How to Change Your Windows 11 Username: A Comprehensive Guide

Your Windows 11 username is a fundamental part of your operating system’s identity. It’s the name displayed on the login screen, in various system dialogs, and sometimes even in application settings. While you might have chosen a username during the initial setup, there might come a time when you want to change it. Perhaps you want something more professional, more personal, or simply less embarrassing. Whatever the reason, changing your Windows 11 username is a relatively straightforward process, and this guide will walk you through all the methods available, providing detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips.

Understanding the Different Types of Usernames in Windows 11

Before we dive into the methods, it’s crucial to understand that Windows 11 uses two primary types of usernames: the local account username and the Microsoft account username. These are distinct and require different approaches to modify:

• Local Account Username: This is the name associated with an account that is stored only on your computer. It’s completely independent of any online services.
• Microsoft Account Username: This is the name tied to your Microsoft account. It’s used across all Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, and more. When you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, this username is also displayed on your device.

Knowing which type of account you’re using will determine the appropriate steps for changing your username. Let’s explore the methods for each account type:

Method 1: Changing Your Local Account Username via Control Panel

The Control Panel, despite being a legacy feature, still provides a reliable way to manage user accounts. Here’s how to change your local account username using this method:

1. Open the Control Panel: Press the Windows key, type “Control Panel,” and select the app from the search results.
2. Navigate to User Accounts: In the Control Panel window, click on “User Accounts.” Then, click on “User Accounts” again in the next screen.
3. Manage Another Account: In the User Accounts window, click on “Manage another account.”
4. Select Your Account: Choose the local account you want to change the username for. This will open the account’s management page.
5. Change the Account Name: On the account management page, click on “Change the account name.”
6. Enter New Username: Type the desired new username into the text box and click on the “Change Name” button.
7. Restart Your Computer: To see the changes take effect everywhere, restart your computer.

Important Note: This method only changes the display name. The underlying user profile folder name will remain the same. This doesn’t usually cause any issues, but it’s good to keep in mind. The folder name is created at the time of user creation, and will retain the name assigned during creation.

Method 2: Changing Your Local Account Username via Settings App

The Settings app is the modern way to manage your Windows 11 settings, and it also allows you to change your local account username. Here are the steps involved:

1. Open Settings: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Accounts: In the Settings window, click on “Accounts.”
3. Select Your Account: On the Accounts page, under “Account settings,” choose “Your info.”
4. Manage Account Options: In the “Your info” section, you will see your name (display name). There is no direct change button here. Instead, click on “Email & accounts” from the accounts page navigation.
5. Manage your account: On the “Email & accounts” page, select the account you want to edit and click “Manage”. You will be redirected to a microsoft account webpage.
6. Edit Name: This method requires you to change the microsoft account name on the webpage. Once changed, your username on the windows 11 computer, after logging out and back in or restarting, will update.

Method 3: Changing a Microsoft Account Username

If you are using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you’ll need to change your Microsoft account display name online. The changes will then sync to your Windows 11 device. Here’s how:

1. Open your Microsoft Account page: Open your web browser and go to your Microsoft Account Profile page. Log in with your Microsoft account credentials if prompted.
2. Access Your Profile: Once you’re logged in, click on “Your info” or “More actions” and then “Edit Profile”.
3. Edit your Name: Look for the option to “Edit name” or similar. Click on it to open the form.
4. Enter New Name: Input your first and last name, then click “Save”.
5. Sync Changes: Back on your Windows 11 PC, sign out of your account and sign back in to sync the changes. Alternatively, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Important Note: The Microsoft account name is used across all Microsoft services. Therefore, changing it here will affect your name on those platforms as well.

Method 4: Changing User Profile Folder Name (Advanced)

As mentioned earlier, changing the display name through the previous methods doesn’t alter the underlying user profile folder name. If you’re aiming for a complete username change, including the profile folder, this is a much more involved process. It is strongly recommended to create a backup of your important data before proceeding, as any error in this process can potentially corrupt your user profile.

