How to Change Your Username in Windows 11
Have you got tired of using the same username for a long time? Were you assigned a random username when you created your account, but now you want to add a personal touch? If you want to change your username for any reason, Windows lets you do it easily. In fact, there are numerous ways to go about this. We have listed some of the simplest ones below.
Before We Get Started…
Keep in mind that the first four methods discussed below can only be used to change the username of a local user account. If you use them to change the username of a Microsoft account, the change will be reversed the next time you restart your device.
So, if you want to change your Microsoft account username, we recommend directly using the last method—changing your username from Microsoft’s website. However, if you want to change the username of a local user account, it’s possible to use one of the first four methods mentioned below.
1. How to Change Your Username Using the Control Panel
The Control Panel serves as the central hub in the Windows operating system. From changing the operating system’s appearance to configuring the connected hardware, the Control Panel allows users to tailor the entire OS. Among other customizations, users can change their usernames and manage their user accounts effectively.
To change your username using the Control Panel, follow these steps:
2. How to Change Your Username Using the Run Command
Using the Run command, Windows users can access any location on a computer whose path is known. It eliminates the need to navigate through numerous folders to reach our destination.
Using this utility, we can access the User Accounts settings via a simple command, “netplwiz,” which allows us to access the dedicated account management panel. From there, you can easily change your username.
To change your username using the Run command, follow these steps:
3. How to Change Your Username From Local User and Group Management Tool
If the “netplwiz” command does not work or gives an error when accessing the user account manager, you can use the local user and group management tool to change the username. This is the easiest way to modify your Windows username, as it allows you to simply rename your username directly—like you rename any folder.
Here’s how to change the username through the local user and group management tool:
Afterward, close the local user and group management tool, sign out of your account once, and you’ll see your new username on the sign-in screen.
4. How to Change Your Username Using Windows PowerShell
Windows Powershell, an object-oriented automation engine, was designed primarily for IT administrators to automate tasks. Still, its simplicity and ease of use make it worthwhile for laypeople without programming experience.
Using its built-in cmdlets or writing custom scripts, you can make any changes to your Windows device that you usually make via GUI-based applications and settings. You can also change your username using it.
To change your username using the Windows PowerShell, follow these steps:
5. How to Change Your Profile Username From the Microsoft Website
If you use a Microsoft account on your computer, change your username on the Microsoft website. To update your profile username on the Microsoft website, follow these steps:
Changing the username associated with your Microsoft account may not take effect immediately. Sometimes, you may not see the new username after signing out from your account once, as we do in the other methods. To prevent that from happening, we recommendrestarting your deviceinstead of just signing out.
Change Your Username With Ease
Your username doesn’t have to remain the same for the rest of your life. If you decide to change it, it’s possible to use the first four methods listed above to change the current username (of your local user account) to the one you prefer. Regardless of which way you opt, ensure you sign out of your account once. Only then will this change take effect.
You will need to change the username associated with your Microsoft account from the Microsoft website. Also, remember that changing your username does not automatically change the user profile folder name. Therefore, you’ll have to change it separately.
If you’re stuck with a crummy user profile folder name on Windows 11, there are ways to change it to your liking.
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