Change Your Display Name Before or During a Meeting

You can change the name that appears to other participants in a Zoom meeting in two ways: before the meeting starts by editing your Zoom profile, or during the meeting by changing your display name in real time. The method you choose depends on whether you want the change to affect all your future meetings or just the current one.

If you change your name in your Zoom profile settings, that name will show up in every meeting you join going forward. If you change it only during a specific meeting, other participants will see the new name just in that session—your profile name stays the same. Both changes take effect when ready, and other people in the meeting will see the update right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You can edit your Zoom profile name in account settings, and it will appear in all future meetings you join.
  • During a meeting, right-click your own video tile or find your name in the participant list and select "Rename" to change your display name for just that session.
  • Changes made during a meeting do not affect your permanent profile name—only what others see in that specific meeting.
  • The host and other participants will see your new name when ready after you make the change.
  • On mobile devices, tap and hold your video or name in the participant list to access the rename option.

Edit Your Name in Your Zoom Profile

To change the name that appears in all your Zoom meetings, log into your Zoom account on a computer or mobile device and go to your profile settings. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Profile." You will see your display name listed near the top of the page.

Click the "Edit" button next to your name. Type your new name in the text field and click "Save Changes." This name will now appear whenever you join a Zoom meeting, and existing meeting participants will see the update the next time you join a call with them. If you are using the Zoom mobile app, tap "Profile" at the bottom of the screen, then tap "Edit" next to your name and save your changes the same way.

Change Your Name During an Active Meeting

If you want to change your name only for the current meeting without affecting your profile, you can do this while the meeting is happening. On a computer, right-click on your own video tile (the box showing your camera feed) and select "Rename." A text box will appear where you can type a new name for just this meeting.

Alternatively, click "Participants" at the bottom of the Zoom window to open the participant list. Find your own name in the list, hover over it, and click the three dots that appear. Select "Rename" from the menu, type your new name, and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready, and all other meeting participants will see your new name right away.

Changing Your Name on Mobile Devices

On the Zoom mobile app, changing your name during a meeting works slightly differently than on a computer. Tap the "Participants" button at the bottom of your screen to open the list of people in the meeting. Find your own name in the list.

Tap and hold your name until a menu appears, then select "Rename." Type your new name and tap "Done" or "Save." Your new name will appear to all other participants when ready. This change applies only to the current meeting; your profile name remains unchanged. If you want to change your permanent profile name on mobile, go to the Zoom app home screen, tap your profile picture, select "Profile," and edit your name there.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One frequent mistake is changing your profile name when you only meant to change it for one meeting. Remember that editing your profile name in account settings affects all your future meetings. If you need a temporary name change for just one call, use the "Rename" option during the meeting instead.

Another common issue is not realizing that the host can also rename you. If you see your name has changed and you did not change it yourself, the meeting host may have renamed you. You can change it back using the same steps above. Also, be aware that if you are using a Zoom account linked to your workplace or school, your administrator may have restrictions on what names you can use, so check with your organization if you run into an error when trying to save a new name.

What Happens When You Change Your Name

When you change your name during a meeting, the change is visible only to people in that specific meeting. If you leave and rejoin the same meeting, your name will revert to your profile name unless you rename yourself again. If you change your profile name, that change persists across all meetings until you edit it again.

Other participants see your name update in real time—there is no delay. If someone was looking at the participant list when you renamed yourself, they will see the new name appear when ready. The host receives no notification that you have renamed yourself; they straightforward see the new name in the participant list and on your video tile.

Troubleshooting Name Change Issues

If the "Rename" option does not appear when you right-click your video or name, make sure you are right-clicking on your own tile or name, not someone else's. Hosts and other participants cannot rename you without your permission in most Zoom settings, though some organizations configure their accounts differently.

If you are unable to edit your profile name and you are using a work or school Zoom account, your organization's administrator may have locked down profile editing. Contact your IT department or Zoom administrator to request a name change. If you are using a personal Zoom account and still cannot change your name, try logging out and logging back in, or update your Zoom app to the latest version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the host change my name without asking me?

Yes, the host has the ability to rename participants in most Zoom meetings. However, this change applies only to that specific meeting. Your profile name remains unchanged, and if you rejoin the meeting, your original name will appear unless the host renames you again. If you want to prevent this, you can change your own name during the meeting before the host does.

If I change my name during a meeting and then leave, will the new name stick?

No. If you change your name only during a meeting and then leave, your name reverts to your profile name. The next time you join any Zoom meeting, you will appear under your profile name again. To make a permanent change, edit your name in your Zoom profile settings.

Does changing my name affect my Zoom account or email address?

No. Changing your display name does not affect your email address, account login, or any other account information. It changes only what other people see when you are in a meeting. Your email and login credentials stay the same.

What if I want different names for different meetings?

You can change your name for each individual meeting by using the "Rename" option during that meeting. However, you cannot set up automatic names for specific meetings in advance. You will need to rename yourself manually each time you join a meeting where you want a different name.

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

Zoom allows most special characters and emojis in display names, though some organizations may have restrictions. If you are using a work or school account, check with your administrator. For personal accounts, you can usually type any character you want, but keep in mind that some older devices or browsers may not display unusual characters correctly.