How to Set a Custom User Folder Name During Windows 11 Installation

For a long time Microsoft has required users to sign in with a Microsoft account during the Windows 11 OOBE (Out‑of‑Box Experience), and the system automatically creates a user folder name by truncating the first five characters of the account email. Users who prefer privacy or dislike the generated names (e.g., dashua from [email protected]) have had to use workarounds such as Rufus to modify the image before installation.

Microsoft’s latest update, Windows 11 Dev Build 26300.8068, introduces a new OOBE setting that allows users to specify a custom user folder name on the device‑name page. This means you can create a local account first (e.g., named "蓝点网") and later sign in with a Microsoft account without the folder name being changed.

Important constraints: The custom name must comply with Windows NT naming rules—no slashes, backslashes, quotes, pipes, question marks, asterisks, or angle brackets.

Limitations: The feature is currently available only for new installations or full system resets. It will be merged into the Windows 11 25H2 release after testing, but existing installations cannot change the folder name via this OOBE option. Renaming the folder on an existing system carries risk of breaking applications that rely on paths under AppData, so it is not recommended.

In summary, to avoid unwanted truncated user folder names, perform a fresh Windows 11 install (or reset), use the new OOBE screen to set the desired folder name, and then sign in with your Microsoft account.