How to change sign-in account name on Windows 10
If you want to change your Windows 10 account name, we’ll show you how.
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OnWindows 10, you can change the account name for many reasons, including because you may need to update your personal information if you recently changed your name. The computer has a local account, and you prefer showing the actual name instead of the nickname. Or you want to update the name to make it a little more private.
Regardless of the reason, Windows 10 includes different ways to change the name on the Sign-in screen and across the desktop, but it is not a straightforward process. Depending on the account type, the instructions will be entirely different.
Thisguidewill walk you through the steps to change the account name on the Sign-in screen for a local or Microsoft account on Windows 10.
How to change account name with Settings on Windows 10
Windows 10 displays the account name from your cloud account when the computer is configured with a Microsoft account. As a result, you must change the settings online if you want to change the account name.
To change the name of the account on Windows 10, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the Sign-in screen will reflect the new name change but allow some time for the device to sync the latest information.
While changing the account name is a straightforward process, renaming the account online also changes the first and last name of any services connected to your account, including Xbox Live, Outlook, OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and others.
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How to change account name using Control Panel on Windows 10
When using a local account on Windows 10, you have several ways to modify the account’s name through Control Panel.
Change account name with User Accounts
To change the account name using the User Accounts settings on Windows 10, use these steps:
After completing the steps, sign out of the current session, and the Sign-in screen should display the new name.
Change account name with netplwiz
You can also use the legacy account management tool (netplwiz) to complete the same task on your computer.
To update the account name with netplwiz, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, sign out, and the Sign-in screen will show the name in the “Full Name” field.
With the legacy tool, you can also edit the accounts linked to a Microsoft account. However, the cloud settings will overwrite the information again, thus making this option only available for local profiles.
Change account name with Computer Management
To use a different name on your Windows 10 account, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the sign-in screen will show the local account’s new name when you sign into the account.
On Windows 10, you have several methods to change the account name, but none of the available options will change the name of the profile folder in the “Users” folder. You might find some workarounds online, but it is not recommended to use those instructions, as you may create other issues.
If you want to rename the account everywhere on Windows 10, you shouldcreate a new account with the nameyou wish to use and then transfer all your settings and files to the newly created account.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
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Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
