Truncated username under "C:\Users" for Microsoft account

It appears the "normal" behavior when logging into Windows with a Microsoft account for the first time will truncate the username for the user profile. It's been this way since Windows 10.

`C:\Users\michae` instead of `C:\Users\michael`

So, is this considered bug or intended? If I wanted to correct this, what are the steps necessary to do it? If I switch to a local user account, the truncated username still exists ``C:\Users\michae`. I'm not sure how to release the Microsoft account from the PC; and, how to login again with it using the local user profile folder.

I'm not even sure if it's advised to do anything differently than logging in with a Microsoft account after installing Windows for the first time.

It's intended, it uses "Up to the first 5 characters" of the name to create the profile.

To correct this, you can view this: Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

--Edit, seems yours is 6 characters, so not sure on that, cause it's always been 5 for me.

Archigos said:

It's intended, it uses "Up to the first 5 characters" of the name to create the profile.

To correct this, you can view this: Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

--Edit, seems yours is 6 characters, so not sure on that, cause it's always been 5 for me.

Click to expand...

It would be easier to just do a clean install, disconnect the internet and set up as a local account.

Archigos said:

It's intended, it uses "Up to the first 5 characters" of the name to create the profile.

To correct this, you can view this: Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

--Edit, seems yours is 6 characters, so not sure on that, cause it's always been 5 for me.

Click to expand...

MS will use the first five characters of your email address. I wonder if MS has set a limit for how long of a user name it will show.

JMedlock83 said:

It would be easier to just do a clean install, disconnect the internet and set up as a local account.

Click to expand...

You could create a new user account, move your files over then delete the old user account.

Actually, I was able to correct the issue in just a couple of minutes with a couple of easy steps. Thanks to

How to Change Your Account Name on Windows 10 (under the section : What about Your User Folder Name?)

However, I only dared doing this on a brand new Windows 11 installation that didn't have any new Win32/'Win64 apps installed yet.

1. Logged in as the user "Administrator" (temporarily enabling this account)
2. Renamed `C:\Users\michae` to `C:\Users\Michael`
3. In regedit, I changed HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-xx-xxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxx\ProfileImagePath value from o`C:\Users\micha` `C:\Users\Michael`.

After that I removed the user profile Administrator.

MKANET said:

Actually, I was able to correct the issue in just a couple of minutes with a couple of easy steps. Thanks to

How to Change Your Account Name on Windows 10 (under the section : What about Your User Folder Name?)

However, I only dared doing this on a brand new Windows 11 installation that didn't have any new Win32/'Win64 apps installed yet.

1. Logged in as the user "Administrator" (temporarily enabling this account)
2. Renamed `C:\Users\michae` to `C:\Users\Michael`
3. In regedit, I changed HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-xx-xxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxx\ProfileImagePath value from o`C:\Users\micha` `C:\Users\Michael`.

After that I removed the user profile Administrator.

Click to expand...

Actually it wasn't a good idea. There were literally dozen of references in the Windows registry with the truncated name still. I'm going to just accept that this is normal behavior and use the truncated name.

If you follow the tutorial I linked, that takes care of all that for you and you don't have to worry about it. (I've used it on three of my systems with no problems).

MKANET said:

After that I removed the user profile Administrator.

Click to expand...

Bad idea. The account named Administrator is a hidden account for a reason and meant to be used for troubleshooting. One enables and disables use of this account but one should never remove it.

Archigos said:

If you follow the tutorial I linked, that takes care of all that for you and you don't have to worry about it. (I've used it on three of my systems with no problems).

Click to expand...

Thank you. Sorry, I didn't see that. I'll do that from now on if I have a PC that it's not an option to install Window11 cleanly.

I actually ended up installing Windows 11 cleanly (since this is a brand new PC), this time adding a local account instead of a Microsoft account (using the method mentioned in the link below). Then, I just switched to my Microsoft account as soon as Windows 11 boots for the first time.
How to Install Windows 11 with Local Account

Winuser said:

You could create a new user account, move your files over then delete the old user account.

Click to expand...

I tried that and it screwed things up badly!

JMedlock83 said:

I tried that and it screwed things up badly!

Click to expand...

It only screws it up if one MOVES files. You cannot move from one user to another without causing all kinds of permission problems. To circumvent this, one copies files from one account to external media. Then one copies the files from external media into new account.

glasskuter said:

Bad idea. The account named Administrator is a hidden account for a reason and meant to be used for troubleshooting. One enables and disables use of this account but one should never remove it.

Click to expand...

Actually, it is alright doing that.
The account is not deleted, only its profile i.e. its settings, parts of its use history, ...

The next time the Built-in Admin is [enabled then] logged into, it will behave as though it has not been logged into before.
That's all that happens. There are no problems.

All the best,
Denis

JMedlock83 said:

I tried that and it screwed things up badly!

Click to expand...

Did you copy and paste just your files or did you try to move the entire user folders? You just want to copy and paste your files and folders inside the user folders. Only delete the old user after you're sure you new user account is all setup and working.

how hard would it be for Microsoft to set it so account names based off the email address count to the first number or symbol, or at let users set their own account name in a hidden menu?

Winuser said:

Did you copy and paste just your files or did you try to move the entire user folders? You just want to copy and paste your files and folders inside the user folders. Only delete the old user after you're sure you new user account is all setup and working.

Click to expand...

Futurdreamz said:

how hard would it be for Microsoft to set it so account names based off the email address count to the first number or symbol, or at let users set their own account name in a hidden menu?

Click to expand...

It would be easy. Instead they want to worry about new emojis and desktop stickers.

Yeah, all the other folders can be numerous characters, spaces, etc., but yours has to be a truncated 5 character moniker! 🤷‍♂️

Edwin said:

Yeah, all the other folders can be numerous characters, spaces, etc., but yours has to be a truncated 5 character moniker! 🤷‍♂️

View attachment 55595

Click to expand...

You have to bear in mind "yoof" of today only speak 5 letters max in names often with Z(ed)s.

Bazza, Gazza, Izzy, Kaz.

More than five letter, surname or forename confuses the little darlings.

Edwin said:

Yeah, all the other folders can be numerous characters, spaces, etc., but yours has to be a truncated 5 character moniker! 🤷‍♂️

View attachment 55595

Click to expand...

That's why I don't use my MS account when I setup a new Windows install. MS is now trying their best to force users into using a MS account. I have read post that say you can opt out and other post that say they removed the option. Using an MS account should be a opt in and not a opt out option. If they don't want to do that they should at least give the user the option to choose their user name.

Winuser said:

I have read post that say you can opt out and other post that say they removed the option.

Click to expand...

You can optout with the official oobebypass method


Its a bit of a clumsy way of doing it but it works.