Changing a User's Username

You may want to change a user's username if for example, a username is based on the user's last name and the user formally changes their last name. There are two methods to change someone's username.

Step-by-step Guide

To change the user's username via the browser-based form:

1. Go to Site Administration > Users > Accounts > Browse list of users

2. Click on the cogwheel next to the user in question

3. Modify the username and click on the "Update profile" button

NOTE: You cannot modify the username if the user authenticates against an Active Directory server or some other third-party system that controls their username. You will first need to modify their authentication method to "manual" using this procedure. Once you've set their authentication method to "manual", change their username following the 3 steps above, and then change their authentication method to its original value. 

To change the user's username via Upload Users:

1. Create a CSV file with, at a minimum, the "username" column and another column that uniquely identifies uses and that will not change (e.g. an employee ID).

2. Follow the Upload Users procedure using the following settings in the web page:

   1. Upload type: Select "Update existing users only"

   2. User mapping: Map the unique user value that will not change (e.g. employee ID)

   3. User mapping control: Enable "Strict"

   4. Allow renames: Select "Yes"

   5. Click on the "Upload users" link at the bottom of the page

Related Articles

• Changing a User's Authentication Method

• Uploading Users