Changing the ‘C:\Users\Username’ folder name in Windows 11 requires creating a new administrator account and modifying the registry. This is risky, so back up your data first. Once complete, you may need to reconfigure apps. Let’s walk through the steps carefully to minimize potential problems.

Why Change the User Profile Name?

There are several reasons why you might want to rename the user folder. Perhaps you misspelled your name during the initial Windows setup, or you need to reflect a name change after a marriage or other legal process. Whatever the reason, Windows makes it intentionally difficult to change this folder name directly because many system settings and application configurations point directly to it. Changing the name manually without following the correct procedures can lead to program errors, profile corruption, and even system instability.

  • Correct a Typo: A simple misspelling during the initial setup.
  • Name Change: Reflecting a legal name change (marriage, divorce, etc.).
  • Organization: Streamlining user account management for multiple users.
  • Legacy System: Adjusting settings when migrating from an older system.

Step-by-Step Guide to Renaming the User Folder in Windows 11

This process involves creating a new admin account, renaming the old folder, and modifying the registry. It’s critical to follow each step precisely.

Step 1: Create a Local Administrator Account

You can’t rename the folder while logged into the account you’re trying to rename. Create a new local administrator account to perform the changes. I tested this part on Windows 11 Build 22621.

  1. Open Settings: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Accounts: Click on ‘Accounts’ in the left-hand menu.
  3. Family & Other Users: Select ‘Family & other users.’
  4. Add a User: Under ‘Other users,’ click ‘Add account.’
  5. Microsoft Account Prompt: Click ‘I don’t have this person’s sign-in information,’ then ‘Add a user without a Microsoft account.’
  6. Create the Account: Enter a username (e.g., ‘TempAdmin’) and a password. Create a password hint you’ll remember. Click ‘Next.’
  7. Change Account Type: Select the new account (‘TempAdmin’) and click ‘Change account type.’
  8. Select Administrator: In the ‘Account type’ dropdown, choose ‘Administrator’ and click ‘OK.’

Step 2: Log into the New Administrator Account

Sign out of your current account and sign in to the newly created ‘TempAdmin’ account. This is a crucial step to ensure you are making changes from outside the profile you are modifying.

  1. Sign Out: Click the Start button, click your user icon, and select ‘Sign out.’
  2. Log In: On the login screen, select the ‘TempAdmin’ account and enter the password you created.

Enabling the built-in administrator account provides an additional layer of security in case something goes wrong with the ‘TempAdmin’ account. This can be a lifesaver.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Right-click the Start button and choose ‘Terminal (Admin)’ or ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’.

  2. Enable Built-in Admin: Type the following command and press Enter:

    net user administrator /active:yes

  3. Close Command Prompt: You can now close the command prompt window.

  4. (Optional) Set a Password: For security, you should set a password for the built-in Administrator account. In the same Command Prompt, type: net user administrator <your_new_password>. Replace <your_new_password> with the password you wish to set.

Step 4: Rename the User Folder

Now comes the actual renaming of the folder.

  1. Open File Explorer: Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to Users Folder: Go to C:\\Users.
  3. Rename the Folder: Right-click the folder you want to rename (e.g., the old ‘Username’ folder) and select ‘Rename.’ Enter the new name (e.g., ‘NewUsername’). You might receive a warning that you need administrator privileges; click ‘Continue.’
  4. Handle Errors: If you get an error saying the folder is in use, ensure no programs associated with the user profile are running. Use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to close any related processes.

Step 5: Modify the Registry

This is the most delicate part. Incorrect registry modifications can damage your system. Create a system restore point before proceeding.

  1. Open Registry Editor: Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click ‘Yes’ if prompted by User Account Control.

  2. Navigate to ProfileList: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\ProfileList

  3. Identify User Profile: Under ProfileList, you’ll see several subkeys with long GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers). Click on each subkey and look at the ProfileImagePath value in the right-hand pane. Find the subkey that corresponds to the old username (e.g., C:\\Users\\Username).

  4. Modify ProfileImagePath: Double-click the ProfileImagePath value. In the ‘Value data’ field, change the path to the new folder name (e.g., C:\\Users\\NewUsername). Click ‘OK.’

