How to Change Your Name on Your Computer (Windows & Mac)
Changing your name on a computer sounds simple — but it depends on which name you mean. Your computer stores several different names: the name tied to your user account, the name shown on your login screen, the name your device broadcasts on a network, and sometimes the name linked to a Microsoft or Apple account. Each lives in a different place and gets changed in a different way.
Here's how each one works, and what affects the process on your specific setup.
The Different "Names" on Your Computer
Before diving into steps, it helps to know what you're actually changing:
| Name Type | What It Does | Where You See It |
|---|---|---|
| Display name | Shows on the login screen and Start Menu | Windows login, macOS greeting |
| Account username / folder name | Used for your profile folder path | File Explorer, Terminal |
| Computer/device name | Identifies your PC on a network | Network settings, other devices |
| Microsoft or Apple ID name | Tied to your cloud account | App store, sync services |
These are independent. Changing one doesn't automatically change the others.
How to Change Your Name on Windows
Changing the Display Name (Microsoft Account)
If you sign into Windows with a Microsoft account (common on Windows 10 and 11), your display name is pulled from that account. To change it:
- Go to account.microsoft.com in a browser
- Sign in and select Your info
- Edit your name and save
The updated name will sync back to your Windows login screen, usually after a restart or short delay.
Changing the Display Name (Local Account)
If you use a local account (no Microsoft sign-in), the process stays on-device:
- Open Settings → Accounts → Your info
- Look for the option to edit your account name, or open Control Panel → User Accounts → Change your account name
On Windows 11, the path is slightly different from Windows 10 — Microsoft moved some account settings deeper into the Settings app.
Changing Your Computer's Name (Device Name)
This is the name other devices see on your Wi-Fi or local network:
- Go to Settings → System → About
- Select Rename this PC
- Enter a new name and restart
This change requires a restart to take effect. The name can't include spaces or certain special characters.
⚠️ A Note on Changing the Profile Folder Name
The folder name under C:UsersYourName is separate from your display name and is one of the trickier changes in Windows. Microsoft doesn't officially provide a simple in-Settings way to rename this folder on most versions. Doing it manually involves editing the Registry, which carries real risk if done incorrectly. Many users find the display name change is sufficient — unless the folder path itself matters for your workflow or software compatibility.
How to Change Your Name on a Mac
Changing the Display Name on macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions)
- Go to Users & Groups
- Right-click (or Control-click) your account name
- Select Advanced Options
From here you can edit the Full Name (display name) and, separately, the Account Name (which corresponds to your home folder). macOS warns clearly that changing the account name is risky and should be done carefully — it can break file paths and app permissions if not handled correctly.
Changing Your Mac's Name on a Network
- Go to System Settings → General → Sharing
- Edit the field labeled Local Hostname or Computer Name
This is the name other devices see when browsing your network, and it's also used for AirDrop and Handoff features.
Changing Your Apple ID Name
Like Microsoft accounts, your Apple ID display name is managed at the account level — through appleid.apple.com — not through macOS settings directly.
What Actually Varies Between Users 🖥️
The steps above are consistent, but the experience of changing your name varies depending on:
- Account type: Microsoft account vs. local account on Windows, or Apple ID-linked vs. local account on Mac, determines where the name actually lives
- macOS or Windows version: The menu locations shift between major OS versions — what's in Settings on Windows 11 may be in Control Panel on Windows 10
- Administrative access: You need admin rights to rename a PC, change account names, or access advanced user settings; standard users can't do this on shared or managed computers
- Domain-joined computers: If your machine is managed by a workplace or school IT environment, name changes may be locked, restricted, or overridden by group policy — this is common on business laptops
- Synced accounts: When a display name is tied to a cloud account (Microsoft or Apple ID), the change happens at the account level and ripples down — which is convenient, but means the change affects everywhere that account is used
The Difference Between Cosmetic and Structural Changes
Changing how your name displays on the login screen is low-risk and reversible. Changing the underlying account name or profile folder name is structural — it affects file paths and can interfere with software that stores data or preferences under that path.
Most users only need the display name change. The structural account rename is worth doing carefully, or not at all, unless there's a specific reason — like correcting a typo from initial setup that's showing up in visible file paths.
Whether the simple display name change satisfies what you're trying to fix, or whether you need to go deeper into account or folder settings, depends entirely on what's prompting the change and how your computer is set up.