Mac OS X: change account name - Here's how
If you want to change your account name on Mac OS X, it is not that easy, since the settings are a bit hidden for security reasons. We'll tell you how you can still do it.
Give your account a new name on Mac OS X.
Tip: As always with deeper system interventions, you should back up your data as a precaution - for example with TimeMaschine. The following instructions are for Mac OS X from version 10.7.
- First you have to log in as administrator. However, it cannot be the account name you want to change. In this case, simply create a second administrator account.
- After logging in, assign the new user name to the corresponding user folder and then enter the administrator password.
- Then go to the system settings and select the option "Users & Groups".
- In the "Users and Groups" menu, click on the lock symbol under "Settings" and enter the administrator name and password.
- Then go to the account to be changed, press the right mouse button and choose "Advanced Options" in the context menu.
- Now you can change the "Account Name" and the name for the "User Folder" according to your previously made information (point 2).
- Finally, confirm your details with "OK" and restart the Mac.
- If you log in to the renamed account after the restart, you should find everything as it was before - apart from the account name, of course.
In the next practical tip, we will show you how to change the device name under Mac OS X.