Change Your iCloud Name in Settings

You change your iCloud name by going into your device settings and editing your Apple ID profile. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Your iCloud name is the display name that appears when you send emails, share files, or use FaceTime — it is separate from your Apple ID email address, which you cannot change through settings.

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Name. You will see two fields: your first name and last name. Edit these to whatever you want, then tap Done. On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name in the sidebar, then click the edit button next to your name at the top of the window. Make your changes and click Done.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iCloud display name is what others see when you email or share with them, and you change it in your device settings under your Apple ID profile.
  • The change takes effect when ready across all your devices signed into the same Apple ID.
  • Changing your display name does not change your Apple ID email address or your iCloud email account.
  • If you want to change your actual Apple ID email address, you will need to go to the Apple ID website instead of your device settings.

What Changes and What Stays the Same

When you change your iCloud name, only your display name updates. Your Apple ID email address — the one you use to sign in — stays exactly the same. So if your email is jane.smith@icloud.com and you change your display name to Jane Wilson, people will still email you at jane.smith@icloud.com, but your name will show as Jane Wilson when you send them a message.

The new name appears when ready on all devices where you are signed into that Apple ID. If you use iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, they will all show the updated name within a few seconds. Any files you have shared with others will still show the old name on their end until they refresh, but new shares will show your new name.

Changing Your Name on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen. You will see your Apple ID, iCloud email, and other account details. Tap the Name field. You will see two separate boxes — one for your first name and one for your last name. Delete the old text and type in your new name.

After you finish typing, tap the Done button in the top right corner. The system will save your changes when ready. If you have multiple devices, sign out and back in on the others to see the change right away, though it usually syncs within a few minutes on its own.

Changing Your Name on Mac

On a Mac running macOS Ventura or newer, click the Apple menu in the top left corner, then click System Settings. In the sidebar, click your name. At the top of the main window, you will see your name with an edit button (a pencil icon) next to it. Click that button to edit your first and last name.

On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, go to System Preferences instead of System Settings, then click the Apple ID icon in the sidebar. Your name will be at the top — click the edit button next to it. Type your new name and click Done. The change takes effect right away.

If You Want to Change Your Apple ID Email Address Instead

Changing your display name is not the same as changing your Apple ID email address. If you want to change the email you use to sign in to iCloud — for example, switching from an old Gmail address to a new one — you cannot do that in Settings. You have to go to the Apple ID website at appleid.apple.com, sign in, and use the Account tab to change your email address.

That process is more involved because Apple needs to verify the new email address before it becomes active. You will receive a verification code at the new email, and you have to enter it to confirm the change. The old email address will stop working for sign-in once the new one is confirmed, though you can keep the old one as a recovery email if you want.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is thinking that changing your display name will change your iCloud email address. It will not. If you want a different email address, you have to change it on the Apple ID website, not in Settings. Another mistake is forgetting to sign out and back in on other devices — while the change usually syncs automatically, signing out and back in forces it to update right away if you are in a hurry.

Do not use special characters or numbers in your name field unless you actually want them to appear in your display name. Some people accidentally type a number thinking it will help them remember the password, but it will show up when you send emails. Also, keep in mind that your name change is public — anyone you email or share files with will see the new name, so make sure it is something you are comfortable with others seeing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iCloud name affect my email address?

No. Your iCloud email address stays the same. Only the display name that appears when you send emails or share files will change. If you want to change the actual email address you sign in with, you need to go to appleid.apple.com instead.

How long does it take for the name change to show up on all my devices?

The change usually appears within a few seconds on all devices signed into the same Apple ID. If it does not, try signing out and back in on the device where you do not see the update yet. That forces an when ready refresh.

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

Yes. Go back into Settings, tap your name, tap Name, and change it to whatever you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change your display name, and there is no waiting period between changes.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password and cannot sign into Settings?

You will need to reset your password first. On your device, go to Settings and tap "Forgot [your name] or do not have an Apple ID?" Follow the prompts to verify your identity and create a new password. Once you are signed back in, you can change your name.

Does changing my iCloud name change my name on other Apple services like the App Store?

Yes. Your Apple ID display name is used across all Apple services — the App Store, Apple Music, iMessage, and more. When you change it, the new name appears everywhere you use that Apple ID.