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Asked: 2024-09-26T04:32:54+05:30 In:

How can I change the username on my Ubuntu system?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been diving into Ubuntu for a little while now, and I’ve run into a bit of a snag with something that seems super straightforward but is actually turning out to be a bit of a headache for me. I really want to change my username, but I’m not exactly sure how to go about it without breaking my system or losing my files.

Here’s the deal: when I first installed Ubuntu, I went with a username I thought was cool at the time, but now I’m just not feeling it anymore. I mean, who wants to be known as “CoolCat123” for the rest of eternity, right? So I decided it’s high time for a change. I did some digging online, but the steps I found are somewhat scattered or contradict each other. I’m honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I don’t want to mess anything up.

I’ve heard that you can use the terminal to rename a username, but honestly, some of those commands look a bit intimidating. I’m not a total noob, but I definitely wouldn’t call myself a pro either. I’m all for using the terminal, but I just want to make sure I’m following the right steps to avoid any disaster. Do I need to be logged in as a different user to do this? What about changing the home directory name? Is that necessary? I know some users have had issues with their permissions after changing usernames, so I’d love to hear about any tips on that too.

If anyone has a step-by-step guide or some advice on the best way to go about this, I’d really appreciate it! Also, if there are any potential pitfalls I should be aware of, that would be super helpful to know, too. I just want to make this transition as smooth as possible because the last thing I want to do is lock myself out or lose important files in the process.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

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    2 Answers



    1. Changing Your Ubuntu Username

      Changing Your Username in Ubuntu

      Changing your username in Ubuntu can feel a bit daunting, but I got you! You can do this without breaking anything or losing your files. Here’s a step-by-step guide that I hope will make it easier for you:

      1. Backup Your Files: Before you do anything, it’s always a good idea to back up your important files. You never know!
      2. Log Out: You need to log out of your current account and log in as a different user. If you don’t have another user, you can create a temporary one for this purpose.
      3. Open the Terminal: Once you’re logged in as the other user, open the terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
      4. Change the Username: In the terminal, type the following command, replacing oldusername with your current username and newusername with what you want: 
        sudo usermod -l newusername oldusername
      5. Change the Home Directory Name: This is important! You also need to change the home directory name for the user. Type: 
        sudo usermod -d /home/newusername -m newusername
      6. Update Any Group References: If your old username was part of any groups, you should change these too. Run: 
        sudo groupmod -n newusername oldusername
      7. Change Files Ownership: If you’ve got files in your old home directory, you need to change their ownership. Do this with: 
        sudo chown -R newusername:newusername /home/newusername
      8. Log Back In: Now, log out of the temporary user account and log back in using your new username. Everything should be good to go!

      Some potential pitfalls to watch out for:

      • Make sure to double-check the usernames you type in the terminal to avoid typos.
      • If you have any scheduled tasks or scripts, you might need to update them with your new username.
      • If you’re using graphical applications that might reference the old username, you might need to reconfigure them.

      All in all, as long as you follow these steps, you should be fine! Don’t forget to take your time, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you get stuck. Good luck!



    2. Changing your username in Ubuntu is definitely achievable, and with some careful steps, you can do it without breaking your system. To begin with, you should log in as a different user who has administrative privileges or boot into recovery mode to ensure you don’t change the username for the user account you are currently logged into. Open a terminal and use the following command to change your username: sudo usermod -l new_username old_username. After updating the username, you should also change the home directory to match the new username by executing: sudo usermod -d /home/new_username -m new_username. This will ensure that your files remain in the correct home directory and that permissions are properly set.

      Post-renaming, it’s wise to check for any potential issues, as some configurations might still reference your old username. For instance, if you have any application-specific configurations or scripts, make sure to update those paths accordingly. Additionally, you might want to modify the /etc/passwd and /etc/group files manually to confirm that everything points to your new username. It’s advisable to create a backup of your important files beforehand, just in case something goes awry. If you face any permission issues later on, you can resolve them by running commands like sudo chown -R new_username:new_username /home/new_username to correct ownership of your home directory. This approach will help you transition smoothly without locking yourself out or losing any important data.


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