Change User Name of Account in Windows 10  

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    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10

    How to Change User Name of an Account in Windows 10
    Published by Category: User Accounts
    19 Oct 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change User Name of an Account in Windows 10

    The user name of an account is used to identify the account in Windows. For example, on the sign-in screen.

    This tutorial will show you how to change the name of any local account or your Microsoft account in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to change the name of a local account.

    Changing the name of an account will not change the name of its profile folder (ex: "C:\Users\Brink2").

    User names can't contain the following characters: / \ [ ] " : ; | < > + = , ? * % @
    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_control_panel-4b.jpg



    Contents







    OPTION ONE

    To Change Name of your Microsoft Account Online at Microsoft


    This will affect the name of your Microsoft account on any device that you sign in with the same Microsoft account.


    1 Go to the "Your info" page on the Microsoft account website, and sign in to your Microsoft account if not already.

    2 Click/tap on the Edit name link under your current name. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_name-1.jpg

    3 Type a new First name and Last name you want as the display name for your Microsoft account, enter the characters you see to verify, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_name-2.jpg

    4 Your Microsoft account's name will now be changed. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_name-3.jpg

    5 While connected to the Internet, sign out and sign in to your Microsoft account on your Windows 10 PC to apply.






    OPTION TWO

    To Change Name of a Local Account in Control Panel


    1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the User Accounts icon.

    2 Click/tap on the Manage another account link. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_control_panel-1.jpg

    3 Click/tap on a local account (ex: "Brink2") you want to change the name of. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_control_panel-2.jpg

    4 Click/tap on the Change the account name link. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_control_panel-3.jpg

    5 Type a new account name you want, and click/tap on Change Name. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_control_panel-4.jpg

    6 The name of the local account will now be changed. You can now close the Control Panel if you like. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_control_panel-5.jpg






    OPTION THREE

    To Change Name of a Local Account in Local Users and Groups


    The Local Users and Groups is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type lusrmgr.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Local Users and Groups.

    2 Click/tap on Users in the left pane, and double click/tap on the current Name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account you want to change the name of. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_lusrmgr-1.jpg

    3 In the General tab, type the new Full name (ex: "Brink3") you want for the local account, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_lusrmgr-2.png

    4 The name of the local account will now be changed. You can now close Local Users and Groups if you like. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_lusrmgr-3.jpg






    OPTION FOUR

    To Change Name of a Local Account in netplwiz


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type netplwiz into Run, and click/tap on OK to open netplwiz.

    2 Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box, select the local account you want to change the name of, and click/tap on the Properties button. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_netplwiz-1.png

    3 In the General tab, type the new User name (ex: "Brink3") you want for the local account, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_netplwiz-2.png

    4 If you wanted to have Windows automatically sign in to an account at startup, then you will need to set this up again now.

    5 When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_netplwiz-4.png

    6 If you are currently signed in to this local account, click/tap on Yes to sign out and apply your changes.






    OPTION FIVE

    To Change Name of a Local Account in Command Prompt


    1 Open an elevated command prompt.

    2 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. Make note of the current Name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account you want to change the name of. (see screenshot below)

    wmic useraccount get fullname, name

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_command_prompt-1.png

    3 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    wmic useraccount where name="Current Name" rename "New Name"

    Substitute Current Name in the command above with the actual current name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account from step 2 above.

    Substitute New Name in the command above with the actual new name (ex: "Brink3") you want for the local account.

    For example: wmic useraccount where name="Brink2" rename "Brink3"

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_command_prompt-2.png

    4 You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.






    OPTION SIX

    To Change Name of a Local Account in PowerShell


    For more Rename-LocalUser command options and details, see: Rename-LocalUser - Microsoft Developer Network


    1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

    2 Type the Get-LocalUser command into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. Make note of the current Name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account you want to change the name of. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_powershell-1.png

    3 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Rename-LocalUser -Name "Current Name" -NewName "New Name"

    Substitute Current Name in the command above with the actual current name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account from step 2 above.

    Substitute New Name in the command above with the actual new name (ex: "Brink3") you want for the local account.

    For example: Rename-LocalUser -Name "Brink2" -NewName "Brink3"

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-change_account_name_in_powershell-2.png

    4 You can now close the elevated PowerShell if you like.






    OPTION SEVEN

    To Change Name of Built-in Administrator account in Local Security Policy


    This option is only available in the Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions.


    1 Open Local Security Policy (secpol.msc).

    2 Expand open Local Policies in the left pane, and click/tap on Security Options. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-rename_administratror_account-1.jpg

    3 In the right pane of Security Options, double click/tap on Accounts: Rename administrator account. (see screenshot above)

    4 Type a new name you want for the built-in Administrator account, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-rename_administratror_account-2.png

    5 You can now close Local Security Policy if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 7,860
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #1

    I'm the first to comment.

    I've started using my MS account to login to 3 PCs I mainly use to obtain the activation status Windows is activated with a digital licence linked to your MS account.

    However, this results in having the same login name on all PCs. Is there a way of having a different name on each PC? I need something like a proxy name which links to the Microsoft account on that PC. As a work around, I suppose I could create another MS account I don't really need and set the name I want in that account.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Steve,

    I'm not aware of a way to have a separate user name on each PC for the same Microsoft account.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 68
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Version 22H2
       #3

    Best tutorial I have ever seen. Microsoft should be as thorough. Five thumbs up. Kudos.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    silvanet said:
    Best tutorial I have ever seen. Microsoft should be as thorough. Five thumbs up. Kudos.

    Welcome to Ten Forums silvanet.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Home Single Language
       #5

    I wanted to confirm a few things before I try this. I followed instructions on how to change the Users folder name from here:
    Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10

    I now now want to change the user name to match the Users folder name which appears on places like this:

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-screenshot_1.png

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-screenshot_2.png

    Since I am on Windows 10 Home Single Language, I can use Option 4,Option 5 and Options 6.

    Using Option 4, I get the following screens:

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-screenshot_3.png

    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10-screenshot_4.png

    I wanted to confirm if changing the user name is safe and which option I should choose to make the change. I am using a Microsoft account by the way.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello @wwwescape,

    It is recommended to use option 1 to change the name of a Microsoft account.

    After the new name has synced to your computer, you can check the locations in your screenshots to see if they have also synced with the new name.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 11,062
    Windows 10 Pro version 22H2 0n one desktop and running Window 11 Pro 22H2 on unsupported desktop
       #7

    Hello Shawn recently bought my grandson a refurbished machine and the seller when installing 10 has used the word User as the username/ administrator which of these methods / options can I use to change the User to my grandsons name.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 13,301
    Windows 10 Pro (x64) 21H2 19044.1526
       #8

    ICIT2LOL said:
    Hello Shawn recently bought my grandson a refurbished machine and the seller when installing 10 has used the word User as the username/ administrator which of these methods / options can I use to change the User to my grandsons name.
    It might be easier to create a new profile for your grandson. It does no harm to have a spare for testing.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 11,062
    Windows 10 Pro version 22H2 0n one desktop and running Window 11 Pro 22H2 on unsupported desktop
       #9

    Hi Thomas mate I don't know how to do that and I have tried changing the name though computer management and it will not let me change the User to anything else and if I delete it it is telling me that all data will be lost.
      My Computer


 

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