Can I Change the Owner Name on Office 2007 Easily?

Microsoft Office 2007 is a widely used productivity suite that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other essential applications. When you install Office 2007, it usually registers an “owner name” or “user name” that is embedded within the software.

This name appears in document properties and sometimes in the software interface.

Many users want to change this owner name for various reasons like transferring ownership, correcting typing mistakes, or simply personalizing their software. This article explores whether you can change the owner name on Office 2007, how to do it, and what implications it carries.

What Is the Owner Name in Office 2007?

The owner name (also called user name or registered user) is the name registered during installation of Office 2007. It is used internally by Office for:

• Displaying author information in new documents
• Tracking document ownership in file properties
• Activating and licensing information (to some extent)

This name is stored in the Windows registry and sometimes within individual document metadata.

Note: Changing the owner name does not alter your Office 2007 product key or license, but it does change the user information embedded in Office applications and documents.

Can You Change the Owner Name on Office 2007?

Yes, it is possible to change the owner name on Office 2007. However, the method to do so is not straightforward and involves editing the Windows registry or the Office application’s user information settings.

There is no direct button inside the Office 2007 interface to change the registered user name after installation.

Changing the owner name can be done in two main ways:

1. Editing the Windows Registry values where Office stores user information.
2. Changing user information inside Office applications manually.

Why Changing Owner Name Might Be Necessary

Here are some common reasons users want to change their Office 2007 owner name:

Reason	Description
Ownership Transfer	When a computer or Office license is transferred to a new user, updating the owner name reflects the new user.
Correcting Mistakes	Misspelled or incorrect names entered during installation can be fixed.
Personal Preference	Users may want their full name or nickname to appear in documents and applications.
Privacy Concerns	Changing the owner name can help reduce personal information visible in document properties.

Step-by-Step Guide: Changing Owner Name via Windows Registry

The most effective method to change the owner name registered with Office 2007 is by editing the Windows Registry. Registry editing should be done carefully because incorrect changes can damage your system.

Important Precautions Before Editing the Registry

• Backup your registry: Always create a backup before making changes.
• Close all Office applications: Save your work and close all Office apps before proceeding.
• Administrative rights required: You need administrator privileges to edit the registry.

How to Change the Owner Name in Registry

Follow these steps carefully:

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter. This opens the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\UserInfo
4. Locate the values named UserName and Company on the right pane.
5. Double-click UserName and enter the new owner name you want to set.
6. Optionally, double-click Company to update the company name.
7. Click OK to save changes.
8. Close the Registry Editor.
9. Restart your computer or at least your Office applications to see the changes take effect.

Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system instability. If unsure, seek help from a professional.

Alternative Method: Changing User Information in Office Applications

You can also change the user information that Office 2007 uses for author metadata within the applications themselves. This method changes the name that appears as the author of new documents but does not alter the registered owner name in the system.

Changing User Name in Word, Excel, PowerPoint

1. Open any Office 2007 application such as Word.
2. Click the Office Button (top-left corner).
3. Click Word Options (or Excel Options / PowerPoint Options).
4. In the General tab, find the section labeled Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office.
5. Change the User name and Initials fields to your desired name.
6. Click OK to save changes.

This change affects the author information in documents you create from that point forward, but it does not update the owner information stored in the registry or in the license metadata.

How to Verify the Owner Name Has Changed

After making changes either in the registry or in the Office application, you can verify the owner name by checking document properties or user info.

Verification Method	Steps
Check Document Properties	Open an Office document (e.g., Word doc). Click the Office Button > Prepare > Properties. Look under Author or Owner fields to see the updated name.
Check User Information in Office	Open any Office 2007 application. Click the Office Button > Options. Go to the General tab and verify the User name field.
Check Registry (Advanced)	Open Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\UserInfo. Verify the UserName value.

Common Questions About Changing Owner Name in Office 2007

Will changing the owner name affect my Office activation?

No. Changing the owner name does not affect the product activation or license validity of Office 2007.

It only changes the user metadata stored in the software and documents.

Can I change the owner name after Office 2007 is installed?

Yes. Although Office does not provide a direct interface for this, you can update the owner name by editing the registry or changing user info within the applications.

Is it safe to edit the registry for this purpose?

Editing the registry can be safe if done carefully and following precautions. Always back up your registry before making changes.

If you are unfamiliar with registry editing, seek assistance or avoid this method.

Will the change apply to existing documents?

Changing the user name affects new documents created after the change. Existing documents retain the author/owner metadata they had when saved, unless you manually update their properties.

How can I change the author information on existing documents?

You can update the author name in existing documents manually by opening the file, going to properties, and editing the author information. Alternatively, for batch updates, you may use third-party tools or scripts.

Summary

Changing the owner name on Office 2007 is possible, but requires some technical steps. The key points are:

• The owner name is stored in the Windows registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\UserInfo.
• You can safely edit the UserName and Company registry values to update the owner name.
• Alternatively, changing user information inside Office applications updates author info for new documents but not the registered owner name.
• Always back up your registry before making changes and close Office apps before editing.
• Changes do not affect product activation or licensing.

Pro Tip: For best results, update both the registry owner name and the user information inside Office applications to ensure consistency across your documents and software interface.

Additional Resources

Resource	Description	Link
Microsoft Office Support	Official support and documentation for Office 2007	https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office
Editing Windows Registry	Microsoft guide on safely editing the Windows Registry	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sysinfo/registry
Change Author Name in Office Documents	Guide on changing author metadata in Office files	https://www.howtogeek.com/210281/how-to-change-the-author-of-a-word-document/