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How to permanently change my user profile's name that gets synced with my Microsoft Account to my PC every time I factory reset my machine?

Anonymous
2020-06-17T02:00:42+00:00

To be clear, I know how to change the user profile's name after the fact (as shown in here,) but I don't want to have to do it every time I do a factory reset to my PC, or every time I setup a new PC for myself. As long as I sign in to my Microsoft Account in Windows's setup process, my old user profile's name emerges under %SystemDrive%\Users. Is there a way I can permanently change my user profile's name that is apparently attached to my Microsoft Account persistently? I have tried deleting my synced settings on OneDrive (in here) after toggling off "Sync settings" under Settings -> Accounts -> Sync your settings, but it didn't really help.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-17T02:37:43+00:00

    To avoid having to set up the MS Account and having it abbreviate the first five letters of the MS Account email address to use as Account Profile folder name, set up a Local Account during setup which you can later convert in Windows Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a Microsoft Account Instead.

    To create a Local Account during setup after Version 1903 removed this ability, disconnect from the internet when you get to that step so it offers the choice, as shown here: https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-wind...

    You can then click “Skip” to skip the Microsoft account creation process and the next screen will let you choose a Local Account. and name your User folder anything you want.  Then as soon as you get into Windows you can change to a MS Account as I wrote above..  

    I hope this is what you want because it wasn't made clear at all - if not then please explain more fully.  I also asked you to wait to rate whether my post resolved your problem until after I had the chance to fully help you.  Now I have a bad rating on the thread, and no one else will pick it up due to this.

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  1. Greg Carmack 24,770 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-06-17T03:48:05+00:00

    Is setting up a Local Account during Installation which you can then change to the MS account after install and still have the desired folder name not a solution for you?

    I have some personal history with this issue, since it upset so many in forums in the early days of Windows 10 that I escalated to developers the issue of Setup abbreviating email address to first-five as the Account folder name, due to installer not being able to connect to MS account to find out the desired User name.  Why not just have them put in the User folder name during Setup?  

    I got a reply months later that they intended to keep it that way.   Shortly afterward Shawn published the first safe method to change the User folder name, which had caused fatal errors in the past. 

    If you want to express your opinion on this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

    If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-17T02:10:59+00:00

    Hi AA. I'm G Greg, an installation specialist, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator, here to help you.

    There are two steps to changing the Microsoft Account User name in Windows 10:

    First follow these steps to change the Microsoft Account User Name:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402772...

    Then to change the User Account Profile Folder name follow these steps:

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/89060-chang...

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post resolved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ______________________________________________

    Note: Linked tutorial is from Shawn Brink who is a trusted Microsoft MVP.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-06-17T02:56:53+00:00

    I am deeply sorry that I overlooked the last paragraph in your first reply. This is my first time interacting with people on this platform, and because of my frustration over not being able to dig up an answer to my question on my own, I was way too quick to make judgments and take actions. I will make sure to not rate a reply so quickly again in the future. May I ask, how can I make it up for you?

    To be fair though, I have made it clear (and specifically started my question with a "to be clear" that clarifies in advance) that I knew how to change my user profile's name after the fact, but that "I don't want to have to do it every time I do a factory reset to my PC, or every time I setup a new PC for myself". So it wasn't really on me that you have misunderstood my initial question. Nevertheless, I will make sure not to rate a reply so soon in the future, even if it doesn't immediately solve my problem. 

    Regards

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-06-17T02:24:08+00:00

    Thanks for your quick reply. However, for the first step you have provided, my Microsoft Account's display name isn't what I want to change; and your second step is exactly what I meant when I said I knew what to do to change my user profile's name under %SystemDrive%\Users after the fact. What I really want here, is to make it so that I don't have to repeatedly do it every single time I sign in with my Microsoft Account in Windows' initial setup process after factory resetting my PC.

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