How to Rename User Folder in Windows 11

Windows 11 names your user folder (the one in C:\Users) when you first sign in to an account, and it never renames it on its own. If you signed in with a Microsoft account, the folder often ends up as the first five letters of your email address. Changing your account name in Settings changes what you see on the sign-in screen, but the folder keeps its original name.

There are two ways to get a different folder name. The safe method is to create a new account with the name you want and move your files. The advanced method renames the existing folder and updates the registry to match. This guide covers both, plus how to fix the problems that sometimes follow.

Check Your Current Folder Name

Press Windows + R, type %userprofile%, and press Enter. File Explorer opens your user folder, and the address bar shows its full path. You can also open Command Prompt, where the prompt starts in your user folder.

Which Method Should You Use?

• Choose Method 1 if you want the safest option, don’t mind setting up a few apps again, or are setting up a new PC with little data on it.
• Choose Method 2 if you have many apps and settings you don’t want to redo and you’re comfortable editing the registry.
• Skip both if the folder name only bothers you cosmetically. The name has no effect on performance, and you can change your display name in Settings without touching the folder.

Before You Start

• Back up your personal files to an external drive or OneDrive.
• Create a restore point: search for Create a restore point, select your system drive, and click Create.
• Make sure you know the password or PIN for an administrator account.
• Sign out of any other accounts you aren’t using.

Method 1: Create a New Account with the Right Name (Recommended)

This method creates a new, clean user folder and doesn’t involve the registry, so it’s the least likely to break anything.

Step 1: Create a New Local Account

Open Settings > Accounts > Other users and click Add account. Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Enter the exact name you want for the folder, such as “Matt,” and set a password.

Use a local account even if you plan to use a Microsoft account. Windows takes the folder name from the local name, and you can link your Microsoft account in Step 4.

Step 2: Make the New Account an Administrator

In Settings > Accounts > Other users, click the new account, choose Change account type, select Administrator, and click OK.

Step 3: Sign In to the New Account

Sign out, then sign in to the new account. Windows sets up the profile and creates a folder at C:\Users\NewName. Open File Explorer and check that the folder name is correct.

Step 4: Link Your Microsoft Account (Optional)

To use your Microsoft account, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Sign in with a Microsoft account instead. The folder keeps the name you chose.

Step 5: Copy Your Personal Files

Copy the contents of Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos from C:\Users\OldName to the matching folders in your new profile. Don’t copy the hidden AppData folder or files such as NTUSER.DAT, since those belong to the old profile and can cause problems.

Step 6: Set Up Your Apps

Open your browser and sign in to sync bookmarks and passwords, sign in to OneDrive, and check apps such as Outlook. Most installed programs work right away, but their settings are stored per user, so some will start fresh.

Step 7: Remove the Old Account

When you’re sure nothing is missing, go to Settings > Accounts > Other users, select the old account, and click Remove. Click Delete account and data to delete its folder.

Method 2: Rename the Folder and Update the Registry (Advanced)

This keeps your existing account, apps, and settings, but a mistake can stop you from signing in. Back up and create a restore point first.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run net user administrator /active:yes to turn on the built-in Administrator account.
2. Sign out, sign in as Administrator, and make sure your normal account isn’t signed in.
3. In File Explorer, open C:\Users and rename your old folder to the new name.
4. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList.
5. Click each key that starts with S-1-5-21 and find the one whose ProfileImagePath shows your old folder.
6. Double-click ProfileImagePath and change it to the new folder path, such as C:\Users\Matt.
7. If you want, run mklink /J "C:\Users\OldName" "C:\Users\NewName" in an administrator Command Prompt. This link sends apps that still use the old path to the new folder.
8. Sign out, sign in to your normal account, and check that your files and apps work.
9. Turn the Administrator account off again with net user administrator /active:no.

Troubleshooting

Windows Says “You’ve Been Signed In with a Temporary Profile”

Windows can’t find the folder in ProfileImagePath. Sign in as Administrator, check that the registry path matches the renamed folder exactly, and look for a duplicate key ending in .bak. If the problem continues, rename the folder back to its old name and set ProfileImagePath back.

“The Action Can’t Be Completed Because the Folder Is Open”

You can’t rename a profile folder while that account is signed in. Restart, sign in only to the Administrator account, and try again.

Apps Can’t Find Their Files

Some programs save the full folder path in their own settings. Create the junction in Method 2, step 7, or reinstall the app.

OneDrive Shows Errors

Click the OneDrive icon, open Settings > Account, choose Unlink this PC, then sign in again and pick the OneDrive folder in your new profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just rename the user folder in File Explorer?

Not on its own. Windows still looks for the old path in the registry, so you’ll likely get a temporary profile. You have to update ProfileImagePath too, as shown in Method 2.

Will renaming affect my installed programs?

With Method 1, programs stay installed, but their settings belong to the old account, so you may need to set them up again. With Method 2, most programs keep working, and the junction helps the rest.

Can I change it back?

Yes. Repeat Method 2 with the old name, or create another account with the name you want.

Is this risk-free?

Method 1 is low risk if you copy your files before removing the old account. Method 2 changes the registry, so back up first and follow the steps carefully.

On a Windows 10 PC, follow the steps to change C:/Users/Username in Windows 10 instead.