Did you set up your Windows 11 account in a hurry and now regret the username you chose? Or maybe you just want to personalize your computer with a better name? The good news is that you can change your username in Windows 11—whether it’s a Microsoft account or a local account.
In this guide, you’ll learn multiple methods to change your username, why it matters, and what you should consider before making the change.
Why Change Your Username on Windows 11?
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Personalization: Make your account feel more like yours.
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Professionalism: Replace random names with something suitable for work.
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Privacy: Hide your real name if it appears on login screens.
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Correcting mistakes: Fix misspellings or auto-generated usernames.
Things to Know Before Changing Your Username
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Changing the username does not affect your files, apps, or settings.
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If you use a Microsoft account, changing your username also updates it online.
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Some apps may still show the old name temporarily until they sync.
Method 1: Change Username for a Microsoft Account
If you use a Microsoft account to sign in (the one with an email address):
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Go to Microsoft Account Website
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Visit account.microsoft.com and sign in.
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Access Your Info
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Click on Your info in the top menu.
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Edit Name
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Under your profile name, select Edit name.
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Change Your Username
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Enter your desired first and last name.
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Click Save.
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Restart Your PC
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The new name will appear the next time you log in.
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Method 2: Change Username for a Local Account
For users with a local account (not linked to Microsoft):
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Press Windows + R, type
control, and hit Enter to open Control Panel. -
Go to User Accounts → User Accounts.
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Click Change your account name.
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Enter the new username and click Change Name.
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Sign out and sign back in to see the changes.
Method 3: Change Username via Computer Management
This works for local accounts, especially on professional editions of Windows 11.
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Press Windows + X and select Computer Management.
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Navigate to Local Users and Groups → Users.
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Right-click your username → Rename.
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Type the new username and press Enter.
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Restart your PC.
Method 4: Change Username Using netplwiz
Another handy method:
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Press Windows + R, type
netplwiz, and hit Enter. -
Select your account and click Properties.
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Enter the new username in the “User name” field.
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Click OK → Apply → OK.
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Restart to apply changes.
Method 5: Change Folder Name (Advanced)
Changing the visible username does not change the user folder name (C:\Users\OldName). To rename it:
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Create a new admin account.
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Log in with the new account.
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Go to C:\Users and rename the old folder.
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Update the ProfileImagePath in the registry:
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Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList -
Find your profile and change the path.
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Log back into your original account.
Warning: This is risky—make a backup before attempting.
Troubleshooting Username Change Issues
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Username doesn’t update? Log out and log back in.
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Microsoft account still shows old name? Wait a few hours for it to sync.
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Apps showing old name? Some apps cache your old profile name temporarily.
Should You Use a Microsoft or Local Account?
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Microsoft Account: Syncs across devices, easier to recover, integrates with OneDrive.
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Local Account: More private, works offline, no email-based username.
Final Thoughts
Changing your username in Windows 11 is straightforward whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account. For most users, the easiest way is via Microsoft’s website or the Control Panel. If you need to go deeper and change the folder name too, take precautions and back up your data.
FAQs
1. Will changing my username affect my password?
No, your password remains the same.
2. Can I revert to the old username later?
Yes, just repeat the steps and enter the previous name.
3. Does changing the username rename the user folder?
No, you need to do that manually (see advanced method).
4. Will my files and programs be lost?
No, they remain intact.
5. Is there a limit to how many times I can change my username?
No, but frequent changes may cause confusion with synced accounts.