Under Windows 10, changing the username is not recommended. A lot of emergency situations arise that no one is able to solve. Microsoft support is very helpful, but just as easy to avoid giving a straight answer. The authors have contacted them more than once, each time indicating the license number, but it is extremely difficult to solve the problem this way. So, we don’t recommend even thinking about how to change your username in Windows 10.
Here is one of the “victims” of erroneous actions. “I can’t enter Start, I can’t roll back changes, the system gives an error, some applications don’t start.” IN Windows system It is strictly not recommended to work as an administrator while exploring the Internet. Any malicious software in this case, it easily causes noticeable damage to the shell. Below we will give recommendations on how to change the username and how to change the path to the profile.
Before work starts
We know that no one likes to do this, but before changing your account in Windows 10, it is recommended to create a system restore point. Then you can do a rollback in a simple way:
- Win + R to enter command mode.
- Rstrui to begin the system recovery process.
- In the Start menu, find All Apps.
- Select System Tools, go to Windows
- Control Panel → System and Security → Security Center and Maintenance.
- In the lower right corner of the window is Recovery.
- Next – Configure system recovery → Create.
Come up with a unique phrase so that later it will be easy to recognize the name among others.
Someone else's recording
This is our work with regular means completed. Let's go to the Control Panel.
Control Panel
The changes will take effect immediately. Having tried all the nuances on a local account Windows entries 10, you can start adjusting the main one. We believe that everyone knows how a user change occurs, so we do not focus on this. Working as an administrator is strictly contraindicated. We were taught that everything could be done without interference. Viruses operate just as easily on a computer. In fact, you should act as an ordinary user. This correct tactic will protect against accidental installation malware and the collapse of the entire system.
Attention! The control panel can be accessed through the Run line. Win + R, type control, press Enter.
Using the Run snap-in
Windows provides a command for creating and configuring users. The advantage of it is that it gives access to a window where everything is collected together, clearly and clearly. Unlike what we saw above. It is not known exactly when Microsoft will cut this option in Windows 10, but while the feature is available, it should be actively used. Let's launch the execute line by pressing the Win + R combination and enter netplwiz in the field. As the name of the command suggests, this is a network policy wizard. A window will appear.
From the very method of presenting information, it becomes clear what exactly needs to be done next:
- Select the desired user.
- Click properties.
- We get a window where you can change not only the user’s designation in the system, but also his full name.
In addition to this, it becomes possible to set a description (hint). It is the Full name that appears in the system, if there is one, this is the login for login. If necessary, other fields are also available for modification. A secondary bonus of this approach is the ability to determine whether an account has been renamed or not. Most users, of course, do not know about this feature. Consequently, he will not even think about the possibility of covering his tracks.
Although this snap-in on Windows 10 is usually used to edit group membership. Thanks to this, roles are born, the number of which is very large, the rights of which differ significantly from both the administrator group and ordinary users. Here you can set the requirement to enter a password when logging in or cancel this annoying option for many. The problem can be solved by checking or unchecking the corresponding checkbox at the top of the window.
You see that this method is much better and safer because it allows you to control the full package of parameters. This is why netplwiz is not so widely known. This is a typical secret admin tool. When experimenting on another account, we will be forced to create a user. It’s easiest to remove a newbie from the same equipment.
Functionality check
After changing the name, the first thing that comes to mind is to check what has changed. To do this, go to the start menu, click on the user icon to change the account.
If the profile has started, the documents are in place, and all applications are working, then the operation was successful.
Via the registry
On the Internet you can find instructions for changing the username for accessing the registry and making changes using regedit, but there are rumors that this method is unsafe. Therefore, we will not talk about it in detail.
Microsoft account
Few people like to use a Microsoft account, but its name can also be changed. This operation is performed at http://account.microsoft.com/?refd=www.microsoft.com.
User folder
You will notice that after these operations the network path has not changed. You need to manually rename a user folder in Windows 10. This will not be possible if the account is in use. The user must log out. Then you need to rename the folder in the typical way, and register the key in the registry. This will require administrator rights in Windows 10.
Find the section as follows. In the Registry Editor, open the directory HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. Inside there will be several folders with names of different lengths. The short ones are created by the system, but the long ones need to be looked at for the ProfileImagePath key. Where our problematic name will be, that one needs to be changed to a new one (the name that we gave to the username).
After this there will be no more problems with logging in.
Is it worth it?
We did not find any negative consequences after manipulating user records. Many applications did not work as usual, and product keys from the admin collection were missing. But you can work if you want. Nothing formally has changed. We would venture to assume that you can change the username in Windows 10 for any account, but it is not recommended to do this for the administrator account.
In extreme cases, the “owner” of the computer can unlock other people’s folders and get their contents. But if the administrator falls, it will be extremely difficult to restore the system. Readers have probably noticed that in the new Windows interface 10 it is not possible to change the name. This was probably done for a reason. We would venture to assume that the product was released slightly raw, and therefore various unnecessary manipulations could damage it.
