The fastest way to change your Windows 10 login name

You can change the name that appears on your Windows 10 login screen and desktop in about five minutes through Settings. The process differs slightly depending on whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account, but both routes are straightforward and do not require a restart.

The name you see on the login screen is separate from your username — the technical identifier Windows uses behind the scenes. Changing the display name does not affect your files, passwords, or any programs you have installed. If you need to change the actual username (the folder name in C:\Users\), that process is more involved and covered in the sections below.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft account users can change their display name directly in Windows Settings under Accounts > Your info by clicking the name and typing a new one.
  • Local account users must open Settings > Accounts > Other people, right-click their account, select Rename, and type the new name.
  • Changing the display name does not affect your password, files, or installed programs.
  • If you need to change the actual username folder (C:\Users\YourName), you must create a new account and transfer files manually, or use the command line as an administrator.
  • You must be signed in as an administrator to make any account changes.

Changing the display name on a Microsoft account

If you sign into Windows with an email address and password (a Microsoft account), the quickest route is through Settings. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then select Accounts on the left sidebar.

Click Your info at the top of the Accounts menu. You will see your current display name and profile picture. Click the name itself to edit it, type the new name you want, then press Enter or click outside the text box to save. The change takes effect when ready on your login screen and desktop.

If you have multiple devices signed into the same Microsoft account, the new name will appear on all of them within a few hours. This happens automatically because Microsoft stores your account information in the cloud.

Changing the display name on a local account

A local account is one that exists only on your computer — it does not sync with Microsoft's servers. To change the display name, open Settings and go to Accounts, then select Other people (or Family & other people depending on your Windows version).

Find your account in the list, right-click it, and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter. The change appears on your login screen the next time you sign out and back in, though it usually takes effect when ready on your desktop.

Local account changes do not sync anywhere — they only affect the computer you are using. If you use the same local account on multiple computers, you will need to change the name on each one separately.

Changing the actual username folder (the harder route)

The display name and the username are two different things. The username is the folder name inside C:\Users\ — for example, C:\Users\Sarah or C:\Users\JohnDoe. Changing the display name does not change this folder, and Windows does not provide a straightforward Settings option to rename it.

If you need to change the actual username folder, you have two options. The first is to create a new account with the name you want, then move your files from the old folder to the new one. This is the safest method for most people because it does not require administrator command-line access.

To do this, open Settings, go to Accounts > Other people, and click Add someone else to this PC. Create a new local account with the username you want. Once it is created, sign into the new account, then go to the old account's folder (C:\Users\OldName) and copy your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and Pictures folders into the new account's matching folders. You can then delete the old account once you have confirmed all your files are in the new one.

The second option is to use the command line as an administrator. Press Windows key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Type the command wmic useraccount where name="OldUsername" rename NewUsername (replacing OldUsername and NewUsername with your actual names), then press Enter. This renames the folder directly, but if something goes wrong during the process, you may lose access to your files. Only use this method if you are comfortable with command-line tools.

What happens to your files and programs when you change your name

Changing the display name leaves all your files, programs, and settings exactly where they are. Your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and Pictures folders remain accessible, and every program you have installed continues to work.

If you change the actual username folder using the command-line method, some programs may lose track of where your files are stored, because they remember the old path. This is why moving files manually to a new account is safer — you control what goes where, and you can test that everything works before deleting the old account.

Troubleshooting: you cannot change your name because you are not an administrator

If Settings shows your account but the Rename option is grayed out or missing, you do not have administrator rights on this computer. Ask whoever set up the computer to give you administrator status, or sign in as an administrator account and make the change from there.

If you are the only person on the computer and cannot remember the administrator password, you can reset it using another device by visiting the Microsoft account recovery page. Once you regain access, you can change your account type to administrator in Settings > Accounts > Other people, then select your account and click Change account type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my login name affect my password?

No. Your password remains the same regardless of what name appears on the login screen. You will continue to sign in with the same password you used before.

Can I change my username back if I change my mind?

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. If you used the command-line method to rename the folder, you can use the same command again with the old name to revert it.

What is the difference between a Microsoft account and a local account?

A Microsoft account uses your email address and syncs your settings across devices. A local account exists only on one computer. You can see which type you have in Settings > Accounts > Your info — if it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account.

If I change the username folder, will my programs still work?

Most programs will work fine. Some older programs that remember the exact path to your user folder may need to be reinstalled or reconfigured, which is why the manual file-moving method is safer than the command-line rename.

Can I have two different names on two different computers?

Yes, if you use a local account on each computer. If you use a Microsoft account, the display name syncs across all devices, so they will all show the same name. You can change the name on one device and it will update everywhere.