rename my account?

No. Your password stays the same. You will still sign in with the same password you used before, even though the account name is different.