How to change the name of your macOS user account and home folder

Your macOS user account name is like the label on a jar—it’s how your Mac identifies you and organizes your files. But what if the label no longer fits? Maybe you’ve outgrown ‘TechNoob2020’ or need to update it after a name change. Renaming your account and home folder might sound simple, but one wrong move can leave your Mac confused and your files in disarray.

Don’t worry, though—I’ll walk you through the process step by step, so you can update your digital identity without a hitch.

How to change the name of your macOS user account and home folder

To change the name of your user account, you need to be logged into a different administrator account. If your Mac doesn't have another administrator account, you'll need to create a new one in the Users & Groups settings first:

How to create an Administrator Account on macOS:

Step 1: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences

Step 2: Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups

Step 3: Click the Lock to make changes and click the + Button to add a new user

Step 4: Set the account type to Administrator and complete the setup

How to change the name of your home folder

Step 1: Log out of the account you're renaming: Choose Apple menu  > Log Out

Step 2: Log in to the new administrator account you created in the previous section

Step 3: From the menu bar in the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, then type /Users and press Return. The Users folder will open

Step 4: Select the folder of the account you’re renaming, press Return (Enter) to rename it, and then enter the new name. Don't use any spaces in the new name

How to change the name of your macOS user account

Step 1: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences

Step 2: Click Users & Groups

Step 3: Click the Lock, then enter the password of the new administrator account

Step 4: Right-click (or Control-click) the account that you're renaming. Choose Advanced Options from the menu that appears

Step 5: Update the Account name field to match the new name you gave to your home folder in the previous section (e.g. test123)

Step 6: Change the Full name field. The full name does not need to match the username and can contain spaces

Step 7: Update the username in the Home directory field. Change that name to match the new name of the home folder, but don’t remove /Users/

For example, if User name is test123, then Home directory should be /Users/test123

Step 8: Click OK, then restart your Mac and log in to the renamed account

Conclusion

Renaming your macOS user account and home folder doesn’t have to be a headache. By following these steps, you can update your digital identity safely and efficiently. So, whether you’re ditching ‘TechNoob2020’ or updating your name, go ahead and make the change—your Mac will thank you.

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