Change your display name in Zoom at any time

Your Zoom display name is what other participants see when you join a meeting. You can change it before a meeting starts, during a meeting, or in your account settings so it updates automatically for all future calls. The method you choose depends on whether you want to change it just once or make it permanent across all your meetings.

Zoom stores your name in two places: your account profile (which applies to every meeting you host or join) and your meeting-specific display (which can be different for a single call). Changing your account name takes 30 seconds and affects all future meetings. Changing it mid-meeting takes 10 seconds and affects only that call.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your account name in Zoom settings to update your display name for all future meetings automatically.
  • Right-click your own video tile during a meeting to rename yourself for just that call without changing your account.
  • Edit your name in the Zoom mobile app by opening Settings, tapping your profile picture, and selecting Edit Profile.
  • Your new name appears to other participants when ready after you change it, whether you edit during a meeting or beforehand.
  • If you are joining a meeting as a guest without a Zoom account, you can enter your name on the screen before you click Join Meeting.

Change your name in Zoom account settings on a computer

Open Zoom on your computer and sign in to your account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner of the window, then select Profile from the dropdown menu. You will see your account information, including your first and last name fields.

Click Edit next to your name. Type your new first name, last name, or both in the fields provided. Click Save Changes when you are done. Your new name will appear the next time you join a Zoom meeting, and it will also show on your profile to other Zoom users who view it.

Change your name during a meeting on a computer

If you are already in a meeting and want to change your name just for that call, right-click on your own video tile (the box showing your camera feed). A menu will appear with several options. Select Rename. A text box will pop up with your current name highlighted.

Type your new name and press Enter or click outside the box. Your name will change when ready for everyone in the meeting. This change affects only the current meeting and does not update your account profile, so your original name will return the next time you join a different meeting.

Change your name on the Zoom mobile app

Open the Zoom app on your phone or tablet and sign in. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen (on iPhone) or top right (on Android). Select Edit Profile. You will see fields for your first name and last name.

Tap in the name field and type your new name. Tap Save at the top of the screen. Your updated name will show in all future meetings you join from that device. If you want to change your name for just one meeting on mobile, you can also tap your name at the top of the meeting screen and select Rename, which works the same way as the desktop version.

Change your name when joining as a guest

If you are joining a Zoom meeting without a Zoom account (as a guest), you will see a screen asking for your name before you enter the meeting. Type the name you want to display in the text field labeled Your Name. Click Join Meeting. Your chosen name will appear to other participants for that meeting only.

Guest names do not save to any account, so you will need to enter a name each time you join a meeting without logging in. If you join the same meeting multiple times as a guest, you can use the same name or a different one each time.

What happens when you change your name

When you change your account name in Zoom settings, the change takes effect when ready for your profile but applies to meetings going forward. If you are already in a meeting when you change your account name, your display name in that meeting will not update until you leave and rejoin. Other participants will see your new name as soon as you join your next meeting.

If you change your name during a meeting (by right-clicking your video), all participants see the change when ready. The meeting host can also rename you if you do not have permission to rename yourself, though this is rare in most meeting setups. Your original account name remains unchanged unless you edit it in your profile settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the meeting host change my name for me?

Yes, the host can rename any participant during a meeting by right-clicking that person's video tile and selecting Rename. However, most hosts do not do this unless you ask. If you cannot rename yourself, ask the host to do it for you.

Will my old name show anywhere after I change it?

Your old name will not appear in new meetings. However, if the meeting was recorded, the recording may still show your previous name in the participant list or chat history from before you changed it. Check with the host about what was recorded.

Can I use a different name in different meetings?

Yes. Change your account name in settings to update all meetings, or right-click your video during a specific meeting to change your name for just that call. This way you can use your real name in work meetings and a different name in personal meetings.

What if I forget my name and want to see what it currently is?

Open Zoom, click your profile picture, and select Profile. Your current display name appears at the top of the page. You can edit it from there or leave it as is.

Does changing my Zoom name change my email or account login?

No. Your display name and your email address are separate. Changing your name does not affect how you sign in to Zoom or your email settings. You sign in with your email and password regardless of what name you display.