Change your display name in Teams in three steps

Your display name in Microsoft Teams is what other people see when you message them or join a meeting. You can change it yourself in seconds without asking an administrator. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Teams on your computer, phone, or web browser, but the setting lives in the same place: your profile menu.

The name you change in Teams is separate from your Microsoft account name. Changing your Teams display name does not change your email address, your account login, or how you appear in other Microsoft programs like Outlook or OneDrive. Only people in your Teams workspace see the new name.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name in Teams is what colleagues see in chats and meetings, and you can change it yourself without administrator permission.
  • On desktop or web, click your profile picture in the top right corner, select Edit profile, and type your new name in the display name field.
  • On mobile, tap your profile picture, select Edit profile, and update the name the same way.
  • The change takes effect when ready for new messages and meetings, though existing messages will still show your old name.
  • If you cannot find the Edit profile option, your organization may have locked this setting and you will need to contact your IT department.

Change your name on Teams desktop or web

Open Microsoft Teams on your computer or go to teams.microsoft.com in your browser. Look for your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen — it is usually a small circle with your initials or a photo.

Click that profile picture. A menu will appear with several options. Select Edit profile. You will see a panel with your current display name, email address, and other profile information. Click in the Display name field, delete your current name, and type the new one you want.

Click Save or press Enter. The change takes effect when ready. The next time someone sends you a message or you join a meeting, they will see your new name.

Change your name on Teams mobile

Open the Teams app on your phone or tablet. At the bottom of the screen, tap the three dots or your profile picture — the location depends on whether you use iOS or Android, but both lead to the same menu.

Tap Edit profile. You will see your current display name at the top. Tap the name field, clear it, and type your new name. Tap Save or the checkmark button to confirm.

The change syncs across all your devices within a few seconds. If you have Teams open on your computer at the same time, you may need to refresh the page to see the update.

What happens to old messages and meetings

When you change your display name, the change does not rewrite your history. Messages you sent before the change will still show your old name next to them. Only new messages and meetings going forward will display your new name.

If you join a recurring meeting after changing your name, the attendance record will show your new name from that point on. Previous attendance records will still list your old name, because that is what you were called when you attended.

If you cannot edit your profile

Some organizations restrict employees from changing their own display names. If you click your profile picture and do not see an Edit profile option, or if the display name field is grayed out, your IT department has locked this setting.

Contact your IT support team or help desk and ask them to change your display name for you. Provide them with the exact name you want to appear in Teams. They can make the change from their admin panel, and it will take effect on your account within minutes.

Change your name in Teams if you use a work account

If your Teams account is connected to your organization's directory (Active Directory or Azure AD), your display name may be synced from there. In that case, changing your name in Teams might not stick, or it might revert to your directory name after a few hours.

If you change your name and it reverts, your organization is pulling the name from a central directory. You will need to ask your IT department to update your name in Active Directory or Azure AD. Once they do, Teams will pull the new name automatically.

Some organizations allow you to set a nickname separate from your official directory name. If that is an option, you can use the Edit profile screen to set a nickname that displays in Teams while your official name stays in the directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Teams name change my email address?

No. Your display name and your email address are separate. Changing your name in Teams does not affect your email, your login credentials, or how you appear in Outlook or other Microsoft programs. Only your Teams display name changes.

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

Teams allows most letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation marks. Emojis and special symbols may not work depending on your organization's settings. If you try to save a name with characters that are not allowed, Teams will show an error message and ask you to remove them.

Will people see my old name in chat history?

Yes. Messages you sent before changing your name will still display your old name. Only new messages going forward will show your new name. If you need to clarify who sent an old message, you can reference the timestamp or ask in the conversation.

How long does it take for my new name to show up?

The change is when ready in Teams on the device where you made it. If you have Teams open on multiple devices, it may take a few seconds to a few minutes to sync across all of them. Refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app speeds this up.

What if my organization requires my legal name in Teams?

Some organizations have policies that require display names to match legal names or a specific format. If you try to change your name and it is rejected, or if your IT department tells you that you cannot use a different name, your organization enforces this policy. Contact your HR or IT department to discuss your options.