QUICK ANSWER

• To change a local account's username in Windows 11, go to Control Panel > User Accounts, make sure your profile is selected, and choose Change your/the account name.
• If Windows is linked to a Microsoft account, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info > Manage my accounts. This should open a Microsoft webpage. Click on the Your info tab, then Edit name.

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How to change your local account name in Windows 11

Remember that you can only try this method if you’re using a local Windows account. If you’re signed into a Microsoft account, you won’t even see these options.

Most likely, this is the path you need to follow. You probably created or signed into a Microsoft account during Windows setup, and the company encourages users to stick with the cloud for both sync and shopping purposes. Follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app, normally launched via a gear icon in the taskbar. Otherwise, use the Search field to find it.
• Click on Accounts in the app’s sidebar, then Your info.
• Click on Accounts/Manage my accounts. This will open a Microsoft account page in your web browser. If necessary, sign in. You can of course skip earlier steps and go straight to the webpage if you have the link.
• Click on the Your info tab at the top of the page.
• In your profile info, click Edit name.

Yes, you can change both local and Microsoft usernames to anything you wan within character limits. There’s a 20-character limit for local usernames, and a 64-character limit for first and last names when you change the name linked to your Microsoft account.

The Microsoft account name and local usernames are just the display names that others will see. The primary alias is the account option (an email address or phone number) used to sign into Microsoft devices like a computer or an Xbox. While you can change your usernames as often as you want, you can only switch the primary alias twice a week.