# Change User Environment Variables
<a name="customize-fleets-user-environment-variables"></a>

Follow these steps to change user environment variables across your fleet instances. 

**To change user environment variables**

1. Connect to the image builder on which to change system environment variables and sign in as a **Template User**. To do so, do either of the following: 
   + [Use the WorkSpaces Applications console](managing-image-builders-connect-console.md) (for web connections only)
   + [Create a streaming URL](managing-image-builders-connect-streaming-URL.md) (for web or WorkSpaces Applications client connections)
**Note**  
If the image builder that you want to connect to is joined to an Active Directory domain and your organization requires smart card sign in, you must create a streaming URL and use the WorkSpaces Applications client for the connection. For information about smart card sign in, see [Smart Cards](feature-support-USB-devices-qualified.md#feature-support-USB-devices-qualified-smart-cards).

   **Template User** lets you create default application and Windows settings for your users. For more information, see "Creating Default Application and Windows Settings for Your WorkSpaces Applications Users" in [Default Application and Windows Settings and Application Launch Performance in Amazon WorkSpaces Applications](customizing-appstream-images.md).

1. On the image builder, choose the Windows **Start** button, **Control Panel**, **User Accounts**. 

1. Choose **User Accounts** again. In the left navigation pane, choose **Change my environment variables.**

1. Under **User environment variables** for **DefaultProfileUser**, set or create the user environment variables as needed, then choose **OK**.

1. This disconnects your current session and opens the login menu. Log in to the image builder by doing either of the following:
   + If your image builder is not joined to an Active Directory domain, on the **Local User** tab, choose **Administrator**.
   + If your image builder is joined to an Active Directory domain, choose the **Directory User** tab, and log in as a domain user who has local administrator permissions on the image builder.

1. On the image builder desktop, open Image Assistant.

1. Follow the necessary steps in Image Assistant to finish creating your image. For more information, see [Tutorial: Create a Custom WorkSpaces Applications Image by Using the WorkSpaces Applications Console](tutorial-image-builder.md).