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.
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.
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.