Whether your legal name has changed or you just want a different handle on an HP laptop, you can use several methods to update your information. Here’s how to do it in Windows 10.
What to Know
- Go to Start > [your name] > Change account settings > Sign in with a local account instead and set a name.On a local account, go to Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts (again) > Change your account name.Alternatively, from the Account settings screen, click Manage my Microsoft account > Your info > Edit name.
How Do I Change My Display Name on My HP Laptop?
You have two main options for changing the display name: switching to a local account on the laptop and updating the name on the Microsoft Account you use for Windows.
How to Switch to a Local Account
If you don’t mind losing some of the functionality and personalization that comes from using your Microsoft account with your HP laptop, you can change your name by switching to a local account to sign in. Here’s how.
- Click the Start menu in the lower-left corner of your desktop.
- Click your name next to your profile picture.
- Select Change account settings.
- Select Sign in with a local account instead.
- A warning will appear; click Next.
- On the next screen, you can change your username to whatever you want it to be. Enter your password information and select Next.
- Click Sign out and finish on the next screen. Windows will sign out your Microsoft account, and you can sign in to the new local one.
How to Change the Name of a Local Account
If you’ve already switched to a local account, you can change the user name later from the Control Panel.
Click the Start menu in the lower-left corner of your desktop.
Click your name next to your profile picture.
Select Change account settings.
Select Sign in with a local account instead.
A warning will appear; click Next.
On the next screen, you can change your username to whatever you want it to be. Enter your password information and select Next.
Click Sign out and finish on the next screen. Windows will sign out your Microsoft account, and you can sign in to the new local one.
When you use a local account, you won’t be able to access features of your Microsoft account through Windows. You can still access all of your documents and cloud files by signing in through a web browser.
- In the search bar at the bottom of your desktop, type Control Panel and select it from the results.
- Select User Accounts.
- Click User Accounts on the next screen, too.
- Select Change your account name.
- Type a new account name into the box and click Change name.
How to Change the Name on Your Microsoft Account
To change your name on your HP laptop while still getting all the benefits of your Microsoft account, you can change your name on that service. Doing so will not only update the info on your laptop but across all of Microsoft’s services.
In the search bar at the bottom of your desktop, type Control Panel and select it from the results.
Select User Accounts.
Click User Accounts on the next screen, too.
Select Change your account name.
Type a new account name into the box and click Change name.
- Click the Start button on your desktop.
- Select your name next to your user picture.
- Click Change account settings.
- Choose Manage my Microsoft account.
- Your Microsoft account page will open in your default web browser. Click Your info at the top of the screen.
- Click Edit name.
- Enter a new first and last name, solve the Captcha, and then click Save.
How Do I Change the Administrator Name on My HP Laptop?
The processes above work for both administrator and regular user accounts, and you can use whichever makes the most sense for your situation. Just be sure you’re signed into the administrator account when you do it.
Click the Start button on your desktop.
Select your name next to your user picture.
Click Change account settings.
Choose Manage my Microsoft account.
Your Microsoft account page will open in your default web browser. Click Your info at the top of the screen.
Click Edit name.
Enter a new first and last name, solve the Captcha, and then click Save.
How Do I Change the Owner Name on My HP Laptop?
Changing the owner name on an HP laptop is a more intensive action than modifying a user name. You’ll usually want to make this update when you’re passing along your computer to a new owner, but you might have other reasons for doing so. Unfortunately, you designate an owner name when you first set up the computer, so the most straightforward way to change it is to factory reset your HP laptop.
- How do I reset the password on my HP laptop?
- Use Microsoft’s Password Recovery to reset your HP laptop password. If another user can log in with administrative access, have them change your password information.
- How do I change the user folder name in Windows 10?
- To change the name of a Windows 10 user folder, create a new local account with the name you want and set it as an administrator, then go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a Microsoft Account instead. From there, move all of your files and applications over to the new account.
- What’s the difference between local and Microsoft accounts in Windows?
- Local accounts are tied to a specific computer. A Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID) can be used on any device to access Microsoft services like the Xbox network, Outlook.com, and OneDrive.
Use Microsoft’s Password Recovery to reset your HP laptop password. If another user can log in with administrative access, have them change your password information.
To change the name of a Windows 10 user folder, create a new local account with the name you want and set it as an administrator, then go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a Microsoft Account instead. From there, move all of your files and applications over to the new account.
Local accounts are tied to a specific computer. A Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID) can be used on any device to access Microsoft services like the Xbox network, Outlook.com, and OneDrive.
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