renaming 'Home Folder'

[tomf]

Hi,

I got a new mac pro a few weeks ago, and i was just wondering how do i change the name of the home folder, its currently called 'mac_user' -

Thanks

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

have a look here : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428?viewlocale=en_US

Do not use any other method !

 

[talmy]

Don't try to change it. Instead add a new user account with the name you want. The home folder will have that name.

 

[tomf]

thanks, i saw that but i can't seem to enable 'root user'

at step 5. Click the "Edit..." or "Join..." button at the bottom right - i don't see that option?

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Don't try to change it. Instead add a new user account with the name you want. The home folder will have that name.

If i do that, won't i have 2 accounts then? I only want the one.

 

[talmy]

Hi,

have a look here : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428?viewlocale=en_US

Do not use any other method !

However there is a warning about this method at the bottom of the app note:

Note: Although you can change your Home name in Mac OS X v10.3 or later, you usually shouldn't.

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If i do that, won't i have 2 accounts then? I only want the one.

Yes. Copy over the files you need and then delete the first account.

 

[tomf]

copy over the files i need? that sounds complicated, there could be thousands of files? how would i ever know what to copy over.

 

[talmy]

You just got it. How many could there be? If you just copy all of Documents, Music, Movies, and Pictures (and maybe Desktop) you will have everything but the databases for Contacts, Calendar, and Mail. The first two you can export an archive in the old account and import in the new. Mail requires digging -- but if you don't have any POP accounts you can just reconnect.

You do have to go to the properties for these folders and change the permission to make them readable by Everyone. Alternatively, you can copy everything to an external drive and then copy it back to the new account, which will avoid the permission issues.

 

[tomf]

the bonus here is i have nothing in music/pictures/documents/movies and desktop.

I'm not so confident about the rest though lol

I have 3 emails, a mac one, and 2 imap ones (one gmail and another one)

when you say copy everything, what exactly would i need to copy?

thanks

 

[talmy]

the bonus here is i have nothing in music/pictures/documents/movies and desktop.

I'm not so confident about the rest though lol

I have 3 emails, a mac one, and 2 imap ones (one gmail and another one)

when you say copy everything, what exactly would i need to copy?

thanks

The IMAP accounts (which includes your iCloud one) don't require any copying. It sounds to me that you actually have nothing on your system to copy. You do lose any application preference settings and license keys (if any), but, again, what do you have?

 

[tomf]

i think i'll have a think about it, don't want to risk ruining anything.

 

[talmy]

You don't have to delete the original account until you have determined everything is all right.

 

[Fishrrman]

Don't overthink this.

Just create a new account with the name you want.

Then, you can "manually copy" items from the old home folder into the new one, WITH THIS CAUTION:
You CANNOT copy the folders "immediately inside" your home folder (such as "movies", "music", "pictures", etc.

However, you CAN copy whatever is INSIDE those folders.
For example, if there are pics in your "pictures" folder, do this:
1. Open the OLD "pictures" folder
2. Select one, or more, or all of the items inside it.
3. Drag and drop them into your NEW "pictures" folder in the NEW account.

Give this a try.
It's easy and you will "lose nothing", because those items you are copying will remain in the old account until you delete it.

Create the new account, copy things as required, and run with the new account for a few days. If all looks good, then you can delete the old account if you wish.

 

[tomf]

is this the best method, to create a new user then delete the old one? seems like a lot of trouble to change the home folder name.

just want to make sure.