Windows 10 'Users' subfolder name

[JackKelly]

During the setup process for my new laptop, Windows created a subfolder under C:\Users named the first five characters of my e-mail address, 'jkinn'. This seems to be my active user folder. I would like to change the name of this folder to a more friendly one, such as 'Jack', but Windows won't allow a name change to this folder. Is there an undocumented  or alternative method to change the name? 

I was able to create another Users subfolder named 'Jack', but all it seems to be used for is the personalization of the user name on the logon screen.

Any help or ideas will be gratefully appreciated. Thank you.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@JackKelly

Rats -- this is so common -- and I have done it more than once with a new computer even though I really do know better by now.  Smiling. 

Microsoft sign-in, when used to create an account, likes to name the account folder as it wishes (part of the email name)  -- and it won't easily let go once it does so.

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Read through the following and then act...

Create a new "Local" account named Jack.

Settings > Accounts > Family and other people > Add someone else to this PC

Select I don't have this person's sign-in information

Select Add a user without a Microsoft Account

In User name box, (type your account name): Jack

Enter a good, strong password >

Confirm the password >

Enter a "hint" to help you remember the password if needed -- remember:  do NOT type in the actual password; this information will be visible to other than yourself.

• After the account is created, Click on the account setup and change the account type to "Admin".
• Log out of your account

• Sign into the new local "Jack" account to make sure it works as expected.
• Check to see if you can change folders into your original Users\"jkinn" folder and that you have read/write access to the data in the folder.  This is to prove the account is "admin" and that have permission to copy data in the jkinn folder over to the Jack folder.
• Log out of the local Jack account
• Log into your Microsoft account (jkinn)

Change the Sign-in method:

Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a local account instead

• Log out of your now "local" account
• Log into the Jack account

Change the Sign-in method:

Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a Microsoft account

• Log out of "Jack"
• Wait a few seconds...
• Log into Jack using Microsoft sign-in

NOTES

After you switch Jack to a Microsoft sign-in, the user folder will remain Jack -- the sign-in (log in) will now use your Microsoft account to afford you the benefits associated with the Microsoft account.

As long as you have assigned a wicked, good password to the now "local" account jkinn, you can keep it around for emergency use.  What?  If your main account becomes locked, compromised, or otherwise unavailable, you can at least get into the computer for the purpose of troubleshooting or retrieving data.

Optional

Copy any data from the jkinn folder(s) over to your "new" account.  Do not copy stuff from AppData -- this usually doesn't work and can cause weird things to happen when it does work.

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It takes less time to accomplish than it does to read about it.  Smiling.

You may find instructions for this sort of thing that skip part of the back-and-forth.  I have "padded" the How-to to help ensure you don't accidentally lock yourself out of your computer.  Decide how you want to proceed.

Next time you want to create a new account that resides in a particular folder hierarchy, remember to create the account first as a local account and then switch that account to the Microsoft Sign-in.

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