Windows 10: How do I change the name of the User folder associated with my user account in C:\Users?

The operating system is Windows 10 which is a whole other issue as my hardware should definitely support Windows 11 but Windows upgrade says does not. Initially I installed everything as "Name." Since then I changed my name and it's irritating that my old name keeps finding its way into things, despite being changed in my Windows and Microsoft profile. I am the only user on the computer, and I am set as admin, however, I cannot change the file name, and I cannot run the administrator command in CMD as it returns: Access Denied. I cannot change the name directly by selecting rename. It will

:)

 

User Account folder name

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand that you are facing issues with changing the folder name under Users folder in Windows 10.

I suggest you to perform the below steps and check if it helps.

1. Open the File Explorer and double click on C drive.

2. Open Users folder from the list.

3. Click on the user name folder and then tap on F2 Key.

4. Change the name of the folder and hit on Enter Key.

5. It will ask for Administrator Permission and click on Ok.

6. Folder name will be changed.

Get back to us if you need any further assistance on Windows related issues and we will be glad to help.

 

I want to change the user folder name in "C:\Users\".

Hi Akshat! My name is David. I am a user of Microsoft products like you, and it is a pleasure to greet you.

I understand that you wish to change the name of your user folder in `C:\Users\` on Windows 11, as it currently reflects the first 5 characters of your email address. Changing the user folder name, especially when signed in with a Microsoft account, can be a bit complex due to how Windows associates the folder with user profiles and permissions. However, I'll guide you through a method to achieve this. Please note that this process can be sensitive, and it's crucial to follow each step carefully to avoid any system issues.

- Backup Data: Before proceeding, it's highly recommended to back up any important data to avoid accidental loss.

- Create a Restore Point: It's a good practice to create a system restore point so you can revert your system back to its previous state if anything goes wrong.

Once you have taken into account the aforementioned considerations, follow these steps:

1. Log in with an Administrator Account that is not the account whose folder name you want to change. If you don't have another administrator account, you'll need to create one.

- Press "Win + R" to open the Run dialog.

- Type "netplwiz" and press Enter. This opens the User Accounts window.

- Create a New Administrator Account by selecting Add > Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended) > Local account.

- Set a name for this account; you can leave the password fields blank as this is optional.

- Once the new local account is created, select it in the user accounts window and choose Properties > Group Membership.

- Select Administrator from the available options, click OK, and then OK again.

Now, log out of your current session and log in to the new administrator user profile we just created. Wait for it to configure, and once you've logged in, continue with these steps.

2. Rename the User Folder:

- Open File Explorer and navigate to "C:\Users\"

- Right-click the folder you wish to rename (the one with the first 5 characters of your email) and select "Rename". Change it to your desired name.

3. Modify the Registry:

- Press "Win + R", type "regedit", and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

- Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList".

Note: It is important that you back up the registry file at this point. To do this, from the registry editor, go to File > Export. In "Export range," select "All" assign a name to the file, and save it to a location, for example, the desktop of the user profile.

- You'll see a list of SIDs (Security Identifier). Click on each SID and look at the "ProfileImagePath" to find the one associated with your old user folder name.

- Once found, double-click on "ProfileImagePath" and update the folder name to the new one you've just set.

4. Log Off and then log back in with your Microsoft account to see the changes.

Keep in mind the following:



- These changes can affect the stability of your Windows installation if not done correctly.

- Some applications might still reference the old folder path. You may need to reinstall these applications or manually update their path settings.

Let me know if the shared information has been helpful. Regards.

 

Change User Name Folders

"The change the name on the Account folder is more difficult because it is more heavily protected. See this tutorial:https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/89060-chang..."

On this link, the details show renaming another account. I'm wanting to change the Admin account. It's a good thing I had another user setup on my computer, also as an Admin, because after changing the SID in step 8. And, unable to change the name in step
11. As "Rename" wasn't in the list. I restarted the computer, since the Admin user account name was changed I was unable to load windows. I had to log into my other account, which was setup as Admin and change the SID back to the 5 letters the user name was
titled.

My computer, Admin account, works again.

I wasn't wanting to just change another account user name, which this is possible to do. I wanted to change the main user, myself.