Where to find the name change option in Microsoft Account settings

Your Microsoft account name lives in your account settings, and you can change it yourself without calling support. Sign in to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, then select Your info from the left menu. Look for the section labeled Manage your Microsoft account — this is where your display name and profile information sit.

Once you're in Your info, you'll see your current name displayed. Click Edit name (or the pencil icon next to your name) to open the editing window. Microsoft will show you fields for your first name and last name separately, so you can change one, both, or neither — the choice is yours.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Microsoft account name in Your info on account.microsoft.com, not in Windows settings or Outlook.
  • The name you enter here is what appears to other people when you send emails, share files, or use Microsoft services.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but may take a few hours to show up everywhere across Microsoft's services.
  • Your Microsoft account name is different from your username (the text before @outlook.com or @hotmail.com), which you cannot change.

The difference between your account name and your username

This is the confusion that trips up most people. Your account name is the display name — what shows up when you send an email or share a document. Your username is the email address itself, the part you type in to sign in. You can change the display name anytime. You cannot change the username.

If you need a completely different email address (a different username), you would need to create a new Microsoft account. But if you just want people to see a different name when you contact them, changing your account name is the right move and takes about two minutes.

What happens after you save the change

Once you click Save, your new name is live on your Microsoft account when ready. However, it may take a few hours — sometimes up to 24 hours — for the change to show up everywhere. Your Outlook inbox, OneDrive, Teams, and other Microsoft services will eventually all reflect the new name, but they don't all update at the same when ready.

If you're working with someone and you change your name, they may still see your old name in their contacts or email history for a while. There's no way to speed this up — it's just how Microsoft's systems sync across their services. If it's urgent that people see your new name right away, you can send them a quick message letting them know you've updated it.

Changing your name on a shared or family account

If your Microsoft account is part of a family group (set up through Microsoft Family), you can still change your own display name the same way. Go to Your info and edit your name — this only changes how your name appears to others, not anyone else's account.

If you're the account owner managing a child's account, you can change their display name from the family settings page at account.microsoft.com/family. Select the child's account, then look for profile or name settings. The child can also change their own display name once they're old enough to sign in independently.

If you can't find the edit option

Some accounts have restrictions that prevent name changes. This usually happens if your account is managed by an organization (your workplace, school, or institution). If you see Your info but no Edit name button, your account administrator controls your profile information, and you'll need to contact them to request a change.

You can also check whether your account is managed by looking at the top of the Your info page — it will say something like "Managed by [Organization Name]" if that's the case. If you're not sure who manages your account, contact your IT department or help desk.

Changing your name across other Microsoft services

When you change your name on your Microsoft account, it updates across most Microsoft services automatically — Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, Xbox, and others all pull from the same account profile. You don't need to change your name separately in each one.

The exception is if you use a work or school account through Microsoft 365 or Azure. Those accounts sometimes have separate profile settings controlled by your organization. If you use Microsoft services through your job or school, ask your IT support whether your name can be changed and where to request it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email address instead of just my display name?

No. Your email address (username) is permanent and cannot be changed. If you need a different email address, you would need to create a new Microsoft account. You can add an alias — an alternate email address that reaches the same inbox — but the primary email stays the same.

Will changing my name affect my password or sign-in?

No. Your password and the email address you use to sign in never change. Only the display name changes — the name that appears to other people. You'll still sign in with your email address and password exactly as before.

How long does it take for the name change to show up in Outlook?

Usually within a few hours, but sometimes up to 24 hours. Outlook pulls your display name from your Microsoft account profile, so once you save the change in Your info, it will eventually sync to Outlook. If it's been more than a day, try signing out and signing back in.

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

Yes. Go back to Your info, click Edit name, and change it to whatever you want. There's no limit on how many times you can change your display name, and no waiting period between changes.

What if I forgot my password and can't sign in to change my name?

You'll need to recover your account first. Go to account.live.com/password/reset and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you can sign in again, you can change your name through Your info as normal.