When setting up a new user account in Windows 11, an accompanying user profile folder is automatically created in the C:\Users\Username directory. By default, Windows utilizes the first five characters of the user account name as the name for this profile folder. However, if you find this default name unsatisfactory, it is possible to modify it using a registry hack. Before proceeding, it's important to answer an important question, though.

Will your apps still work if you change the user folder name? Yes, absolutely. In case some Microsoft Store apps, such as OneDrive and Outlook, may not function properly due to the change in user folder name. To address this issue, you can attempt a simple fix by signing out and then signing back into your app. Let's get going.

Note: To ensure a safe and seamless user name folder change, it is strongly advised to create a restore point beforehand and exercise utmost caution. Any incorrect modifications made to the Windows Registry during this process can potentially result in severe issues, necessitating a full reinstallation of the operating system.

Create a New Administrator User Account

Since you cannot modify the user folder name from the same account, you will need to log in from an admin account. If you do not have one, follow the steps below to create a new administrator account on your computer. If you already have another account with administrative privileges, move on to the next step.

  1. Open the Start Menu and click on the 'Settings' tile. Alternatively, press Windows+I keys simultaneously to open the app.
  2. Then, select the 'Accounts' option from the left sidebar.
  1. From the right section of the screen, click on 'Other users'.
  1. On the subsequent screen, click on 'Add account'. This will open a new window on your screen.
  1. Click on 'I don't have the person's sign-in information' to proceed.
Note: We are showcasing the process to make a local account as it is faster and simpler.
  1. On the next screen, select the 'Add a user without a Microsoft account' option.
  1. Enter the username and password for the new account. Click on 'Next' to create the user.
  1. Once the user is created, click on 'Change account type' as the new account needs to have administrator privileges.
  1. Select the 'Administrator' option from the dropdown menu and click 'OK' to change privileges.

Now that you have created another admin account, you need to log in to the newly created account and tweak the registry file using the Registry Editor.

Change the User Folder Name Using the Registry Editor

Changing the user folder name using the Registry Editor is a two-part process, which we have explained below. Follow each step with utmost care.

  1. If you are currently logged in to the same user account for which you wish to change the user Folder name, click on 'Sign Out' from the Start Menu.
  2. Then, log in to another user account having administrator privileges from the Sign-in screen.
  3. Once signed in, press Windows+R to bring up the Run Command utility. Then, type netplwiz and hit Enter.
  1. From the User Account window, select the user account for which you wish to change the name and click on the 'Properties' option.
  1. Enter your desired user folder name in the 'User name' field. If the 'Full Name' field is empty, enter your name the way you wish to have it displayed when you log in. Finally, click on 'Apply' and 'OK' to save the changes.
  1. Restart your PC from the Start Menu. Do not skip this step, as the restart helps Windows register the changes in the user account name.
  2. After restarting, open the Start Menu and type 'Terminal'. From the search results, right-click on the 'Terminal' tile and select 'Run as administrators' option.
  1. A UAC (User Account Control) window might appear on your screen. Click 'Yes' to proceed.
  2. On the Terminal window, click on the chevron (downward arrow) and select the 'Command Prompt' option.
  1. Type or copy and paste the below-mentioned command and hit Enter to execute it.

    wmic useraccount get name,SID
  1. Note the 'SID' (Security Identifier) number for the user account for which you wish to change the user folder name.

Now that you have the SID number, you need to make the changes to the Registry.

  1. Open the Start Menu and type 'Registry'. Then, from the search results, click on the 'Registry Editor' tile.
  1. If a UAC (User Account Control) window appears on your screen, click on 'Yes' to continue.
  2. Type or copy and paste the below address in the address bar. Press Enter to navigate to it.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
  3. Select the folder with the SID matching the user name of the account for which you wish to change the folder name.
  1. From the right section of the window, double-click on the 'ProfileImagePath' file to open its properties.
  1. Type the name you want to keep as your user folder name after the backslash \. Do not rewrite anything else in the path. Finally, click 'OK' to save the changes. Exit the Registry Editor.
  1. Double-click on the 'This PC' icon present on the Desktop or press Windows+E keys simultaneously to open a File Explorer window.
  1. Type or copy and paste the below-mentioned address and hit Enter to navigate.

    C:\Users
  1. Now, select the user folder and press F2 key to rename it (if your Fn row keys are disabled; you might have to press Fn +F2 for the shortcut to work).
  1. Type in the name you entered in the registry file and hit Enter to save the changes. Your user folder name should be modified.
Note: If you receive an alert saying, "You can't perform this action", it could be because you are not completely signed out from the main account. Restart your PC and perform the last step again. It should work.

Using the above-mentioned steps, you should be able to change the user folder name easily. However, do exercise caution and perform each step carefully since you are dealing with crucial system files that, if not handled correctly, may render your user account unusable.