Change Your Display Name in Outlook

Your display name is what appears in the "From" line when you send an email. To change it in Outlook on Windows or Mac, open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings again. Find your email account in the list, select it, and click Change. In the dialog box, update the name field to what you want recipients to see, then click OK and Close.

The change takes effect when ready for new emails you compose. Emails you have already sent will still show your old name, since the message was sent with that information. If you use multiple email accounts in Outlook, you can set a different display name for each one by repeating these steps for each account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is what shows in the "From" line of emails you send and is changed through File > Account Settings > Change.
  • The display name change applies only to new emails you send after making the change, not to messages already sent.
  • If you have multiple email accounts in Outlook, each account can have its own display name.
  • On Outlook.com (web version), you change your display name in Settings > View your Microsoft account, not in the desktop app.
  • Changing your display name does not change your actual email address or password.

Change Your Name on Outlook.com (Web Version)

If you use Outlook through a web browser at outlook.com, the process is different from the desktop app. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select View your Microsoft account. You will be taken to your Microsoft account page. Click Your info on the left side, then find the name field and click Edit name. Type your new first and last name, then click Save.

This change updates your name across Microsoft services, not just Outlook. It may take a few minutes to appear in your email's "From" line. If you only want to change how your name appears in Outlook emails without changing your Microsoft account name, use the desktop app method instead.

Update Your Name in Outlook Mobile Apps

On Outlook for iPhone or Android, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and go to Settings. Select your email account, then tap Account name or Display name depending on your device. Type the new name and save. The change will sync to your other Outlook apps and devices within a few minutes.

Mobile apps sometimes show a slight delay before the new name appears in the "From" line. If you do not see the change after sending a test email, close and reopen the app to force a refresh.

Difference Between Display Name and Email Address

Your display name is what people see when they receive your email — for example, "Sarah Johnson" or "Sarah J." Your email address is what people use to contact you, like sarah.johnson@outlook.com. Changing your display name does not change your email address. People will still send emails to the same address; they will just see a different name in the "From" field.

If you need to change your actual email address (the part before @outlook.com), that is a separate process that requires creating an alias or a new account. Your display name change is purely cosmetic and does not affect how mail reaches you or how you log in.

What Happens to Old Emails After You Change Your Name

Emails you sent before changing your display name will continue to show your old name in recipients' inboxes. Outlook does not retroactively update the "From" line on messages that have already been delivered. Only emails you send after the change will show your new name.

If you need to tell people about the name change, you can send a brief email explaining it. This is especially useful if you changed your name for a legal reason or a significant life event and want your contacts to know the new name is the same person.

Troubleshooting: Name Change Not Showing

If you changed your display name but it is still showing the old name in your sent emails, try closing Outlook completely and reopening it. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to show the updated information. On the web version, try clearing your browser cache or using a private browsing window.

If the change still does not appear after restarting, check that you saved the change correctly. Go back to Account Settings (desktop) or Your info (web) and verify the new name is actually saved there. If it is saved but not showing in emails, wait a few hours — sometimes the change takes time to sync across Microsoft's servers.

Changing Your Name If You Forgot Your Password

You can still change your display name even if you do not remember your password, as long as you can still log into Outlook. Your display name and your password are separate settings. If you cannot log in at all, you will need to reset your password first before you can access the name change settings.

To reset your password, go to the Outlook sign-in page and click Can't access your account? Follow the steps to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number. Once you are back in your account, you can then change your display name using the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my display name change my email address?

No. Your display name is only what appears in the "From" line of your emails. Your email address (the part you use to log in and that people use to contact you) stays the same. People will still send mail to sarah.johnson@outlook.com even if you change your display name to "S. Johnson."

Will people I emailed before see my new name?

No. Old emails in their inbox will still show your previous display name because that is what was sent with the message. Only new emails you send after the change will show your updated name. They will not see the change unless you send them a new message.

Can I have different display names for different email accounts?

Yes. If you have multiple email accounts set up in Outlook, each one can have its own display name. Go to File > Account Settings and change the name for each account separately. This is useful if you have a work email and a personal email and want them to show different names.

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

On the desktop app, the change is when ready for new emails. On Outlook.com and mobile apps, it may take a few minutes to sync. If it does not appear after 10 minutes, try closing and reopening the app or refreshing your browser.

What if I want to change my name back to what it was before?

You can change your display name as many times as you want using the same steps. Go back to Account Settings (desktop) or Your info (web) and type in whatever name you want. There is no limit to how many times you can make this change.