How to change User Account Name in Windows 10

In this post, how to change the User Account Name of your account, or another user’s account in Windows 10 using Control Panel or the netplwiz command. We also show you how to change the name of the User folder.

Changing a user account name in Windows 7 wasn’t a big deal, and most users were able to do it easily. In Windows 7 you could use the Change your account name setting on the left side of the User Accounts applet in Control Panel.

But in the case of Windows 10/8, people are facing a challenge as it is not so simple to change their user account name. This is due to the reason that when you install Windows 10/8, there is an option to provide the name for the user account. But after doing so, there exists not even a single option in Settings, to change the name you provided earlier. In this article, I’ll tell you the way to change the user account name of your account, as well as another user’s account.

Change the User Account name in Windows 10

To change User Account Name in Windows 10 using Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Select All Control Panel Items
3. Click on User Accounts
4. Click Change your User account
5. Enter the new username in the box provided
6. Click Change name and you are all set!

Change the User Account name of another User Account

To change the User Account name of another user account in Windows 10:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Select All Control Panel Items
3. Click on User Accounts
4. Click Manage another account
5. Click on the account User image
6. Select Change an Account
7. Here click on Change the account name link.

In the next window, you will be able to change the User Account Name.

This post will show you how to change your Account username when signed in using Microsoft Account.

Change User Account Name using NETPLWIZ

Windows 10 users may want to back up all their data and create a system restore point first as well as read the comments below before proceeding with the registry-change suggestion.

1. Press Windows Key + R combination and then type netplwiz in the Run dialog box. Click OK. If prompted by UAC, click Yes.

2. Now in the User Accounts window, check Users must enter a user name and password to enter this computer, if it is unchecked. In the User Name section, select the user name to which you want to change the name and click Properties.

3. In the Properties window, in the User name field, provide the desired user name. Then click Apply followed by OK.

That’s it! You will be successful in changing the user name. Reboot to see the change.

Change User Folder name

Even after you change the username using this NETPLWIZ method, your personal folder will continue to display the old username. You may let it remain as it is or you may rename the user folder.

I repeat, create a system restore point first. Then open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

You will find several folders here like S-1-5-. Search through them till you find a ProfileImagePath pointing to your old username.

Double-click on it and replace your old username with your new username.

Restart your computer to see the change.

NOTE: Read the comment below by Grof Gergely.

All the best.