Windows 10 and 11 logos

If you desire to change the user proper noun associated with your Windows user account, you can — but there are different ways to alter it depending on what kind of business relationship you accept. Here'southward how you do information technology.

How to Modify a Microsoft Account Name

If you're signed in with a Microsoft account you lot have to change your user proper name on the Microsoft website.

RELATED: How to Create a Microsoft account

To begin, log in to your Microsoft Business relationship. Edge users will probably be logged in automatically. If you're not using Microsoft Edge every bit your default browser, y'all'll take to log in manually. Yous can also navigate to Settings > Accounts > Your Info and click "Manage My Business relationship" to access the folio.

Once y'all've logged in, click on your name at the superlative of the screen.

Click your name

Then look towards the bottom-right side of the commencement section — click "Edit name."

Click "edit name."

Fill in your desired user name and the captcha in the popup, then click "Save."

Fill out your name and captcha; then click "Save."

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How to Modify a Local Business relationship Name with Control Console

The manner you change a user proper name is dissimilar if you lot're logged in with a local account. Y'all'll need to use Control Panel, since the option isn't available in the Settings App.

Starting time, click Start. And so, type "Control Panel" into the search bar and hit Enter.

Note: The user interfaces in Windows x and Windows xi are not identical, though they are similar. Within Command Panel and subsequent menus, the differences are simply corrective. If something looks a little different, don't worry nigh information technology.

Click "User Accounts" in the Control Console.

Click "User Accounts."

Then, click "User Accounts" again.

Click "User Accounts."

Click on "Change your account name" in the listing.

Click "Change your account name."

If User Account Command (UAC) presents you with a prompt at this bespeak, become ahead and allow it. And then, blazon the new name y'all'd like in the text box. Finally, click "Modify Proper name."

Enter your new user name in the box, then click "Change Name."

After you click "Change Name," close the user account screen.

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How to Change a Local Account Name With netplwiz

Alternatively, you can alter your user name using netplwiz. The netplwiz method works on both Windows ten and Windows eleven.

To beginning, hitting Windows+r and type "netplwiz" into the run box, and so hit Enter or click "Ok."

Hit Enter or Click "Ok."

Select the user name you desire to alter, and so click "Properties."

Select the user name you want to change, and then click "Properties."

Type the new user name in the box, click "Apply," and so click "Ok."

Enter name in box, click "Apply", then click "Ok."

Whether yous're using a Microsoft account or a local account, yous should restart your PC to make certain the changes stick.

Information technology is also important to note that your user folder will not be renamed or moved. Windows and many other applications store files and settings in sub-folders of your user binder — consequently, it is difficult to change the proper name of your user binder without breaking things. So if your original user proper name was Bill, and you changed it to Tom, your user folder will however be "C:\Users\Bill" rather than "C:\Users\Tom ."