macOS Catalina - change account name?

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Level 1

8 points

macOS Catalina - change account name?

So, I just got a new MacBook Pro today. Somehow the account name got a small letter at the start, and I'd like to change this.

I googlet a bit and learned that I have to make a new admin user to do this. So, I did (with the same Apple ID), but when I log onto this new admin user, it doesn't give me the "Advanced Options" so that I can change the account name (on my original admin user). I did however manage to change the letter in the corresponding home folder, AND, I am allowed to change the account name on this new admin user, when logged onto my original admin user.

I know this isn't a big deal, but I want it fixed. Can someone please help me? :)

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 6, 2020 12:39 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

68,426 points

Mar 6, 2020 1:29 PM in response to jannecg

Did you mark the "Administrator" checkbox when you created the new user account? By default new user accounts default to a "Standard" user.

BTW, the short username is supposed to have a lowercase initial character. If you made a mistake and used a lowercase character in the long username, then you can just change the long username from your original account. FYI, macOS will also remove any spaces from the long username when creating the short username.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

135,521 points

Mar 6, 2020 12:45 PM in response to jannecg

Change the name of your macOS user account and home folder - Apple Support

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

135,521 points

Mar 6, 2020 1:48 PM in response to jannecg

Not a problem. First of all, when you create the new Admin account there is no "checkbox". You select "Administrator" from the drop down menu…

I suggest you delete the new account you made and start over.

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Answer 4

jannecg Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 6, 2020 1:38 PM in response to HWTech

Hi, thanks for your reply!

Yes, I checked the box to make the new user an admin.

When logged onto my orignal admin user, and in the "Advanced Options" menu, my full name is spelled correctly with uppercase initial letters. It is only the account name which has the lowercase initial letter (the account name being "janne" with a lower case j.

From my original admin user I can change the account name of my new/alternative admin user, and there I can use an uppercase initial letter.

But, if you mean that this account name is by default supposed to have a lower case initial, I guess I'll just have to leave it.. However, is seems strange to me - as I am able to change it for the alternative admin account.

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Answer 5

jannecg Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 6, 2020 1:41 PM in response to dialabrain

Sorry if I was being unclear; when I am logged onto the alternative admin user that I created solely to fix this issue, it doesn't give me the "Advanced Options" at all when I right click.

I only get the "Advanced Options" when I am logged onto my original admin user, that was created when I set up this new Mac.

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Answer 6

jannecg Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 6, 2020 1:17 PM in response to dialabrain

Thanks, but I already saw this - the problem is that I don't get the "Advanced Options" menu when logged onto the new/alternative admin user I created.

The "Advanced Options" menu is only accessible from my original admin user - and that obviously doesn't help, when the change has to be made from another admin user :(

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Answer 7

dialabrain

Level 10

135,521 points

Mar 6, 2020 1:37 PM in response to jannecg

jannecg wrote:

The "Advanced Options" menu is only accessible from my original admin user - and that obviously doesn't help, when the change has to be made from another admin user :(

Not sure what you think that means. You are changing the "original admin user".

It works as advertised.

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macOS Catalina - change account name?

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