These instructions show the steps by which you can rename a user folder to operating system Windows 10
So let's say we changed the name account and we need to rename the user folder. You will need another local administrator account on your computer. Create a new local account with administrative privileges, how to do this is described in detail in this ➱
Go to folder Users, posted on system disk(usually drive C), click right click mouse on the folder whose name you want to change (in this case, the folder User) and in context menu select item Rename
Rename the folder (for example NewUser)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Find the subsection with the characters S-1-5-21~ in its name. Find the ProfileImagePath parameter, the value of which will correspond to the name of the folder you want to rename. Double-click on the ProfileImagePath parameter and specify a new folder name, click the button OK. Close Registry Editor.
Log out and log in with the account you renamed the user folder. If you no longer need the account created specifically for these changes, you can delete it
Do not forget that many settings and parameters of programs and the operating system are stored in the user profile. How more programs installed on your computer, the more likely it is that the changes made will not be enough. Most likely in Windows registry there will be an entry containing the full path to some file or folder that is in the user’s profile and this path will be indicated with a link to the old, now defunct folder. This may cause problems with some programs.
You can try to avoid such problems. To do this, you will need to carefully examine the ENTIRE registry for links to the old, already renamed folder.
To do this, open the search window in the registry editor by pressing the combination Ctrl keys+ F, in the search bar enter the path to old folder profile and press the button N go further
Carefully study all the parameters found and, if necessary, change the name of the folder to the newly renamed one. Then press the F3 key to continue the search and so on until the very end, that is, until such a window appears.
As you understand, the work ahead is painstaking and here you need to approach the issue with knowledge of the matter - that is, understand where you should change the name of the parameter to a new one, and where you can not do this or should not do it under any circumstances.
Microsoft designs its operating systems so that multiple users can work on the same PC. And so that they do not interfere with each other and have the opportunity to protect their personal data, an account system was implemented. Each of them has its own unique name and a personal folder in which all personal information is stored. This article describes how change username and change the name your account folders in Windows 10 OS.
Precautionary measures
Before changing your operating system configurations, it is always recommended create a restore point. This is a backup of everyone Windows settings 10, which is saved on the hard drive. If something goes wrong, you can easily run System Restore.
You should also do backup copy all data in your account folder: documents, photos, desktop contents. Just copy them to a separate directory on your disk.
How to change your Microsoft account name
In Windows 10, as in 8.1, users can create either a local (regular) account or connect the system to their general Microsoft account. All parameters of this account can be changed on a special website. To rename such an account, follow the instructions provided:
Please note that you cannot rename the name of your folder this way.
Local account
If you use to log in to Windows 10 regular account, you can easily change its settings in the system settings:
Here you can change password to login (or create one if you don't already have one).
How to rename a personal folder
Windows 10 does not have a special interface for changing the name of your personal folder. If you need to do this, the easiest way is create new account with the required name and transfer all your information on him:
After this it will be realized new account and new personal folder. You can use them as main ones by copying everything necessary.
Remember that if you simply rename the directory to Windows Explorer- nothing will work correctly.
To change its name, you need to edit system registry. And this can damage your operating system.
Video on the topic
Renaming an account name in a Windows operating system does not change the name of the user folder. This state of affairs was typical for XP, “seven”, “eight”, and it was also preserved in the new “ten”. Let's look at two surefire ways to rename a user folder in Windows 10.
First way. Creating a new user with the desired name
Changing the user folder name in Windows 10 can be done by creating a new user profile. This method cannot be called a direct way to achieve the result of the task. It involves creating a new profile with the desired name.
The new profile will receive its own directory, which will be named exactly the same as the account name. By logging in with a new name, the user can delete the old account. This way we will achieve the correct change of the user folder name, but we will not be able to import the settings of the old account.
Important! Remember that the new account works with the new settings - you do not import the settings of the old account. For example, if you applied any settings to the desktop of your old account, you will have to configure them again in the new user profile.
So, let’s present the algorithm of actions for the considered method of renaming a user folder in Windows 10:
Second way. Renaming a folder from another profile
IN this method there are a lot of dangers hidden, so we can recommend it to advanced “users”. It requires a second profile with administrator rights, as well as the ability to edit the registry.
Having logged into Windows 10 under a different profile, the “user” must rename the user folder of another account, and then rename the registry entries in which the old directory name appears. After successfully editing the registry, you will also need to run the netplwiz utility.
Important! We warn you that any changes to the registry are made by the user at his own peril and risk. Before editing, it is recommended to make a backup of the registry.
We suggest the following algorithm of actions that will help change the user folder name in Windows 10:
- Log in with a different account that has administrator rights.
- Go to the “Users” directory located on the system drive C.
- Rename the desired folder. If the system warns that renaming is possible only by the administrator, then click the “Continue” button.
- Open the registry editor and go to the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList, where you find the ProfileImagePath parameter, which is equal to the path to the user folder with the old name. You need to change this parameter to a new directory path.
- Press the Win+R combination to open the “Run” dialog. Enter netplwiz.exe into its text line to launch the account management utility.
- Select the user whose directory has been renamed and change the name of this “user” in the property settings.
- Restart your PC.
Video
Step-by-step instructions for renaming a folder and user account can be seen in the video.
Brief summary
To answer the question of how to change the user folder in Windows 10, we suggest using the two methods presented in the article. The first method cannot be called in the strict sense renaming the user directory. This is the creation of a full-fledged new account with completely new settings, but with the desired directory name.
The second method allows you to achieve your goal, but is fraught with the danger of disrupting the system. Therefore, it can only be recommended for advanced users.
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