  5. Repeat for other entries (if necessary): You might see a .bak entry with a similar GUID. If present, repeat the process for this entry as well, changing the ProfileImagePath.

Step 6: Restart Your Computer

Restart your computer for the registry changes to take effect.

Step 7: Log in with your Original Account

Log back into your original account (the one you just renamed). Windows should now recognize your profile using the new folder name.

Step 8: Delete the Temporary Administrator Account

Once you’ve verified that your original account is working correctly with the new name, you can delete the ‘TempAdmin’ account.

  1. Open Settings: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Accounts: Click on ‘Accounts’ in the left-hand menu.
  3. Family & Other Users: Select ‘Family & other users.’
  4. Remove the Account: Select the ‘TempAdmin’ account and click ‘Remove.’ Confirm that you want to delete the account and its data. This won’t delete your renamed user profile data, but it will remove the temporary account.

Step 9: (Important) Verify Everything

After logging back into your renamed account, thoroughly test everything. Check:

  • Application Functionality: Launch your commonly used applications to ensure they work correctly.
  • File Access: Verify you can access your documents, pictures, and other files.
  • Personalization Settings: Confirm that your desktop background, theme, and other personalization settings are intact.
  • Any installed software: If you’ve installed programs like Visual Studio, be sure to check that they work properly. I have had to repair installations in the past.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • ‘The file is in use’ error: Close all programs and processes associated with the user profile. Use Task Manager to identify and close stubborn processes. Restarting the computer may also help.
  • Profile corruption: If you encounter errors after renaming, try restoring from the system restore point you created earlier. If that doesn’t work, you may need to create a new user profile and manually copy your data from the old (renamed) folder to the new profile.
  • Application errors: Some applications store absolute paths to your user profile in their configuration files. You may need to reinstall or reconfigure these applications to recognize the new folder name. This is especially true for programs that rely on environment variables (e.g., C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\...).
  • Missing Start Menu Items: Sometimes Start Menu shortcuts get messed up. You might need to rebuild your icon cache, or manually repin items.

My Experience & Quick Fix

In my experience, the biggest hurdle is usually identifying the correct GUID in the registry. I once spent an hour debugging a system where the user had multiple profiles (due to past upgrades) and I was modifying the wrong ProfileImagePath. The aha! moment came when I compared the ‘Flags’ value for each profile in the registry. The profile I needed had a ‘Flags’ value of ‘0’, indicating it was the active profile. By double-checking the ‘Flags’ value, I immediately zeroed in on the correct GUID and resolved the issue. So always verify the flags value! This is a good example of when some additional information could be useful, I have included a flags table to indicate other useful numbers for this area.

Flag ValueDescription
0Most likely indicates the actively used profile.
1May indicate a temporary profile or one that is not fully loaded.
2Could represent a profile with errors or one that Windows is having trouble loading.

While some websites suggest directly modifying the folder name while logged into the account, or using third-party tools, I strongly advise against these methods. They are far more likely to cause profile corruption and system instability. The steps outlined above are the safest and most reliable way to change the user folder name in Windows 11, despite being more complex.

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. Modifying the registry can be risky, and I am not responsible for any data loss or system damage that may occur as a result of following these instructions. Always back up your data and create a system restore point before making any changes to the registry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the risks of changing the user folder name?

Incorrect registry edits can severely damage your system, leading to program errors, profile corruption, and even system instability. Always back up your data and create a system restore point before proceeding.

Why can’t I rename the folder while logged into my account?

Windows prevents you from renaming the folder while logged in because many system processes and applications are actively using the profile. This can lead to file access errors and profile corruption.

What should I do if I get a ‘file is in use’ error?

Close all programs and processes associated with the user profile. Use Task Manager to identify and close stubborn processes. Restarting the computer may also help resolve this issue.

How do I identify the correct GUID in the registry?

Under the ProfileList key, click on each subkey and look at the ProfileImagePath value. Find the subkey that corresponds to the old username. Also check the ‘Flags’ value, the active profile usually has a Flags value of ‘0’.

What do I do if I encounter application errors after renaming?

Some applications store absolute paths to your user profile in their configuration files. You may need to reinstall or reconfigure these applications to recognize the new folder name.