What you can and cannot change in your email account
You can change your display name — the name that appears when you send messages — in almost every email service. You cannot change the actual email address itself (the part before the @) once the account is created, though you can create a new account with a different address and forward mail from the old one.
The difference matters because your display name is purely cosmetic and takes seconds to update, while your email address is permanent. If you need a different email address, you will need to set up a new account and tell your contacts about the switch.
This guide covers the most common email services: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. The steps are similar across all of them, though the menu locations differ slightly.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name can be changed in settings within seconds, but your actual email address cannot be changed once created.
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all let you edit your display name from account settings or profile pages.
- If you need a different email address entirely, you must create a new account and set up forwarding from the old one.
- Changing your display name does not affect your password, recovery options, or any other account security settings.
How to change your display name in Gmail
Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select See all settings. Go to the Accounts and Import tab. Under "Send mail as," you will see your current display name. Click Edit info next to it.
Type your new name in the field that appears. You can use any name you want — it does not have to match your legal name or the name on your account. Click Save changes when you are done. The new name will appear on all emails you send from that point forward.
If you have multiple email addresses set up in the same Gmail account, each one can have its own display name. Edit each one separately using the same process.
How to change your display name in Outlook
Sign into your Outlook account and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select View account. On the left side, click Your info. You will see a field labeled Name — this is your display name.
Click on the name field to edit it. Type your new name and click Save. Outlook will ask you to confirm the change. The new name takes effect when ready on all outgoing messages.
If you use Outlook on a desktop computer, you can also change your display name by opening the process, going to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, selecting your email address, and clicking Change.
How to change your display name in Yahoo Mail
Log into Yahoo Mail and click your account icon in the top right. Select Account info. On the left side, click Account security, then scroll down to find Name. Click Edit next to your current name.
Enter your new display name in the field provided. Click Save. Yahoo will confirm the change, and your new name will appear on all future emails you send.
Yahoo also lets you change your display name directly from the mail interface. Click the gear icon, select Settings, go to the General tab, and look for the name field near the top of the page.
How to change your display name in Apple Mail (iCloud)
Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click the settings gear icon and select Account Settings. Under Personal Information, you will see your name. Click Edit to change it.
Type your new name and click Save. The change applies to all mail sent from your iCloud account. If you use the Mail app on your Mac or iPhone, the new name will sync automatically within a few minutes.
What to do if you need a completely different email address
If changing your display name is not enough and you truly need a different email address, you will need to create a new account. Most email services let you create multiple free accounts, so you can keep the old one running while you transition to the new one.
After you create the new account, set up mail forwarding on the old account so messages sent to your old address automatically go to your new one. In Gmail, go to Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Add a forwarding address. In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Forwarding. Yahoo and Apple Mail have similar options in their settings menus.
Forwarding typically takes 24 hours to set up. During that time, tell your important contacts about your new address so they can update their records. You can keep the old account active for as long as you want to catch any stragglers.
Common mistakes to avoid when changing your display name
The most common mistake is thinking you can change your email address itself. You cannot — the address is permanent once created. If you see a field that says "email address" or "username," that one is read-only and cannot be edited.
Another mistake is changing your display name and then wondering why your contacts still see the old name. This happens because they may have saved your contact information before the change. Ask them to delete and re-add you to their contacts, or straightforward send them a message from your new display name so they see the update.
Do not confuse your display name with your password or recovery email. Changing your display name does not affect either of those, and you should never share your password with anyone, even if they ask you to "verify" it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my display name affect my password or security settings?
No. Your display name is separate from your password, recovery email, and two-factor authentication. Changing it does not touch any of those settings, and your account security remains exactly the same.
Can I change my email address to something completely different?
You cannot change the address itself once it is created. You must create a new email account with the new address you want. Set up forwarding on the old account so you do not miss messages sent to the old address.
If I change my display name, will old emails show the new name?
No. Emails you already sent will continue to show the name you used when you sent them. Only new emails going forward will show your updated display name. Your contacts will see the new name on messages they receive from you after the change.
How long does it take for my new display name to show up?
The change is usually when ready in your account settings. However, it may take a few minutes for the new name to appear in emails your contacts receive, depending on their email service and how often they refresh.
Can I have different display names for different email addresses?
Yes. If you have multiple email addresses in the same account (like Gmail's "Send mail as" feature), each address can have its own display name. Edit each one separately in your account settings.