Here’s a brief tutorial that shows you how to change your username or user id in Ubuntu. We’ve shown you this before but we found a different way to do it and it’s easy. This method uses Ubuntu Recovery Mode to accomplish the same goal. Using the Recovery Mode, one can change his/her username and password as well as the root’s password.
By default, Ubuntu won’t allow you to be signed in to your desktop while you change your username. It’s not possible. You must first login as a different user and then change your username.
That’s what we showed you in the past. To read that tutorial please click here. In that tutorial, we activated the root account, logged-in as root and change the username. This post won’t follow those steps. Instead, we’ll boot into Ubuntu Recovery Mode and change our username and password from there.
So, without wasting anymore of your time, let’s get going.
To get started, hold down the Shift key and boot your computer. When it starts, choose Advanced options for Ubuntu
Next, choose the recovery mode for the latest version of the kernel.
Then scroll down and choose root session to sign into.
On screen, run the commands below to remount the root partition.
mount -rw -o remount /
After that, run the commands below to change your username in Ubuntu.
usermod -c "Real Name" -l New_Name Old_Name
Login and you’ll notice the username for the terminal username@hostname will be changed.
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my username in Ubuntu 12.10 using Recovery Mode?
To change your username in Ubuntu 12.10, boot into Recovery Mode, remount the root partition, and use the usermod command with the old and new usernames.
Can I change both my username and password in Ubuntu Recovery Mode?
Yes, in Ubuntu Recovery Mode, you can change both your username and password by following the appropriate commands and procedures provided.
Why does Ubuntu require me to be signed in as a different user to change my username?
Ubuntu does not allow you to be signed in as the user you are changing the username for due to security reasons and to prevent any potential conflicts during the process.
What is the command to remount the root partition in Ubuntu Recovery Mode?
To remount the root partition in Ubuntu Recovery Mode, use the command 'mount -rw -o remount /' to ensure you have read and write access.
What changes will I notice after successfully changing my username in Ubuntu?
After changing your username in Ubuntu, you will see the updated username reflected in the terminal as username@hostname.
Is it necessary to activate the root account to change my username in Ubuntu 12.10?
No, you do not need to activate the root account to change your username in Ubuntu 12.10; you can accomplish this through Recovery Mode without activating the root account.
Can I change the root password along with my username in Ubuntu Recovery Mode?
Yes, in Ubuntu Recovery Mode, you have the option to change the root password along with your username by following the appropriate steps provided.
What precautions should I take before changing my username in Ubuntu 12.10?
Before changing your username in Ubuntu 12.10, ensure you have backed up any important data and follow the instructions carefully to avoid any potential data loss or system issues.
