How To Change Your Ubuntu Username Without Losing Settings and Permissions

In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of changing your Ubuntu username without losing your settings and permissions. This process involves using the usermod command, which is a powerful tool for managing user accounts on a Linux system.

Precautions

Before we proceed, it’s important to note that changing your username can have unintended consequences if not done correctly. Some settings and configurations may still reference your old username, and you may need to update these manually. Therefore, it’s always recommended to backup your important data before making any changes to your system.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Log out of your current session

First, you need to log out of your current session. You can do this by clicking on the power icon in the top right corner of your screen and selecting ‘Log Out’. Alternatively, you can restart your computer.

Step 2: Enter console mode

Next, you need to enter console mode. This can be done by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or Ctrl+Alt+F2 on some Ubuntu versions) at the login screen.

Step 3: Log in with your current username and password

In console mode, you will be prompted to log in. Enter your current username and password.

Step 4: Set a password for the root account

To set a password for the root account, run the following command:

sudo passwd root

This command uses sudo to run the passwd command as the root user. The passwd command is used to change the password of a user account. In this case, it’s changing the password of the root account.

Step 5: Log out of your current session

To log out of your current session, type exit and press Enter.

Step 6: Log in as root

Next, log in as the root user using the password you set in Step 4.

Step 7: Change your username and home directory name

To change your username and home directory name, run the following command:

usermod -l <newname> -d /home/<newname> -m <oldname>

Here’s what each parameter does:

• -l <newname>: This changes the login name (i.e., the username). Replace <newname> with your desired new username.
• -d /home/<newname>: This changes the home directory. Replace <newname> with your desired new username.
• -m: This moves the contents of the current home directory to the new home directory.
• <oldname>: This is your current username. Replace <oldname> with your current username.

Step 8: Change the group name

To change the group name associated with your username, run the following command:

groupmod -n <newgroup> <oldgroup>

Here’s what each parameter does:

• -n <newgroup>: This changes the name of the group. Replace <newgroup> with your desired new group name.
• <oldgroup>: This is your current group name. Replace <oldgroup> with your current group name.

Step 9: Lock the root account

To prevent further login as the root user, run the following command:

passwd -l root

The -l option is used to lock the specified account.

Step 10: Update the mount point

If you have an encrypted home directory, you need to update the mount point to reflect your new home directory. Use the ecryptfs-recover-private command and edit the <mountpoint>/.ecryptfs/Private.mnt file accordingly.

Step 11: Log out of the root account

To log out of the root account, type exit and press Enter.

Step 12: Return to the Ubuntu login screen

Press Ctrl+Alt+F7 (or Ctrl+Alt+F1 on some Ubuntu versions) to return to the Ubuntu login screen.

Step 13: Log in with your new username and password

Finally, log in using your new username and password.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can change your Ubuntu username while preserving your settings, permissions, and authentication keys. Remember to always backup your important data before making any changes to your system. If you encounter any issues, you can refer to the Ubuntu documentation or ask for help on the Ubuntu forums.