Changing "Short Name" in System Preferences?

I want to change the name that appears by the house icon in the finder windows. I opened system preferences, accounts, and noticed that it's the same as the short name, which is grayed out. How do I change it? I unlocked the lock, but it's still grayed out.
Thanks!

Did either of you try this process and did it work ok? I am considering doing it and would just like reassurance that it is a good process, as I read in this link that it is incomplete: http://homepage.mac.com/frakes/MOSXPT/content/shortusername.html

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Changing Full Name in System Preferences... Any issues?

Hey all,
Recently set up a new Mac on Mountain Lion. I initially set up my full name as my first name, and it based my short name on that. I'd like to change my full name in System Preferences to my first and last name. Will I run into any issues? I know messing with short names / home folder names can get messy and i assume this will be fine, but I figured I'd check.
Thanks.

Thank you.

Changing desktop pictures locks system preferences

Re MacBook Pro laptop (OS 10.7.5)
Problem: Changing desktop pictures locks System Preferences
If I try to open System Preferences, I get windows for the Change Desktop/Background and the whirling beach ball begins until I go to Activities Monitor to Force Quit System Preferences, which informs me that my "System Preferences is no longer responding."
I have no trouble booting my Mac,
checked my Disk Utility informing me that there are no errors,
checked Permissions without errors,
went to Users>"my name">Preferences>found the plist for com.apple.systempreferences, moved it to my desktop, tried the Apple System Preferences option with same result. Returned plist . Hmm, just noticed that I have com.apple.systempreferences with one directly after Library ( i.e., not in any folder), and the other in the Library>Preferences folder. Could that be the foul up? Perhaps one of these plists is misplaced.
Any suggestions?

First follow the instructions in this support article.
If an iPhoto or Aperture library is the source of your desktop pictures, it may need to be rebuilt, or you may need to update the application to the latest version.
Otherwise, continue as below.
Back up all data.
In the Finder, hold down the option key and select
          Go ▹ Library
from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
          Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
and move the following items to the Desktop, if they exist:
          Application Support/Dock/desktoppicture.db
          Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the items you moved to the Desktop back where they came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the items.

None of the changes I make to system preference or the dock will hold after restart. I've cleared the RAM, run disk repair and reinstalled the OS. Now what?

None of the changes I make to system preference or the dock will hold after restart. I've cleared the RAM, run disk repair and reinstalled the OS. Now what?

MobileMe closed on July 31, 2012.
It is true that the only way to sync your Mac with iCloud is to upgrad. You need to be running OS X Lion 10.7.2 or higher in order to sync your Mac with iCloud. At this point, you can upgrade directly to OS X Mountain Lion from the version of OS X you are now running (10.6.8). You can purchase and download the Mountain Lion upgrade from the Mac App Store for $19.99. After upgrading you will see iCloud in System Preferences. This guide explains how to sync your Mac with iCloud after upgrading: http://www.apple.com/icloud/setup/mac.html.
Once all your devices are signed into the same iCloud account and you have turned on your iCloud data syncing, you will be able to keep them all in sync using iCloud. You will still have to sync with iTunes to manage your iTunes media such as music, movies, podcasts, etc. You will have the option to either continue backing up automatically with your computer when you sync with iTunes, or to back up your iOS devices automatically to iCloud every 24 hours (as long as they are connected to wifi and your chargers).

HT204053 I changed my AppleID in System Preferences, but the old ID comes up under iCloud and I get an error box saying my "ID or password are incorrect". How do I get rid of the old ID which now doesn't work with either my old or new password??

I changed my AppleID in System Preferences, but the old ID comes up under iCloud and I get an error box saying my "ID or password are incorrect". How do I get rid of the old ID which now doesn't work with either my old or new password??

Yes that makes sense, however have you updated it at My Apple ID before trying to change it in your system preferences > iCloud settings, you must do that first.

Try to change table image but system preferences won't open

Hello all. I need your help. My table image got all blue. Itried to change it but the system preferences doe not open. What should I do?

Restart the machine, that's where I'd start.

HT201364 since I updated my system to Mavericks my computer colour is always grey. I have tried to change the colour via system preference without any success. What should I do to so that my screen will be colourful?

since I updated my system to Mavericks my computer colour is always grey. I have tried to change the colour via system preference without any success. What should I do to so that my screen will be colourful?

Please post a screenshot that shows what you mean. Be careful not to include any private information.
Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

I can't change Name in System Preferences / iCloud / Account Details

In this board, look at left area, My name is Joy Neop, but there are wrongs that my first name and last name changed position each other.
I clicked "Account Details", and...
And I tried changing, but after I click "OK", nothing changed.
I then quit System Preferences and relaunch it, but the border's content turned back like the first capture shows.
I need help...

There are no applications in your mobile documents folder.
Click on the Finder to activate it and then go to the "Go" menu, with the menu displaying hold down the alt key on your keyboard and you will see a "library" option appear in the menu. Select the library option from the menu and your finder window will change to display the contents of your library folder. Navigate to the mobile documents folder and look for a folder that is associated with your password app. Hopefully inside that folder you will find the document that you are looking for.

