Rename User in Linux

12 February 2025

Linux, CLI

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You cannot be logged in as the current user you are renaming, so do one of the following...

• Use root account:
  • Enable root (if not enabled) by setting password: sudo passwd root
  • Logout and login as root: logout
• Use another sudo-enabled account:
  • Logout and login with a sudo-enabled account: logout
  • Use sudo before the below commands or use sudo su - to elevate

Replace oldname with your old username and newname with the new username…

1. Rename the login username: usermod -l newname oldname
2. Update the home directory: usermod -d /home/newname -m newname
3. Update primary group: groupmod -n newname oldname
4. Rename the full name: chfn -f "Full Name" newname
   • Replace Full Name with the new full name
5. Logout and login as new user: logout

Disable root account (if you enabled it):

1. Delete the password: sudo passwd -d root
2. Lock the account: sudo passwd -l root