Change Your Display Name in Zoom During a Meeting

The fastest way to change how your name appears is to edit it while a meeting is running. Right-click or tap your own video tile, then select Rename. Type the name you want to display and press Enter. This change takes effect when ready for everyone in that meeting only — it does not change your account name.

If you are on a mobile device, tap and hold your video, then tap Rename. The process is the same: type your new name and confirm. This temporary change disappears when you leave the meeting, so the next time you join, your original account name will show again.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click your video during a meeting and select Rename to change how your name appears to others in that meeting only.
  • To change your name permanently across all meetings, edit your profile name in the Zoom web portal or desktop app settings.
  • Your account name and display name are separate — changing one does not automatically change the other.
  • If you are using a work or school Zoom account, your administrator may have locked the name field, and you will need to contact them to make changes.

Edit Your Profile Name in Zoom Settings

To change your name for all future meetings, log into your Zoom account on the web at zoom.us. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Profile. You will see your current name displayed under your profile picture. Click the pencil icon or Edit next to your name to open the editing field.

Type your new name in the field and click Save. The change takes effect when ready. The next time you join any Zoom meeting, your new name will appear instead of your old one. If you are using the Zoom desktop app, you can also reach this setting by clicking your profile picture, selecting Profile, and following the same steps.

Change Your Name on the Zoom Mobile App

Open the Zoom app on your phone or tablet and tap your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen. Select Profile to view your account details. Tap the pencil icon next to your name to edit it. Type your new name and tap Save or Done, depending on your device.

The change syncs across all your devices within a few minutes. If you do not see the pencil icon, your account may be managed by an organization, and you may need to contact your administrator to change your name.

What Happens When Your Account Is Managed by an Organization

If you use Zoom through your workplace, school, or another organization, your account administrator may have restricted who can change the account name. When this happens, the name field in your profile will be grayed out or locked, and you will not be able to edit it yourself.

Contact your IT department or Zoom administrator and ask them to update your name in the system. Provide them with the name you want displayed. They can make the change from their admin console, and it will update your account within a few minutes. In the meantime, you can still use the temporary rename feature during individual meetings if you need your name to appear differently.

Rename Yourself Before Joining a Meeting

You can also change your display name before you enter a meeting. When you click the meeting link or open the meeting from your calendar, you will see a preview screen with your name displayed. Click on your name in the preview window to edit it, then type the name you want to use for that meeting.

This change applies only to that specific meeting. Once you leave and rejoin, your account name will appear again. This method is useful if you want a temporary name change without editing your full profile.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is thinking that renaming yourself during a meeting changes your account permanently. It does not — that change only lasts for that one meeting. If you want the change to stick across all meetings, you must edit your profile in your account settings.

Another frequent issue is forgetting that organization-managed accounts often cannot be edited by the user. If you see a locked name field, do not spend time trying different approaches — go straight to your administrator. Also, remember that name changes can take a few minutes to sync across all devices, so if you change your name on the web but join a meeting on mobile right away, you might still see your old name until the app refreshes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my name on Zoom change it on other platforms?

No. Your Zoom name is separate from your name on other services like Google, Microsoft, or Slack. Changing it in Zoom affects only Zoom meetings and your Zoom profile.

Can I use a different name for different meetings?

Yes. You can rename yourself temporarily during any meeting by right-clicking your video and selecting Rename. You can also edit your name in the preview screen before joining a specific meeting. These changes do not affect your account name.

What if I cannot find the rename option?

Make sure you are right-clicking or tapping your own video tile, not someone else's. If the option still does not appear, check that you are using an updated version of Zoom. You can also try editing your name in your profile settings instead, which works on all versions.

How long does it take for a name change to show up?

Changes made in your profile settings take effect when ready on the device where you made the change and sync to other devices within a few minutes. Temporary renames during a meeting show up right away for everyone in that meeting.

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes. Go to your profile settings, click the pencil icon next to your name, type your old name, and save. There is no limit to how many times you can change your name.