Windows 11 Now Lets You Set a Custom User Folder Name During Setup
Windows 11 has long used the first 5 letters of your Microsoft Account email as your user folder name (e.g., C:\Users\patri), but Microsoft is now fixing this with a new OOBE option.
What’s Changing
In Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8068 (Dev Channel), Microsoft added a “User folder name” field on the Device Name page during Windows Setup. You can now type a custom name — up to 16 Unicode characters — right when setting up your PC, on the same screen where you set the device name.
This matters beyond just looks. Anyone working in Command Prompt or PowerShell often struggles to remember a truncated, email-based folder name that doesn’t match their actual name.
Do It Now via Command Prompt
If you don’t want to wait for the stable rollout, you can set the folder name manually during a fresh install:
- On the sign-in page, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt
- Type
cd oobeand press Enter - Type
SetDefaultUserFolder.cmd <YourFolderName> - Sign in with your Microsoft Account
A Few Caveats
- Microsoft still defaults to the first 5 email letters if you skip the new field
- There’s also a “Hide user folder name” option, though the purpose isn’t fully clear
- The feature is still in Dev Channel testing, so a stable release isn’t imminent
- macOS and Linux have offered this during setup for a long time — Windows is catching up late
The article also takes a shot at the overall OOBE experience, noting that a fresh Windows 11 install can take close to an hour due to mandatory updates, unskippable subscription prompts (Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Game Pass), and the lack of a simple local account setup path.
