Mac OS · macOS

Change a macOS User Account Name and Home Folder

Source-checked About 10 minutes

Answer

Use Apple’s documented account-rename procedure from a different administrator account, back up first, and do not rename the home folder casually because the account name and folder name must remain aligned.

Guide steps4 steps
  1. Back up and create another administrator
  2. Follow Apple’s account-rename procedure
  3. Restart and test the renamed account
  4. Verify the result
  5. If it still does not work

Back up and create another administrator

Back up the Mac and sign in to a separate administrator account before changing the target account.

Follow Apple’s account-rename procedure

Use Apple’s documented steps to rename the home folder and account information together.

Open Apple’s account-name guide

Restart and test the renamed account

Sign in to the renamed account and confirm files, settings, and apps still work before removing the backup.

Verify the result

Restart, sign in to the renamed account, and verify the home path, files, permissions, apps, iCloud, backups, and administrator access before cleanup.

Video walkthrough

If it does not work

  • If login or home access fails, return through the separate administrator and compare both names with Apple's procedure. Keep the backup and do not delete either home folder.
Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on . Scope: macOS.

Reviewed against the linked first-party guidance; interface labels can vary by current app, service, or operating-system version.

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