Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10  

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  1. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #300

    gil said:

    I never had issues with renaming user profile folders until now with this new PC.
    I wonder if it's the fact I'm not using a local user.
    It should normally work for both a local account or Microsoft account.

    Usually issues happen when a mistake is made in the steps, or something is not allowing the new name and path.
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  2. gil
    Posts : 193
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 10586 Multiprocessor Free
       #301

    Brink said:
    It should normally work for both a local account or Microsoft account.

    Usually issues happen when a mistake is made in the steps, or something is not allowing the new name and path.

    I used netplwizto rename the user as well. Could that break the process?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #302

    gil said:
    I used netplwizto rename the user as well. Could that break the process?
    It could play a part in it. I would only change the name of the user profile folder before messing with netplwiz.

    As a test, undo what you did in netplwiz, and you could try this tutorial again to rename the profile folder. If it goes wrong again, change it back to original.
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  4. Posts : 240
    Windows 10 Professional (x64) Version 2004 (build 21292.1010)
       #303

    gil said:

    I never had issues with renaming user profile folders until now with this new PC.
    I wonder if it's the fact I'm not using a local user.
    At this point, your guess is as good as any. I have two desktops. One, I was able to do what I thought was make that change, but the 5 letter user ID is still there. The other one, I just changed the folder name, and that was it. Until the system updated! Then it was all downhill again. I just let it go....
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  5. gil
    Posts : 193
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 10586 Multiprocessor Free
       #304

    djbillyd said:
    At this point, your guess is as good as any. I have two desktops. One, I was able to do what I thought was make that change, but the 5 letter user ID is still there. The other one, I just changed the folder name, and that was it. Until the system updated! Then it was all downhill again. I just let it go....

    I can't be like Elsa...
    I must solve this.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 240
    Windows 10 Professional (x64) Version 2004 (build 21292.1010)
       #305

    gil said:
    I can't be like Elsa...
    I must solve this.
    Please share the fix with us.
      My Computer


  7. gil
    Posts : 193
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 10586 Multiprocessor Free
       #306

    BOOM!

    Got it, with some issues which I hope the experts here can help.

    Here's what I've done based on the tutorial in this thread.

    1. Once you're finished with step 13, don't restart. Instead log out of the Administrator user and log in to your regular user.
    2. You might start to get error popping up, ignore them for now. In my case OneDrive gave issues so I had to unlink it.
    3. Open Regedit
    4. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    5. On the right side, rename the path to match the new user folder name to correct folder. e.g. in my case it is "C:\Users\Gil\Desktop" instead of C:\Users\gille\Desktop
    6. Then go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
    7. Repeat the same steps as step 5
    8. Open CTRL+R and type "netplwiz"
    9. Double click on your user and rename the username field to match your new user folder path, in my case Gil
    10. Reboot
    11. Log in to your user and run CMD as admin
    12. Issue "sfc /scannow" - most likely there will be issues. Run again until no more issues appear.
    13. I also ran some DSIM commands /scanhealth /checkhealth /restorehealth just to be on the safe side
    14. Download CCleaner and run registery cleaner several times
    15. Reboot


    The only thing I cannot solve is OneDrive. After uninstalling and reinstalling and even redoing my desktop folders/shortcuts, it complain about permission issues.

    Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10-image.png

    Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10-image.png

    Can someone help me figure out what to do with these permission errors?
    I obvisouly have permissions but windows might not think so.

    P.S. - I also used this tool to try and resolve and risidual issues: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/automatically-diagnose-and-repair-windows-file-and-folder-problems-8ca2261a-eb4b-bda1-232c-d88b972438cd



    Update: I was able to fix the OneDrive issues by redoing deleting the files it tried to sync and re-sync them again.
    All good now.
    Going to image the drive
    Last edited by gil; 06 May 2021 at 02:24.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 240
    Windows 10 Professional (x64) Version 2004 (build 21292.1010)
       #307

    gil said:
    BOOM!

    Got it, with some issues which I hope the experts here can help.

    Here's what I've done based on the tutorial in this thread.

