HT1428: OS X: How to change your account name or home directory name

Learn about OS X: How to change your account name or home directory name
BonnyDonny

Q: Trying to rename a user's folder (the short name of the account), using Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Suppport page: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428

iMac OS X 10.6.8.  previously migrated account -- need to rename the account at the destination.

 

Step 6 in the support page does not occur.  I never get a chance to hit OK to this:

 

6.  Click OK when "A folder in the Users folder already has the name 'account name'. Would you like to use that folder as the Home folder for this user account?" appears. Note: This will correct the ownership of all files in the Home folder, and avoid permissions issues with the contents.

 

A red flag appears in the field that conflicts (either the short name or the full name). The name(s) cannot be changed! must cancel out.

 

What am I doing wrong?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Previously migrated account

Posted on May 23, 2012 6:41 PM

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Q: Trying to rename a user's folder (the short name of the account), using Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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  • Helpful answers

  • by X423424X,Helpful

    X423424X X423424X May 23, 2012 7:12 PM in response to BonnyDonny
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    May 23, 2012 7:12 PM in response to BonnyDonny

    Did you do step 2?   Log in as root?  You may have missed it but that means when you are prompted for a log in password you use the userid "root" and the password you specified when you enabled root.  This is different than using your own admin account and password.

  • by BonnyDonny,

    BonnyDonny BonnyDonny May 28, 2012 11:11 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (32 points)
    iOS Apps
    May 28, 2012 11:11 PM in response to X423424X

    I did eventually solve my problem (and rename a home folder to match a shortname auto-generated from a new account name). Your suggestion is good, and I had done it in step #2, but the main problem/solution I had was entering the correct 'new' user account name that would auto-generate the short name. It works if you get everything lined up, so to speak.  Thanks.

  • by gotkarisma,

    gotkarisma gotkarisma Aug 8, 2012 10:40 AM in response to BonnyDonny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 8, 2012 10:40 AM in response to BonnyDonny

    Hi, Could you explain exactly what you did? I get the little red flag too and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Thanks!