Disclaimer: Incorrectly modifying the profile folder can lead to serious issues. Proceed with caution and only if you’re comfortable with this level of system modification. If you are not familiar with these steps, seek the help of someone who is.

1. Create a new Administrator account: This will act as the secondary account for you to perform this action on your primary account. Open the settings application (windows key + I), select “Accounts”, and navigate to “Family & other users”. Click on “Add account” and then “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”. Next, select “Add a user without a Microsoft account” and add a new username, followed by a password.
2. Log into the New Account: Log out of your current user account and log in with the newly created administrator account.
3. Rename User Profile Folder: Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer. Then, navigate to “This PC” then your C: Drive. Navigate to “Users” folder. Locate the folder corresponding to the old username and right-click it. Select “Rename” and type in your desired new username folder name. (This requires administration rights).
4. Registry Editor Modification: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
5. Navigate to the Profile List: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

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

6. Find the Profile SID: Look for keys (long series of numbers and characters) under the ProfileList key. These are Security Identifiers (SIDs). Click each SID and check the “ProfileImagePath” value in the right-hand panel. Find the SID whose “ProfileImagePath” value corresponds to the old username.
7. Modify ProfileImagePath: Once you have located the correct SID, double-click on “ProfileImagePath” and edit the value data to match the new folder name from step 3. Click on “OK” to save.
8. Modify the “RefCount” Registry Value: While on the same SID, locate and double-click on “RefCount” and change the value from “1” to “0” and then click ok to save. If you do not find the “RefCount” value, just proceed to the next step.
9. Modify the “State” Registry Value: Double-click on “State” and change the value from “1” to “0”. If you do not find the “State” value, just proceed to the next step.
10. Close Registry Editor: Close the Registry Editor.
11. Log Back into Primary Account: Log out of the temporary admin account and log in to your primary account, now with the changed name.

Note: If any step is missed in the instructions, then the user account might be corrupted. The user would have to re-create the user account.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Changing usernames isn’t always a flawless process. Here are some potential issues and how to address them:

• Username Not Updating Everywhere: Sometimes, the display name may not update immediately in all areas of the system. A restart usually resolves this.
• Access Denied Errors: When modifying profile folder names, you might encounter “access denied” errors. Ensure you are logged in with an administrator account or try to take full ownership of the folder before renaming.
• User Profile Corruption: If something goes wrong when modifying the profile folder, your user profile may become corrupted. This may require you to create a new user profile to solve the issues, or do a system restore to a previous state.
• Microsoft Account Sync Issues: Sometimes changes to your Microsoft account display name might not sync immediately. Try signing out and back in or restarting your computer to force a sync. Check your internet connection to see if there are any issues preventing the synchronization.

Best Practices for Choosing a Username

When choosing a new username, consider these best practices:

• Keep it Professional: If you use your computer for work, avoid overly casual or informal names.
• Be Consistent: For personal use, choosing a name that reflects your personality can be great but try to ensure consistency across your accounts if possible.
• Avoid Sensitive Information: Do not use your full name, address, or other private information as part of your username.
• Easy to Remember: Choose a name that you and others can remember easily.
• Avoid Special Characters: To avoid any unexpected system errors, it’s recommended to avoid special characters. Try to stick to letters and numbers.

Conclusion

Changing your Windows 11 username is generally a straightforward process, especially when you’re only modifying the display name. The key is to understand which type of account you’re using (local or Microsoft) and choose the appropriate method. Remember to proceed with caution when modifying profile folders, as this is a more advanced step that could potentially corrupt your user account. By following the detailed steps provided in this guide, you can effectively and safely change your Windows 11 username to your preference. If any problems persist, try checking the common issues, and when you are uncomfortable or uncertain about changing these settings, seek out help from professionals to assist.

This guide covers all the necessary information for changing your windows 11 username. If you have any further questions, please ask in the comments below!