Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?

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  1. Posts : 589
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?


    I know there are many things that are suggested but I wonder if there is a simple way to do this.
    We just got our new Windows 10 Pro laptop yesterday and it was set up with an MS username and junk password. It then created a username in the USER directory and, all programs will want to use it. So, before I install Quicken, I want the data to go into the Proper User directory. I went to accounts and had Windows NOT use the MS sign in but added my wife's name and selected a password. Simple enough...BUT she is NOT in the user directory. Is there any way I can fix this? Someone suggested that I try to create a family member and say that there was no email account but this is starting to sound like a real mess!

    Could I just remove her and then add her back from the control panel? Would that then create her name in the USERS directory? I do not want to keep trying stuff and messing up this new system.
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  2. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    all programs will want to use it
    - in what way? When you install it - the install path? Or in another way?

    Not quite sure I understand your concern.
    Try installing a program you're interested in
    a. for the current user
    b. for all users

    In case (b) try running that program when logged in as two different users and see if that meets your needs.

    Are you concerned about the name of the user folder (under C:\Users), or the name of the user?
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  3. Posts : 589
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    - in what way? When you install it - the install path? Or in another way?

    Not quite sure I understand your concern.
    Try installing a program you're interested in
    a. for the current user
    b. for all users

    In case (b) try running that program when logged in as two different users and see if that meets your needs.

    Are you concerned about the name of the user folder (under C:\Users), or the name of the user?
    I am concerned that the name of the user...my wifes name...is NOT in the USERS folder. Could I just remove her with control panel,and then try to add her again? I do NOT want to keep adding software and have it go into appdata in anything other than her user folder.
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  4. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    MPSAN said:
    ... added my wife's name and selected a password. Simple enough...BUT she is NOT in the user directory. Is there any way I can fix this?
    A profile folder for new users in C:\Users will only be created when the user signs in first time.

    An example:

    I've just created a new local user account JohnDoe, as can be seen in Settings > Accounts > Family & other people. However, as this user has never signed in, the user profile and profile folder have not been created yet, C:\Users only showing default Public profile and my own profile:

    Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?-image.png

    The user account has been created and is shown in users lists like in Start, but its profile folder is not created yet. To create the profile folder for JohnDoe, he needs to sign in once. Click Start > user account picture > JohnDoe to switch user:

    Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?-image.png

    JohnDoe can now sign in:

    Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?-image.png

    This will take a minute or two because it's first now that Windows creates the user profile for him, creates profile folder C:\Users\JohnDoe and prepares default files and folders to be copied to his new profile folder:

    Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?-image.png

    Short: no panic, just sign in once with the new account you made for your wife. The profile will be created.

    Kari
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  5. Posts : 589
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    kari, will I need to remove the signin I created for my wife first? I think what happened was that MS had this messy login and I changed it to local and added my wifes name and password. However, I think all that did was change the name and password and did NOT create a new profile. I will try this...thank you!
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  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    MPSAN said:
    kari, will I need to remove the signin I created for my wife first?
    NO!!! Please wait before proceeding! Let me read your posts once again, I'll post in few minutes.
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  7. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    I apologize my previous abrupt post. I panicked a bit realizing I might have misunderstood your first post.

    Reading your first post, I thought you had created a new user account for your wife, but reading your follow-up posts I think what you mean is that you changed the original user account's name to that of your wife's, making it a local account.

    If this is correct, I am sorry to tell you that Windows never changes the profile folder name when username has been changed. For instance if user Bruce has his profile folder C:\Users\Bruce, and he then changes username to Caitlyn, the profile folder would still be C:\Users\Bruce. Changing folder name manually would only cause issues.

    In your case as you told that laptop was only bought yesterday, I think the best at least easiest solution would be to do a reset. See this tutorial for help: Reset Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

    If you decide to reset Windows and set it up with your wife's name, be sure to select Just remove my files option as told in above mentioned tutorial:

    Is there a Simple way to Change User Account/Name?-image.png

    Reset removes all traces of the original user accounts.

    Kari
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 589
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    ...OK, but can I just remove my wife's sign in and then create a new local user family as you suggested. IF I remove my wifes account, I believe it is only the login and the original default from the initial setup would still be there won't it? In that case I can leave the original alone and try to just add her as a user and will then have it create her name in users, won't it?
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  9. Posts : 589
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    OK, here is what I did do, although I wish I did not have to.
    When I set up Windows 10 pro, it asked for an MS account. I do not have one and do not want one...Anyway, lets say I used abcdefg@gmail.com and when it insisted on a password I gave it a dumb one but did write it down. All was good and I did some minor setup and then added Macrium Reflect v7.1 and did a full image. All was good...I thought.

    Anyway, when I looked in file manager under Users, it had abcde as the user! I guess it set everything up with the first 5 characters of my darn gmail ID!
    OK, no problem...I went to where I could change the username and password and changed it. It did work, however it did not add the user name to the USER directory.

    So, my wifes name is Ellen and that is how I logged in, but still no user other than abcde (in my above example) and I am afraid that if I remove the account, it will kill my access to Windows.

    So, what I did and it WORKED was to just add a user with no MS account. I still have Ellen, but they made me change it as her name was already taken so I added our last name initial to her first name. I also made the account an Admin account. So, when I rebooted and logged in it DID create her USER name. I did not want to do this, but for now it is OK and the stuff in abcde is just fine. I just do not want to do a clean install and start over. HP did not give me media anyway, but there is a recovery partition. I think my best bet is to leave well enough alone!

    Does all of this make more sense now?
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  10. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #10

    A new user folder is only created when you create a new user.

    Here's a tutorial covering changing an account name, for reference/interest
    Change User Name of Account in Windows 10 Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

    The question about changing the name of the user profile folder has been asked many times here. Whilst it's possible it's also technically very involved, requiring registry edits. Simply renaming the folder would be entirely inadequate and lead to problems.
    Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10 Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

    There are more related tutorials (see in links in those above), and you're always welcome to search and browse the tutorial section
    Windows 10 Tutorial Index Windows 10 Tutorials
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