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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > macOS > Renaming Home Folder

Renaming Home Folder
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jriveractu
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Jun 18, 2006, 12:21 AM
 
Hi, does anyone know if it's possible to rename the Home Folder?
     
icruise
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Jun 18, 2006, 02:38 AM
 
If by that you mean the user folder, then it's definitely not a good idea to rename it. It will seriously screw with many programs.
     
jriveractu  (op)
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Jun 18, 2006, 01:39 PM
 
Yeah, tell me about it. When my iMac was new, I decided to rename it just like that, and it created a new folder with the original short name next to the home folder. Luckily I was able to rename the home folder to its original name and no damage was done . I've been reading around and I guess the only way is to create a new user.
( Last edited by jriveractu; Jun 18, 2006 at 02:20 PM. )
     
TETENAL
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Jun 18, 2006, 02:06 PM
 
The proper question would be: Is it possible to rename the short user name?
The answer to this is: Not easily with built-in means, but there is a tool around that claims to be able to do it. I haven't tried it, so use at your own risk.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/23494
     
jriveractu  (op)
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Jun 18, 2006, 02:13 PM
 
I'll look into it, thanks both of you for your help
     
CharlesS
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Jun 18, 2006, 02:13 PM
 
You can change your short name and the path to your home folder with NetInfo Manager, but this is kind of a dangerous tool, so do it at your own risk.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
jriveractu  (op)
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Jun 18, 2006, 02:20 PM
 
Yeah, it looks kinda tough. I think I'll leave my Mac as it is, wouldn't like to screw even the smallest bit. Thanks everyone for the help .
     
Webscreamer
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Jun 22, 2006, 12:36 PM
 
a few friends messed up their computers doing that and were pissed at Apple. I wish they wouldn't let you rename it.
Anyone who would letterspace blackletter would steal sheep. - Frederic Goudy
     
icruise
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Jun 22, 2006, 06:48 PM
 
Yeah, it's a fairly common problem so you'd think they could protect that folder somehow.
     
Chuckit
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Jun 22, 2006, 07:12 PM
 
They've already special-cased deleting the OS 9 System Folder (it tells you "Don't do that!"), so I don't see why they couldn't do this. It seems more important to me.
Chuck
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Webscreamer
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Jun 22, 2006, 09:45 PM
 
I even trashed my System Preferences App once, just to see if it would actually let me. They need to be locking this stuff somehow.
Anyone who would letterspace blackletter would steal sheep. - Frederic Goudy
     
   
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