Changing short name in Advance Option in Account in Sistem preferences

What's happens if I change my short name in Advance option in the account menù? Apple put a warning in this page. I would like to change my short name and so the cartel where alla the files go.
Thanks in advance for answering.
Aldo

You mean the Username. Not much there. That's not the short name. It takes quite a bit to change a short name, and it is seriously dangerous.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106824
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/2004/12/changeshortname/index.php

Changing Short name & home directory?

So...somebody on the forum gave the suggestion to someone in another thread, of changing their short name in the system preferences...they neglected to mention that this is a big no-no & that everything would be wiped out. I, not understanding/knowing what this would do, changed it...& of course, was baffled when I restarted & everything had reverted back to the setting the previous owner has. I went back into the preferences & changed the short name BACK to the other person's name...but kept the home directory as my name.
Questions are: Is there a way to change the short name without losing my settings, or shoudl I just leave as is?
&...has simply changing the home directory name to mine from his in the system preferences, going to effect anything or do any damage? If so, is there some other way I should go about changing it? I just hate going to the folder & seeing the old owner's name.

Use this:
http://homepage.mac.com/frakes/ChangeShortName.html

Change Short Name

My friend gave me his old jaguar box, along with a ton of good applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark XPress, GoLive, etc.). I changed all the names and such except for the short name. Now, I want to know:
1. Is it possible to change the short name?
2. Would it result in any of my applications not working, since all of them show his name under "Licensed to"?
3. Would it be better to just set up another account with my name and everything?

1. Yes. Download the utility ChangeShortName from www.versiontracker.com or www.macupdate.com. Use it to make changes to your shortname.
2. Not if you use the above utility.
3. Yes, but it's a lot easier to just change the shortname.
You can also change your long name and password using the Accounts preference pane. You can also change the Computer Name using the Sharing preference pane.
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Changing short name / user name in the Finder

I just set up a new mac, and inadvertently let it default my admin account short name to
myname1 (based on my .mac ID)
Can I change it to :
Myname
I've had a rummage and saw about the advanced options in the Account preferences, and created :
Myname
as an alias, but even after restarting its showing up as
myname1
in the finder.
Any suggestions?
Cheers.
Message was edited by: Iain MacDonald1

Iain MacDonald1 wrote:
Hmm. Might it be easier/safer to create a new account and copy everything across?
If you just created the new OS, then you really don't have anything to lose. Change it just for the learning experience and if it does not work, you can reinstall.
Copying everything to a new account won't work.
There is a way to create a new account and transfer the old account files over to the new account, but again, it's not trivial.

Permission denied after changing short name

i have tried searching for answers but still no luck. im kinda scared mdealing with the terminal but have tried a few but to no avail. i hope somebody helps me with step by step solution as im not really well versed with mac yet. thank you.

That's one thing you should never do without asking first.
The short name is what your data permissions are linked to - change it without the proper procedure and you get the situation you find yourself in now.
As you're on Tiger, it's not a simple fix either.
Try this article from the X-Lab for recovery.
Then, if you really must change the name follow;
The right way (scroll down to 'OS X 10.4.11 and earlier')
Note that this requires enabling and logging in as Root. If you choose to do this, be very careful to do only what the instructions say. You can wreak untold damage to your system if you get curious and start poking around.

Changed short name, browser download broken

I meticulously followed the steps from apple to change a users short name / home folder.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106824
I thought all was working quite well, including update of keychain and running "chown" in terminal... BUT all downloads through firefox and safari are being sent to OLD users desktop (users/olduser/desktop) which I do not have permissions to access. As a temporary workaround I've changed permissions on OLD users desktop which allows downloads to complete.
How can I change the downloads to go to (users/newuser/desktop)?
I know what you're thinking... I've tried to change the preferences in Firefox (and Safari) to change the download location, but it still goes to olduser/desktop. (It appears to drop a temporary file there first with temporary filename which does not match the download filename. Then, at some point it corrects the filename to match.)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
*Next time I will have to use "ChangeShortName." I just found out about that handy utility today.
intel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Update:
I've also followed some tips from the firefox website. I tried typing "about:config" into the browser, and resetting all the preferences related to downloads (browser.download.etc...) Still no luck, though. Everything downloads to "olduser/desktop" Can anyone help?
Thanks!

Unable to change mouse settings in System Preferences

Using a standard wired USB Apple Mouse (oval shape with scrolling nib and squeeze option for the 4th button), the options in System Preferences seem to have no effect. Have tried configuring the secondary button (to emulate right click) and nothing happens. The 4th button used to function as "Mission Control" but now there is no effect. Is it possible the mouse hardware no longer works? It's less than a year old.
Some other information: I recently reinstalled the iMac to make room for BootCamp and Windows 7. Could that process have soured to mouse settings? Right clicking (same mouse) works in Windows 7 so I doubted the hardware problem.
I've followed steps for removing HID plists and stuff from the Library/Preferences area, but no joy. Is there some other troubleshooting I can perform to get this feature working again? It *was* working before the reinstall, but now isn't.
BTW: I'm aware of the "<control>click" to get a right click going, but when you get used to using something and are very productive in that method it is difficult to just "change the way I'm doing it" so please help me to find the cause for this issue instead of teaching me new ways to do things.

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. For instructions, launch the System Preferences application, select Help from the menu bar, and enter “Set up guest users” (without the quotes) in the search box. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click Log in.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
*Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of steps 1 and 2.

Changing "Short Name" in System Preferences?

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