Change Your Display Name in Zoom in Three Steps

You can change the name that appears to other people in Zoom meetings in under a minute. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are in a meeting or editing your profile beforehand. The fastest route is to edit your profile on Zoom's website, where the change takes effect when ready across all future meetings.

If you are already in a meeting and need to change your name before others see it, you can do that from the Participants panel. Both methods work; the choice depends on whether you are joining a meeting now or want to update your account details for later.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your display name on Zoom's website by signing in, going to your profile settings, and editing the name field.
  • During a meeting, click the Participants button, find your name in the list, hover over it, click the three-dot menu, and select "Rename".
  • Changes made to your profile on the website explore to all future meetings automatically.
  • Changes made during a meeting only affect that specific meeting unless you also update your profile.
  • Your display name can be anything — it does not have to match your legal name or email address.

Edit Your Name on the Zoom Website

Sign in to your Zoom account at zoom.us. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "My Profile" from the dropdown menu.

On your profile page, look for the "First Name" and "Last Name" fields near the top. Click the pencil icon next to either field to edit it. Type your new name and click outside the field or press Enter to save. The change takes effect when ready and will show in all meetings you join going forward.

If you want to use a single name instead of a first and last name, you can put your full name in the "First Name" field and leave "Last Name" blank, or vice versa. Zoom does not enforce any particular format.

Change Your Name During a Meeting

If you are already in a Zoom meeting and want to change how your name appears to others in that meeting, click the "Participants" button at the bottom of the screen. This opens a panel showing everyone in the meeting.

Find your own name in the list. Hover your mouse over it and click the three dots (more options menu) that appear on the right. Select "Rename" from the menu. Type your new name in the box that appears and click "OK".

This change only affects the current meeting. Your profile name on the Zoom website stays the same, so the next meeting you join will show your original name unless you also update your profile there.

What Happens to Your Old Name

When you change your display name, Zoom does not keep a record of your previous names visible to other meeting participants. Only the current name shows in the Participants list and in chat messages you send during the meeting.

If you have already sent messages in the chat during a meeting, those messages will still show your old name next to them. Only new messages sent after the name change will display your new name.

Changing Your Name on Mobile Apps

On the Zoom mobile app for iPhone or Android, you can change your name during a meeting by tapping "Participants" at the bottom, finding your name, and tapping the three dots next to it. Select "Rename" and enter your new name.

To change your name in your profile on mobile, open the Zoom app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right, tap "Edit Profile," and edit the name fields. Save your changes. This method works the same way as the website version.

Name Changes for Hosts and Co-Hosts

If you are hosting a meeting, changing your name works the same way as for regular participants. Your new name appears in the Participants list and in any chat messages you send.

As a host, you can also change other people's names during a meeting. Hover over their name in the Participants panel, click the three dots, and select "Rename." This is useful if someone joins with a confusing or inappropriate name. The change only affects that meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my name in Zoom affect my email address or account login?

No. Your display name and your email address are separate. Changing your name does not change how you sign in to Zoom or affect any account settings. You still log in with the same email and password.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Zoom name?

Zoom allows most characters, including numbers and some punctuation. Emojis work in most cases, though some devices or older versions of Zoom may not display them correctly. Test it in a meeting to see how it appears on different devices.

If I change my name, will people in my contacts list see the new name?

Yes. If someone has you in their Zoom contacts, they will see your updated name the next time they view their contact list or join a meeting with you.

What if I want to change my name back to what it was before?

Go back to your profile on zoom.us or edit your name during a meeting using the same steps. There is no limit to how many times you can change your name.

Do I need to change my name before every meeting?

No. Once you update your name on the Zoom website, it stays that way for all future meetings. You only need to change it again if you want a different name later.