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gilli2000 Author

Level 1

0 points

How to change name on Home folder?

I have an Apple iBook PPC G4 1.33 GHz running Leopard OS X version 10.5.8 and with 1 GB Memory. I just purchased this machine, which is in excellent condition, but I have a problem. It is not earthshattering and doesn't threaten the life of the machine in any way, but it is my machine and I would like the Home directory to reflect that.

The name in the System Preferences for Administrator is "gdavies", which is myself, but the Home Folder in the Finder sidebar is named "macuser". I went in as root user and came close to complete disaster, but got out in time. Having me named as administrator in Accounts but not on the Home directory is unusual. If both were called "macuser" I believe I could fix it, but this requires a greater level of expertise than I have.

Any ideas how to make home folder read "gdavies"? I just bought this iBook and it came with the Home folder named as "macuser". I changed the computer's name in "Sharing" in system prefs and I believe I may have changed the name in the Accounts. I know I should not have done it that way, but it doesn't help changing it back.

When I open the Users folder in the Mac HD there are there folders, one called "gdavies" with 10 items, most empty, such as desktop, downloads and so on, though dropbox is there.

The next folder is the house icon for the Home directory named "macuser" with 38 items and is the working folder. Then there is a folder called "shared", which contains no items.

How do I change the Home directory name in the Finder window sidebar to "gdavies'?

iBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 1.33 GHz, PPC G4, 1 GB Memory

Posted on Oct 9, 2011 11:19 AM

37 replies

row_n

Level 1

0 points

Apr 30, 2013 7:23 AM in response to dlearyous

Hey,

I have recently encountered the same problem on a work computer that I have taken over. Managed to find this article which states how to change: http://www.cultofmac.com/126621/how-to-move-or-rename-your-mac-home-folder-macrx /

Would be very careful as the warning suggests as playing around with these settings could do some damage.

May 1, 2013 9:48 AM in response to dlearyous

Right click the home folder, select get info And under name and extension and change the name.

ronjet9

Level 1

3 points

Jul 24, 2013 8:11 AM in response to rabbitjetta

I can not also do a rename. and under "name and extensions" it is greyed out. 😟 please help. Using osx 10.6.8 here.

ronjet9

Level 1

3 points

Jul 24, 2013 8:10 PM in response to gilli2000

Im trying to change the short name of my mac. But i cant rename a Folder under Finder>Users. How do i rename it? Selecting the folders name and then pressing Return won't help. Also clicking the folder by 2 inetrval clicks doesn't work. Under 'Get info' -'Name & Extension:' ,under that, the name was greyed out. And you can not edit it.

How do I rename the home folder?

I'm logged in as Admin, and the 'sharing & permissions' was set to read and write. Same with all the users..

Thanks.

ronjet9

Level 1

3 points

Jul 24, 2013 8:12 PM in response to gilli2000

Need help. This is the one that I would like to rename under Users>deleted user account folder.

Ex: Finder>MacintoshHD>Users>'Useraccount'(Deleted)--- this one is the 'folder'

Oct 29, 2013 1:14 PM in response to row_n

row_n wrote:

Hey,

I have recently encountered the same problem on a work computer that I have taken over. Managed to find this article which states how to change: http://www.cultofmac.com/126621/how-to-move-or-rename-your-mac-home-folder-macrx /

Would be very careful as the warning suggests as playing around with these settings could do some damage.

I wonder if the procedures in this link would preserve the files, apps, itunes account and settings associated with the old name. How did it go for you? Thanks.

Nov 2, 2013 6:04 PM in response to gilli2000

As suggested by some people, I tried the instructions from this link:

http://www.cultofmac.com/126621/how-to-move-or-rename-your-mac-home-folder-macrx /

It worked like a charm, and only took about 5 minutes to do. Prior to finding this article, I had wasted hours of futile attempts to change the home folder name, just like gilli2000 described. I did not lose any files or settings from the procedures outlined in the article...if only I had come across this thing from the beginning!

How to change name on Home folder?