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Windows 11 has three names associated with a local account, and they are not interchangeable:
- Display or full name: the descriptive name shown on the sign-in screen and in some account dialogs.
- User name: the local account name used to identify the account when signing in or managing it.
- Profile-folder name: the folder under
C:Users, such asC:Usersalex.
Changing the account name does not normally rename the existing profile folder. Use the method below that matches the name you need to change.
Before you rename the account
First check whether the account is actually local. The procedures in this guide apply to accounts stored on the Windows 11 computer itself.
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If you sign in with a Microsoft account, change the name from the account’s Microsoft account Your info page. A work or school account is controlled by your organization, which may need to make the change. Organization-managed name changes can take up to 24 hours to appear.
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You can check the account type in Settings > Accounts > Your info. A local account normally shows an option such as Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.
Method 1: Change the displayed account name in Control Panel
This is the simplest option if you only want to change the name shown by Windows. It does not change the local sign-in name or the C:Users folder.
- Open Start.
- Type Control Panel and select Open.
- Select User Accounts.
- Select Change your account name.
- Enter the new name.
- Select Change Name or confirm the change.
Sign out and sign back in if the old name remains visible in a particular part of Windows. Some screens may not refresh until the next sign-in.
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The legacy User Accounts dialog is still available in Windows 11. It lets you edit the local account’s User name separately from its Full name.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
netplwizand select OK. - In the User Accounts window, select the account under Users of this computer.
- Select Properties.
- On the General tab, edit the User name field.
- Select Apply, then OK.
- Select OK again to close the User Accounts window.
- Sign out and sign back in.
Use the fields carefully:
| Field | What it changes |
|---|---|
| User name | The local account’s sign-in and management name. |
| Full name | The descriptive or display name associated with the account. |
Changing either field does not rename the existing profile folder under C:Users.
Method 3: Rename the local account with PowerShell
PowerShell is a direct way to rename the actual local account. Open the 64-bit version of Windows PowerShell as an administrator; the LocalAccounts module is not available in 32-bit PowerShell on a 64-bit system.
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Check the current account name
Open Start, search for Windows PowerShell, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. List the local accounts with:
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Get-LocalUser -Name "OldName"Preview and perform the rename
Preview the operation first if you want to verify the command without changing anything:
Rename-LocalUser -Name "OldName" -NewName "NewName" -WhatIfIf the result is correct, run the command without -WhatIf:
Rename-LocalUser -Name "OldName" -NewName "NewName"For example:
Rename-LocalUser -Name "alex" -NewName "alexander"You need administrative rights to rename another local account. Avoid renaming the account that your current administrative session depends on unless another administrator account is available. After the command completes, sign out and sign back in.
The cmdlet also accepts a local-user object or a security identifier:
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Rename-LocalUser -InputObject <LocalUser> -NewName "NewName"
Rename-LocalUser -SID <SecurityIdentifier> -NewName "NewName"Method 4: Use Local Users and Groups
Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education include the Local Users and Groups snap-in. Windows 11 Home does not include lusrmgr.msc.
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- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
lusrmgr.mscand select OK. - Select Users in the left pane.
- Right-click the local account.
- Select Rename.
- Enter the new name and press Enter.
If Windows reports that the file cannot be found, you are probably using Windows 11 Home. Use Control Panel, netplwiz, or PowerShell instead.
What the net user command can do
net user is useful for viewing accounts and changing several account properties, but it does not have a current /rename option.
List local accounts:
net userDisplay an account’s details:
net user OldNameChange the account’s full or display name without changing the user name:
net user OldName /fullname:"New Display Name"Do not use net user OldName NewName as a rename command. The second positional value is interpreted as a password, not as a replacement account name. To rename the actual account, use Rename-LocalUser, netplwiz, or Local Users and Groups.
Why the C:Users folder keeps its old name
Suppose the profile path is:
C:UsersalexAfter changing the account name to alexander, the path will normally still be:
C:UsersalexThis is expected Windows behavior. The account name and profile path are separate pieces of configuration. Applications, shortcuts, registry entries, environment variables, OneDrive settings, and other components may continue to reference the original path.
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Do not assume that an unchanged folder name means the account rename failed.
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Older instructions recommended signing in with another administrator, renaming the folder under C:Users, and editing this registry value:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionProfileList<User SID>ProfileImagePathThat procedure was written for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft says not to apply it to Windows 10 or later because it can cause the winget command to stop working. It is not a supported Windows 11 solution and can leave applications or account settings pointing to invalid paths.
Safest way to get a new profile-folder name
If the actual folder under C:Users must have a different name, create a new account rather than manually altering the existing profile path.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Accounts > Other users.
- Under Add other user, select Add account.
- Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Create the account using the desired name.
- If necessary, select the account under Other users, choose Change account type, and make it an administrator.
- Sign in to the new account once. Windows will create a new profile folder.
- Copy personal files from the old profile to the new one.
- Reinstall or reconfigure applications, cloud-storage clients, browser profiles, and sign-in settings as needed.
- Verify that your files and applications work before removing the old account.
Back up the old profile before deleting it. Removing a Windows account removes its sign-in information and data from the device; it does not provide a recovery step for files you forgot to copy.
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Which method should you use?
| Goal | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| Change the name shown on the sign-in screen | Control Panel or the /fullname option of net user |
| Change the local account’s user name | netplwiz, PowerShell, or Local Users and Groups |
Change the C:Users folder name |
Create a new local account and migrate your files |
| Change a Microsoft account name | Use the Microsoft account’s online Your info page |
| Change a work or school account name | Contact the organization or use its account-management portal |
FAQ
Will renaming a local account rename C:Users?
No. The existing profile folder normally keeps its original name. For example, C:Usersalex can remain unchanged after the account is renamed to alexander.
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Can I rename a Windows 11 local account from Settings?
Settings does not provide one general rename control for local accounts. Use Control Panel for the displayed name, or use netplwiz, PowerShell, or Local Users and Groups for the local user name.
Is net user OldName NewName a valid rename command?
No. In that syntax, the second value is treated as a password. Use Rename-LocalUser, netplwiz, or lusrmgr.msc instead.
Why is lusrmgr.msc missing in Windows 11?
The Local Users and Groups snap-in is not included with Windows 11 Home. It is available in editions such as Pro, Enterprise, and Education.
Can I safely rename the profile folder and edit ProfileImagePath?
Microsoft’s older workaround is not recommended for Windows 11. It was intended for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, and Microsoft warns that applying it to Windows 10 or later can break winget.
What happens to my files if I create a new account?
The old account and its files remain until you remove it, but you must manually copy personal data and reconfigure applications. Back up the old profile and verify the new account before deleting anything.
The Bottom Line
Use Control Panel when you only want to change the displayed name. Use netplwiz, PowerShell, or Local Users and Groups when you need to rename the local sign-in account. None of these methods normally changes the existing C:Users folder. If that path must have a new name, create a new account and migrate your files instead of using the outdated registry workaround.
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