How to Change User Name and Rename User Folder in Windows 10

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Do you wish to change your user name and rename your user folder In Windows 10? In this guide, I share a detailed step-by-step with screenshots.

Overview

In this guide, I will change the user name of my account and rename the user folder from victo to VictorA. See the screenshot below.

When you change a user login name, it is important to change the user folder as well. Moreover, to preserve all settings associated with the user profile, it is also important to change the user’s ProfileImagePath settings in the registry.

Before you can perform any of the tasks in this guide, you need to login in with a different administrator account. Furthermore, if the computer already has an administrator (apart from your account), skip the first section below.

Otherwise, follow the steps in the first section to create a new administrator account.

Step 1: Create a Local Windows Admin Account (Optional)

You cannot change a user name or rename a user folder in Windows while logged in with the same account. Therefore, as I already mentioned earlier, the first step is to restart the computer and login with another.

If there is no existing administrator account, to create a new administrator account, follow the steps below:

1. Search netplwiz, then click it from the search results. This opens the User Account tool.

2. Then, on the bottom right of the User Accounts tool, click Add.

3. On the first screen of the page that opens, click Sign in without a Microsoft account.

4. Then, on the Add user screen, click Local account.

5. Finally, enter a username and password for the new user. Then, on the final screen, click Finish.

6. Back on the User Accounts tool, select the new account you just created. Then, at the bottom right, click Properties.

7. Finally, on the new user’s account properties, click the Group Membership tab, select Administrator, and click OK.

8. Restart the computer. When the computer restarts sign in with the new administrator account and proceed with the next steps below.

Step 2: Change the Windows 10 User Name

This section teaches you how to change the windows 10 user name you wish to change. In the next and final section, I will teach you how to rename the user folder and change the profile path in the Windows 10 registry.

Follow the steps below to change the user name of the original Windows 10 user you wish to change:

1. Sign in to your Windows 10 PC with the new administrator account you created in the last section. If the computer had an existing administrator account, you can also sign in with that account.

2. Once you are signed in, search netplwiz and open it.

3. When the User Accounts tool opens, select your primary account – the account you want to change its user name. Then, click Properties.

4. Then, on the Properties screen of the user account, to change the Windows 10 user name, change the name in the User name field. Then, click OK.

When you return to the User Accounts tool, the user name of the account would have been updated to the new user name.

Step 3: Rename the Windows User Folder

To complete the tasks in this section and the next, please stay signed in with the new administrator account you created in the first section of this guide.

1. Search %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Users and open the folder from the search result.

2. Then, right-click the user folder for your original user name and rename it.

3. Finally, rename the user folder.

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Step 4: Change the User’s ProfileImagePath in Windows Registry

This is the final section of this long guide. Remember to stay signed in as the new admin account you created earlier.

Follow the steps below to change the user’s ProfileImagePath. This final step is essential to preserve all settings associated with the user profile.

1. Search registry and open Registry Editor.

2. Then, on Windows Registry Editor, navigate to the path below:

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

3. To determine the right sub-key, click on the sub-key. Then, on the details pane, review the ProfileImagePath. The key Data should have the path to the old username you wish to change. Double-click ProfileImagePath string to open it.

4. Finally, change the last bit of the Value data field to the same new user name you have used so far – then, click OK.

When you login with your original account, Windows 10 may take you through some final setup process.

Do not worry, select the options you prefer and allow Windows to do its thing. When it finishes, you will be signed in to your original profile.

Conclusion

If you were able to change your user name in windows 10 and rename your user profile folder with the steps in this guide, please share your experience using the “Leave a Reply” form at the bottom of this page.

Alternatively, you can respond to the “Was this page helpful?” question below.

Finally, for more Windows 10 guides, visit our Windows 10 How-To page. You may also find our Get Help With File Explorer In Windows 10 guide helpful.