Change your display name before or during a meeting

You can change the name that appears to other meeting participants in two ways: before the meeting starts, or while you are already in the meeting. The quickest fix if you notice the wrong name is showing is to change it during the meeting itself — it takes about 30 seconds. If you want to update your permanent Zoom profile name so it shows correctly in all future meetings, you will do that in your account settings instead.

The method you choose depends on whether you need the change for just this one meeting or for all meetings going forward. Both are straightforward and do not require you to leave the meeting or restart anything.

Key Takeaways

  • During a meeting, right-click your own video tile or find your name in the participants list, select "Rename," and type the name you want to show.
  • To change your permanent profile name for all future meetings, go to your Zoom account settings, select "Profile," and edit the name field.
  • Changes made during a meeting only affect that single meeting; other participants will see your profile name again in the next meeting unless you update your account settings.
  • The host can also rename you during a meeting if you do not have permission to rename yourself, though this is uncommon in standard Zoom setups.

Changing your name during an active meeting

If you are already in a Zoom meeting and notice your name is wrong, you can fix it without leaving. On a computer, right-click on your own video tile (the box showing your camera feed) and select "Rename" from the menu that appears. Type the name you want to display and click "OK." The change takes effect when ready, and all other participants will see the new name.

On a mobile device (phone or tablet), tap the three dots in the upper right corner of your video tile, then select "Rename." Type your new name and confirm. The process is the same whether you are using an iPhone, Android phone, or iPad.

If you cannot find the rename option on your video tile, look for the "Participants" button at the bottom of the screen. Tap or click it to open the participants list, find your own name, and tap or click the three dots next to it. Select "Rename" and enter your new name.

Updating your permanent Zoom profile name

To change the name that shows in all your future meetings, you need to update your Zoom account profile. Sign in to your Zoom account on the web at zoom.us. Click your profile picture in the upper right corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.

On the Profile page, you will see your current name in the "First Name" and "Last Name" fields. Click the pencil icon next to your name to edit it. Type your new first and last name, then click "Save" at the bottom of the page. The change applies to all meetings you join or host from that point forward.

If you are signed in to the Zoom desktop app on your computer, you can also reach your profile settings by clicking your profile picture in the upper right corner of the app window and selecting "Profile." The steps are the same as on the web.

Why your name might be showing incorrectly

Your Zoom display name comes from your account profile, which is usually set to the name you provided when you created your account or signed in with your work email. If you signed up using Google, Microsoft, or another single sign-on service, Zoom may have pulled your name from that account automatically.

Sometimes your name shows differently because the meeting host has a setting enabled that displays participant names in a specific format, or because you joined using a different email address than the one on your main profile. In those cases, changing your profile name will fix it for future meetings, but you may need to rename yourself in that particular meeting if the host's settings override your profile name.

What happens when you rename yourself in a meeting

When you change your name during a meeting, only that meeting is affected. The next time you join a different Zoom meeting, your profile name will show again. This is useful if you need a different name for one specific meeting — for example, if you are joining a meeting where you want to use a nickname, a professional name different from your account name, or a name that identifies your role.

Other participants see your new name in real time once you confirm the change. If you are sharing your screen, your name still appears in the meeting controls and participant list with the new name you entered. The change does not affect any recordings or transcripts that were already in progress before you renamed yourself.

If the host has locked down name changes

In rare cases, a meeting host may have settings that prevent participants from renaming themselves. If you try to rename yourself and the option does not appear, the host has likely disabled self-renaming. In that situation, you can ask the host to rename you, or you can leave the meeting and rejoin with the correct name if you have not yet signed in to your account.

Most standard Zoom meetings do not have this restriction, so you should be able to rename yourself in nearly all cases. If you are the host and want to rename a participant, right-click their name in the participants list and select "Rename."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name on Zoom without being in a meeting?

Yes. Sign in to zoom.us, click your profile picture, select "Profile," and edit your first and last name. Save the changes. This updates your permanent profile name for all future meetings.

Will renaming myself during a meeting affect my profile?

No. Renaming yourself during a meeting only changes your display name for that one meeting. Your account profile name stays the same, and you will see your profile name again in your next meeting.

Can I use a different name for work meetings and personal meetings?

You can change your profile name once and it applies to all meetings. For different names in different meetings, rename yourself during each meeting instead. There is no built-in way to have multiple profile names on one account.

What if I joined a meeting as a guest without signing in?

You can still rename yourself during the meeting using the same steps. Right-click your video or tap the three dots next to your name in the participants list and select "Rename." This change only lasts for that meeting.

Does the host see my name change right away?

Yes. When you rename yourself, the host and all other participants see the new name when ready in the participants list and on your video tile.