    1. Once you're finished with step 13, don't restart. Instead log out of the Administrator user and log in to your regular user.
    2. You might start to get error popping up, ignore them for now. In my case OneDrive gave issues so I had to unlink it.
    3. Open Regedit
    4. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    5. On the right side, rename the path to match the new user folder name to correct folder. e.g. in my case it is "C:\Users\Gil\Desktop" instead of C:\Users\gille\Desktop
    6. Then go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
    7. Repeat the same steps as step 5
    8. Open CTRL+R and type "netplwiz"
    9. Double click on your user and rename the username field to match your new user folder path, in my case Gil
    10. Reboot
    11. Log in to your user and run CMD as admin
    12. Issue "sfc /scannow" - most likely there will be issues. Run again until no more issues appear.
    13. I also ran some DSIM commands /scanhealth /checkhealth /restorehealth just to be on the safe side
    14. Download CCleaner and run registery cleaner several times
    15. Reboot


    The only thing I cannot solve is OneDrive. After uninstalling and reinstalling and even redoing my desktop folders/shortcuts, it complain about permission issues.

    Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10-image.png

    Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10-image.png

    Can someone help me figure out what to do with these permission errors?
    I obvisouly have permissions but windows might not think so.

    P.S. - I also used this tool to try and resolve and risidual issues: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/automatically-diagnose-and-repair-windows-file-and-folder-problems-8ca2261a-eb4b-bda1-232c-d88b972438cd



    Update: I was able to fix the OneDrive issues by redoing deleting the files it tried to sync and re-sync them again.
    All good now.
    Going to image the drive
    Good deal!!! Thanks.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Pro
       #308

    First, I'd like to express my appreciation for both, Seven Forums and Ten Forums. I've used some of the tutorials over the years, and it's been a "go-to" website when issues have come up.

    After all these years, this is my first post, being born out of an issue that I have been unable to solve, following my attempt at this (Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10) tutorial, and steps taken after partial success.

    After completing the tutorial, many things worked as expected, however, some did not. Task Scheduler for example. After perusing the registry, I found many references to the old User name still lingering in the registry, but left it alone for the time being. Meanwhile, as a further possible complication, Windows 10 updated to version 20H2. Following that update, I decided to proceed with editing the registry. I created a restore point as a precaution, and I do have a fairly recent backup. I used RegEdit to change instances of the old name to the new one, where possible, fingers crossed. After rebooting, no joy. I received the "c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop is unavailable" error. To get my desktop back up and running, I pointed it at my desktop in c:\users\myname\. After checking the system software, and my applications, it's apparent that for the most part, the system is now looking to "systemprofile", instead of "users\myname" for settings / configurations. Now, at this point, there's not much sense in restoring the registry from the restore point, since it would still leave me with broken functions, and while I could do a restore from backup, I would REALLY like to work the problem to a successful completion. My first thought is that by simply copying everything, including AppData from "users\myname" to "systemprofile", I might regain full functionality. However, optimally, I'd like to find out how to simply have Windows point to the users folder instead of systemprofile, if that is possible at this point. Your guidance in this attempt would be very much appreciated.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #309

    Maui Dude said:
    First, I'd like to express my appreciation for both, Seven Forums and Ten Forums. I've used some of the tutorials over the years, and it's been a "go-to" website when issues have come up.

    After all these years, this is my first post, being born out of an issue that I have been unable to solve, following my attempt at this (Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10) tutorial, and steps taken after partial success.

    After completing the tutorial, many things worked as expected, however, some did not. Task Scheduler for example. After perusing the registry, I found many references to the old User name still lingering in the registry, but left it alone for the time being. Meanwhile, as a further possible complication, Windows 10 updated to version 20H2. Following that update, I decided to proceed with editing the registry. I created a restore point as a precaution, and I do have a fairly recent backup. I used RegEdit to change instances of the old name to the new one, where possible, fingers crossed. After rebooting, no joy. I received the "c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop is unavailable" error. To get my desktop back up and running, I pointed it at my desktop in c:\users\myname\. After checking the system software, and my applications, it's apparent that for the most part, the system is now looking to "systemprofile", instead of "users\myname" for settings / configurations. Now, at this point, there's not much sense in restoring the registry from the restore point, since it would still leave me with broken functions, and while I could do a restore from backup, I would REALLY like to work the problem to a successful completion. My first thought is that by simply copying everything, including AppData from "users\myname" to "systemprofile", I might regain full functionality. However, optimally, I'd like to find out how to simply have Windows point to the users folder instead of systemprofile, if that is possible at this point. Your guidance in this attempt would be very much appreciated.
    Hello Maui, :

    I'm afraid at this point after making those manual changes in the registry, it may be best to create and use a new account instead.

    1) Create a new local account with the name you want that will also be used for the profile folder.

    2) Make the new local account an administrator.

    3) Sign out of this account, and sign in to the new local account.

    4) Copy over any files you want from the old account to this new local account.

    5) Delete the old account.

    6) If wanted, you can switch this new local account to be a Microsoft account without changing the profile folder name you wanted.
      My Computers


 

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