Change your Zoom display name in three steps

Open Zoom and sign in to your account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Profile. Find the First Name and Last Name fields, edit them to what you want, and click Save. The change takes effect when ready on your account, though it may take a few seconds to show in active meetings.

If you are already in a meeting when you want to change your name, you can do it without leaving. Click Participants at the bottom of the screen, find your own name in the list, hover over it, and click More (the three dots). Select Rename, type your new name, and click OK. This change applies only to that meeting and does not alter your account profile.

On mobile, the process is similar. Open the Zoom app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right, tap Settings, then Profile. Edit your first and last name and tap the checkmark to save. Mobile changes also update your account when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your account name through your profile settings, and the change shows up in all future meetings within seconds.
  • During a meeting, you can rename yourself for that meeting only without changing your account profile by using the Participants menu.
  • Mobile and desktop changes to your account profile work the same way and sync across all your devices.
  • Meeting-only name changes do not carry over to your next meeting — your account name will show up again unless you change it in settings.
  • You can change your name as many times as you want; there is no limit on how often you update it.

Changing your name for one meeting only

Sometimes you want a different name just for one call — maybe you are using a nickname, a professional name different from your account, or you want to hide your full name from a large group. Zoom lets you do this without touching your account settings.

During any meeting, click Participants at the bottom center of your screen. Your own name appears at the top of the list. Hover over it and click the three dots that appear on the right. A menu opens; select Rename. Type the name you want to use for this meeting and click OK. Everyone in the meeting will see your new name when ready.

When the meeting ends, your account name reverts. The next time you join a meeting, your account profile name shows up again. This is useful for one-time calls but does not save the name for later use.

Updating your name on the Zoom website

If you prefer to change your name from a web browser instead of the app, you can do it through the Zoom website. Go to zoom.us, sign in, and click your profile picture in the top right. Select Profile from the dropdown menu.

On your profile page, you will see your First Name and Last Name fields. 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 right away across all platforms where you are signed in.

This method is identical in result to changing your name in the app — it updates your account profile and shows up in all meetings going forward. Use whichever method is most convenient for you.

What happens to your name in recorded meetings

If you change your account name after a meeting has been recorded, the recording will still show the name you had during the meeting, not your new name. Zoom records the participant name as it appeared at the time of the call.

If you want a recording to show a specific name, change your account name before the meeting takes place. Once the meeting is over and recorded, changing your name will not update what appears in the video or transcript.

Changing your name when you do not have a Zoom account

If you joined a meeting as a guest without signing in, you can still change how your name appears. When you enter the meeting, Zoom may ask for your name. Type what you want to be called and click Join. Your guest name is used only for that meeting.

If you were already in the meeting when you realize you want a different name, use the Participants menu rename option described earlier. Click Participants, find your name, click the three dots, select Rename, and enter your new name. This works whether you have an account or not.

Troubleshooting name changes that do not stick

If you changed your name but it still shows your old name in meetings, sign out of Zoom completely and sign back in. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to display the updated profile. Close the Zoom app entirely, wait a few seconds, and reopen it.

If you are on mobile and the name is not updating, check that you have the latest version of the Zoom app. Open your device's app store, search for Zoom, and install any available updates. Older versions sometimes have sync issues with profile changes.

If your name change worked in the app but not on the website, or vice versa, try signing out on both platforms and signing back in. This forces Zoom to sync your profile across all devices. If the problem persists, restart your device and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name in Zoom without everyone seeing it happen?

If you change your account name before a meeting starts, no one sees the change happen — they just see your new name when they join. If you change it during a meeting using the Participants menu, everyone in that meeting sees the change take effect when ready. There is no way to hide a name change from people already in the call with you.

Will changing my Zoom name affect my email or other accounts?

No. Your Zoom display name is separate from your email address and login credentials. Changing your name in Zoom does not change your email, password, or any other account linked to Zoom. Your email address stays the same and is what you use to sign in.

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

Zoom allows most letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation marks. Some special characters and emojis may work, but Zoom does not officially support them and they may not display correctly on all devices. Stick to standard letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes for the most reliable result.

If I change my name, will my contacts see the old name?

Your contacts will see your new name the next time they interact with you in Zoom — in new meetings, in chat, or when they look at your profile. Old messages or recordings will still show the name you had when you sent them or when the meeting was recorded.

How many times can I change my name in Zoom?

You can change your name as many times as you want with no restrictions. There is no limit on how often you update it, and Zoom does not flag or restrict accounts that change names frequently.