Change your display name in Zoom while the meeting is running
You can change your name on Zoom while you are in a meeting without leaving or disconnecting. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are on a computer or a phone, but both take less than a minute. Your new name appears to other participants when ready after you make the change.
On a computer, click your video thumbnail in the meeting window — usually in the bottom right corner or in the participant list on the side. A small menu appears with options. Select "Rename" and type your new name into the box that opens. Press Enter or click outside the box to confirm. On a phone or tablet, tap your video thumbnail, then look for a three-dot menu icon and select "Rename" from the options shown.
The name change applies only to that meeting. When you join a different Zoom meeting later, your name will revert to whatever you have set in your Zoom account profile. If you want the new name to stick across all future meetings, you need to change it in your account settings after the meeting ends.
Key Takeaways
- Click or tap your video thumbnail during the meeting and select "Rename" to change your display name when ready.
- Your new name shows to all other participants in that meeting as soon as you confirm the change.
- The name change lasts only for that single meeting unless you also update your Zoom account profile.
- On a computer, the rename option appears in a menu next to your video; on a phone, look for the three-dot menu icon.
- You do not need to stop video, mute audio, or leave the meeting to make this change.
Where to find the rename option on different devices
On Windows or Mac, the quickest way is to locate your own video tile in the meeting. If you are using gallery view (where all participants appear in a grid), your tile is usually marked with a small label or border. Right-click or click directly on your tile, and a context menu should appear. Look for "Rename" in that menu.
If you do not see your video tile on screen, check the participant list instead. Most Zoom meetings show a "Participants" button or panel on the right side of the window. Click it to open the list of everyone in the meeting. Find your own name in that list, hover over it, and click the three dots or menu icon that appears next to your name. Select "Rename" from the dropdown.
On an iPhone or Android phone, tap your own video preview at the bottom of the screen. A menu with several options will slide up or appear as a popup. Tap the three-dot menu icon (sometimes called "More") and select "Rename." Type your new name and confirm by tapping outside the text field or pressing the checkmark button if one appears.
What happens to your name after the meeting ends
When you leave the meeting, Zoom does not save the temporary name change you made. The next time you join any Zoom meeting, your display name will be whatever is set in your Zoom account profile. This is by design — Zoom treats in-meeting name changes as temporary adjustments for that session only.
If you want a new name to appear in all your future meetings, you need to update your Zoom profile. Sign into your Zoom account on the web or in the desktop app, go to your profile settings, and change the name listed there. This permanent change will then appear whenever you join a meeting using that account.
Changing your name if you joined as a guest
If you joined a Zoom meeting without signing into an account — for example, by clicking a link sent to you — you can still change your display name during the meeting using the same steps described above. Click or tap your video tile, select "Rename," and type a new name. This temporary change applies only to that meeting.
Guest users do not have a Zoom profile to update, so there is no way to make a permanent name change across multiple meetings. Each time you join a meeting as a guest, you will need to rename yourself if you want a different name to show.
Renaming yourself if your video is turned off
You can rename yourself even if your camera is off and no video tile is visible. Open the Participants list by clicking the "Participants" button on the right side of the meeting window (on computer) or by tapping the participant icon (on phone). Find your name in the list, hover over it or tap it, and click the three-dot menu. Select "Rename" and enter your new name.
This method works the same way whether your video is on or off, making it useful if you are joining audio-only or if you turned off your camera partway through the meeting.
Troubleshooting if the rename option does not appear
If you cannot find a rename option, the most common reason is that the meeting host has locked down participant settings. Some hosts disable the ability for attendees to change their own names as a security or moderation measure. In this case, you cannot rename yourself during the meeting.
If you need a different name to show, contact the host directly and ask them to rename you. Hosts can rename any participant in the meeting by right-clicking or tapping on that person's name in the participant list and selecting "Rename Participant." The host can also re-enable self-renaming in the meeting settings if they choose to do so.
Another less common issue is using an older version of the Zoom app. If your app is several versions out of date, some features may not work as described. Check your app store for updates and install the latest version of Zoom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the host see that I changed my name during the meeting?
The host sees your new name just like any other participant does. They do not receive a notification that you renamed yourself, but if they look at the participant list or your video tile, they will see the updated name. The change is visible to everyone in the meeting.
Will my new name be saved in the meeting recording?
Yes. If the host recorded the meeting, your new name will appear in the recording and in the transcript (if one was generated). The recording captures whatever name you were displaying at the time you appeared on screen.
Can I change my name back to the original if I made a mistake?
Yes. Use the same steps to rename yourself again. Click your video tile, select "Rename," and type the correct name. You can change your name as many times as you want during a single meeting.
What if I want to use a different name in all my Zoom meetings going forward?
Sign into your Zoom account on the web, go to your profile or account settings, and update your display name there. This change will explore to every meeting you join with that account. You can change it back anytime by returning to the same settings.
Does renaming myself affect my Zoom account or email address?
No. Changing your display name in a meeting or in your profile does not change your email address, account login, or any other account information. It only changes the name that appears to other people when you are in a meeting.