How to Change C:/Users/Username in Windows 10

You can’t safely rename your C:/Users/username folder in Windows 10 by just typing a new name over it. Windows ties that folder name to your whole user profile, so renaming it directly will likely break your apps and can even stop you from signing in. The safe way to “change” it is to create a new user account with the name you want, move your important files over, and then remove the old account. You get the folder name you want without breaking anything.

Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, so a PC without Extended Security Updates no longer receives security fixes; that program runs until October 12, 2027.

Create a new account with the name you want

Create a new local user account

1. Click the Start button and then the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Go to “Accounts,” and then select “Family & other users” (called “Other users” on some editions) from the left-hand menu.
3. Click “Add someone else to this PC.”
4. Choose “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information,” and then, on the next screen, click “Add a user without a Microsoft account.”
5. Give the new account the exact username you want, because this becomes your new C:\Users folder name. You can add a password or leave it blank for now.

Make the new account an administrator

Your new user account starts as a standard user, but you’ll need administrator privileges to manage everything.

1. While still in the “Family & other users” section of Settings, click the new account you just created.
2. Click “Change account type.”
3. In the pop-up window, change the “Account type” from “Standard User” to “Administrator,” and then click “OK.”

Sign out of the old account and sign into the new one

1. Open the Start menu, click your current user icon, and select “Sign out.”
2. At the lock screen, choose your new user account and sign in. Windows may take a moment to set up the new profile, which is normal.

Move your personal files from the old user’s folder to the new one

1. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on your taskbar.
2. Go to “This PC,” then your C: drive, and open the “Users” folder.
3. Double-click your old username’s folder to open it.
4. Copy the contents of folders like “Documents,” “Downloads,” “Pictures,” “Videos,” and “Desktop” to the matching folders in your new user account’s folder. For example, copy everything from the old “Documents” folder to the new “Documents” folder.

Delete the old user account

Only do this once you’re sure everything important has been moved and you’re happy with your new profile.

1. Make sure you are signed in to your new administrator account.
2. Go back to Settings, then “Accounts,” and then “Family & other users.”
3. Click your old user account and click “Remove.”
4. When Windows asks, select “Delete account and data” to free up space and remove leftover files from the old profile.

You’re now working entirely from your new user profile, and all your settings and app data belong to this account. The C:\Users folder shows the name you chose, and the old profile no longer takes up space or causes confusion.

Advanced Method: Rename the Folder and Update the Registry

If you don’t want to create a new account, you can rename the existing folder, but only while you’re signed in to a different administrator account. Create a restore point and back up your files first.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run net user administrator /active:yes, then sign out and sign in as Administrator.
2. In File Explorer, open C:\Users and rename your old folder.
3. Open Registry Editor (regedit) and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList.
4. Find the S-1-5-21 key whose ProfileImagePath shows the old folder, and change it to the new path.
5. Sign back in to your own account, check that everything works, and turn off the Administrator account with net user administrator /active:no.

Some apps save the old path in their own settings. If one stops working, create a link from the old name to the new one with mklink /J "C:\Users\OldName" "C:\Users\NewName" in an administrator Command Prompt. If Windows signs you in with a temporary profile, sign in as Administrator and fix the ProfileImagePath value.

Tips for a smooth switch

• Always back up your important data first. Before you even start this process, make copies of all your crucial documents, photos, and files. Store them on an external hard drive or cloud service. Better safe than sorry, right?
• Ensure your new account has administrator rights. You absolutely need these privileges to manage other accounts, delete old ones, and make system-wide changes. Double-check this before you sign out of the old account.
• Check your installed applications after migration. While most programs will still work fine, some might have settings or license keys tied to the old user profile. You might need to re-log in, re-enter keys, or even reinstall some applications if they misbehave.
• Don’t rush the file transfer. Moving your personal files is the most critical part of this process. Take your time, make sure you copy everything, and verify that the files are accessible in your new profile before deleting the old one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just rename the folder directly in File Explorer?

Not by itself. If you only rename the folder, Windows can’t find your profile and signs you in with a temporary one. Renaming does work if you also update the profile path in the registry, as described in the advanced method above, but it’s riskier than creating a new account. If a rename has already left the account with a broken or temporary profile, it may be quicker to rebuild the Windows 10 profile from scratch and move your files into it.

Will I lose my installed programs if I do this?

No, your installed programs themselves are usually installed for all users or on a system-wide basis, so they will still be on your computer. However, any program settings, preferences, or saved game data that were specific to your old user profile might not automatically transfer to your new one. You might need to reconfigure some applications or manually move specific data folders if they are critical to you.

What if I don’t want to delete the old account? Can I keep both?

Yes, you can certainly keep the old account if you wish. It will remain as another user profile on your computer, accessible from the login screen. The only downsides are that it takes up disk space and can sometimes cause confusion if you accidentally log into the wrong account. If you’re sure you’ve moved all your important data, deleting it is generally recommended for a clean setup.

Is this process difficult for someone who isn’t a computer expert?

While it involves several steps, the process is quite straightforward and doesn’t require any advanced technical skills. If you can follow instructions carefully and take your time, you should be able to complete it without any major issues.

Why does Windows make changing the username folder so complicated?

The username folder is more than just a name. It’s part of your entire user profile, tied into the registry, security permissions, and how apps store their data. That’s why renaming it by itself breaks things, and why creating a new user account is the safest way to get a new folder name.

Related: changing the administrator name in Windows 10, and on a Windows 11 PC, renaming the user folder in Windows 11.