> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firebolt.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> Reference and syntax for the ALTER USER command.

# ALTER USER

Updates the configuration of the specified user.

For more information, see [Managing users](/guides/managing-your-organization/managing-users).

<Note>
  Users can modify most of their own account settings without requiring [RBAC](/overview/security/rbac#role-based-access-control-rbac) permissions, except when altering [LOGIN](/guides/managing-your-organization/managing-logins) configurations or a [SERVICE ACCOUNT](/guides/managing-your-organization/service-accounts).
</Note>

## ALTER USER SET

### Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ALTER USER <user_name> SET
	[ LOGIN = <login_name> | DEFAULT ]
        [ SERVICE_ACCOUNT = <service_account_name> | DEFAULT ]
        [ DEFAULT_DATABASE = <database_name> | DEFAULT ]
	[ DEFAULT_ENGINE = <engine_name> | DEFAULT ];
```

or

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ALTER USER <user_name> RENAME TO <new_user_name>;
```

### Parameters

| Parameter                | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| :----------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `<user_name>`            | The name of the user, may contain non-alpha-numeric characters such as exclamation points (!), percent signs (%), dots (.), underscores (\_), dashes (-), and asterisks (\*). Strings containing non-alphanumeric characters must be enclosed in single or double quotes. For more information about the full set of naming rules, see the [object identifiers guide](/reference-sql/lexical-structure/object-identifiers#user-names). |
| `<new_user_name>`        | The new name of the user, used with the `RENAME TO` option. The new user name can be any string, and can also contain spaces and non-alpha-numeric characters such as exclamation points (!), percent signs (%), at signs(@), dot signs (.), underscore signs (\_), minus signs (-), and asterisks (\*). If the string contains spaces or non-alphanumeric characters, it must be enclosed in single or double quotes.                 |
| `<login_name>`           | An optional, case-insensitive parameter to specify the name of the login to link the user with, used with the `SET` option. This cannot be used in conjunction with the `SERVICE_ACCOUNT` parameter - a user can be linked to a login OR a service account but not both. `DEFAULT` disassociates the user from its login. The user will become unusable before it's re-associated with some login or service account.                  |
| `<service_account_name>` | An optional parameter to specify the name of the service account to link the user with, used with the `SET` option. This cannot be used in conjunction with the `LOGIN` parameter - a user can be linked to a login OR a service account but not both. `DEFAULT` disassociates the user from its service account. The user will become unusable before it's re-associated with some login or service account.                          |
| `<database_name>`        | An optional parameter to define a default database for the user. Used with the `SET` option.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| `<engine_name>`          | An optional parameter to define a default engine for the user. Used with the `SET` option.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

### Example

The following command will rename the "alex" account to "alexs".

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ALTER USER "alex" RENAME TO "alexs";
```

This command will link the user "alex" to the "[alexs@acme.com](mailto:alexs@acme.com)" login.

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ALTER USER alex SET LOGIN="alexs@acme.com";
```

## ALTER USER OWNER TO

Change the owner of a user. The current owner of a user can be viewed in the `information_schema.users` view on `user_owner` column.

Check [ownership](/guides/security/ownership) page for more info.

### Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ALTER USER <user_name> OWNER TO <user>
```

### Parameters

| Parameter     | Description                                                          |
| :------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `<user_name>` | The name of the user to change the owner of.                         |
| `<user>`      | The new owner of the user. Can be either a user name or a role name. |