Change your Zoom display name in three steps

You can change the name that appears to other people on Zoom in your account settings. The name you set there shows up in meetings, on your profile, and in chat. If you are already in a meeting, you can also change your name for just that meeting without affecting your account name.

The fastest way is through your Zoom web account. Sign in at zoom.us, go to Settings, find Profile, and edit the name field. Save the change. The new name appears the next time you join a meeting or the next time someone refreshes their view of the participant list.

If you use the Zoom desktop app or mobile app instead, you can change your name there too, though the steps differ slightly by device. Both routes take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Your account name on zoom.us is what shows up in all meetings and on your profile, and you change it in Settings under Profile.
  • You can change your name for a single meeting without touching your account settings by right-clicking your own name in the participant list during the meeting.
  • Changes to your account name take effect the next time you join a meeting or the next time other participants refresh their view.
  • The Zoom mobile app lets you change your name in Settings, though the exact menu location depends on whether you use iOS or Android.

Change your name through the Zoom website

Go to zoom.us and sign in with your email and password. Click your profile picture or avatar in the top right corner, then select Settings from the dropdown menu.

On the Settings page, click Profile on the left side. You will see your current name in a field labeled "First Name" and "Last Name" (or sometimes a single "Name" field depending on your account type). Click into the field, delete the old name, and type the new one. Click Save when you are done.

The change is when ready in your account, but other people in meetings may not see it right away. If someone is already in a meeting with you, they may need to refresh the participant list or leave and rejoin to see the updated name.

Change your name for one meeting only

If you want to use a different name in a specific meeting without changing your account name, you can do that from inside the meeting. Right-click or long-press your own name in the Participants panel on the right side of the screen (or at the bottom on mobile). Select "Rename" from the menu.

Type the temporary name you want to use and click Rename. This name appears only to people in that meeting. When you leave the meeting and join another one, your account name returns.

This is useful if you want to use a nickname, a different spelling, or a name you go by professionally in one meeting but not others. The temporary name does not change anything in your account settings.

Change your name in the Zoom desktop app

Open the Zoom app and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On Windows, look for Profile on the left sidebar. On Mac, you may see it under Account or directly in the main settings window.

Click Edit next to your name, change the text, and click Save. The change takes effect the next time you start a meeting or join one. If you are already in a meeting, you will need to leave and rejoin for your new name to show up to other participants.

Change your name in the Zoom mobile app

On iPhone or iPad, open the Zoom app and tap your profile picture at the bottom right. Tap Settings, then Profile. Tap Edit next to your name, type the new name, and tap Save or Done depending on your iOS version.

On Android, open the Zoom app and tap your profile picture. Go to Settings, then Profile. Tap the pencil icon next to your name to edit it, type the new name, and tap Save. The change appears in your next meeting.

What happens when you change your name

Your new name shows up on your Zoom profile page, in the participant list during meetings, in chat messages you send, and in meeting recordings if your name appears on screen. People who have you in their contacts will see the updated name next to your profile.

If you change your name and then join a meeting that is already in progress, some participants may still see your old name until they refresh their participant list or until the meeting ends and restarts. This is not a problem with your change — it is just how Zoom displays updates in real time.

Changing your name does not affect your email address, your Zoom ID number, or your account login credentials. You still sign in with the same email and password.

Troubleshooting name changes that do not appear

If you changed your name but other people still see the old one, ask them to refresh the participant list. On desktop, they can click the X next to Participants and reopen it. On mobile, they can swipe down to refresh or leave and rejoin the meeting.

If the name change does not save when you click Save, check that you have a stable internet connection and that you are signed into the correct Zoom account. Some organizations use Zoom through their company or school, and those accounts may have restrictions on name changes. Contact your IT department or Zoom administrator if you cannot edit your name.

If you see a message that says your name contains invalid characters, remove any special symbols or emoji and use only letters, numbers, spaces, and standard punctuation like hyphens or apostrophes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different name in different meetings?

Yes. You can change your account name once, and it applies to all meetings. Or you can keep your account name and use the temporary rename feature to change your name for a single meeting only. The temporary name disappears when you leave that meeting.

Does changing my name affect my Zoom ID or login?

No. Your Zoom ID and email address stay the same. You sign in with your email and password, and changing your display name does not touch either of those. Your ID is a number assigned to your account that never changes.

What if my organization does not let me change my name?

Some companies and schools lock down account settings so employees or students cannot edit their names. If you see a message that the field is read-only or you cannot click Save, contact your IT department or Zoom administrator. They may need to change it for you or unlock the setting.

Will people in old recordings see my new name?

No. Recordings capture the name that was displayed at the time of the meeting. If you change your name after a recording is made, the recording still shows your old name. Only new recordings made after the change will show the updated name.