Change User name in Windows 10 by Editing Registry

In Windows 10, your user name is displayed on the login screen and in various places throughout the operating system. If you want to change your user name, you can do so by editing the Windows Registry. The Registry is a database that stores important settings and configurations for Windows. However, editing the Registry can be risky, so it's important to follow the steps carefully and make a backup of your Registry before making any changes.

Step 1: Create a Registry Backup

Before you start editing the Registry, it's crucial to create a backup in case anything goes wrong. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "regedit" (without quotes) and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, click on "File" in the top menu and select "Export".
4. Choose a location to save the backup file and give it a name.
5. Make sure the "Export range" is set to "All" and click "Save".

Step 2: Edit the Registry

Once you have created a backup of your Registry, you can proceed with changing your user name. Here's how:

1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R, typing "regedit", and pressing Enter.
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location:

3. Under the "ProfileList" key, you will see a list of subkeys with long alphanumeric names. Each subkey represents a user profile on your computer.
4. Click on each subkey and look for the one with the "ProfileImagePath" value containing your current user name.
5. Once you have found the correct subkey, double-click on the "ProfileImagePath" value.
6. In the "Value data" field, change your user name to the desired name.
7. Click "OK" to save the changes.

Step 3: Update User Folder Name

After editing the Registry, you also need to update the name of your user folder. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "sysdm.cpl" (without quotes) and press Enter. This will open the System Properties window.
3. In the System Properties window, go to the "Advanced" tab and click on the "Settings" button under the "User Profiles" section.
4. Select your old user profile and click on the "Copy To" button.
5. In the "Copy To" dialog box, click on the "Browse" button and navigate to the location where you want to create a new user folder with the updated name.
6. Click "OK" to save the changes and create the new user folder.

Step 4: Restart Your Computer

After completing the above steps, it's important to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Once your computer restarts, you should see your new user name on the login screen and in other places throughout Windows 10.

Remember, editing the Registry can be risky, so it's always a good idea to create a backup and proceed with caution. If you encounter any issues or are unsure about making changes to the Registry, it's recommended to seek assistance from a qualified technician or contact Microsoft support.