Change your display name in Zoom in three steps

You can change the name that appears to other people on a Zoom call in seconds, either before you join or while you are already in the meeting. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using the desktop app, the web version, or a mobile phone — but all three routes take less than a minute. You can also set a permanent name in your Zoom account that will appear by default on every call you join.

The fastest way is to edit your name right in the meeting itself. When you are on a call, hover over your own video tile (or your name if your camera is off), click the three dots that appear, and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter. That change lasts only for that one meeting. If you want the new name to stick across all future calls, you need to change it in your account settings instead.

Key Takeaways

  • You can rename yourself during a meeting by clicking the three dots on your video tile and selecting Rename — this change applies only to that call.
  • To set a permanent name that appears on all your Zoom calls, go to your account settings, select Profile, and edit the name field.
  • On mobile, tap and hold your own video to bring up the rename option, or change your profile name in the app settings.
  • Other people see the name you set; they cannot see your email address unless you choose to display it in your profile.

Rename yourself during a meeting on desktop or web

If you are already in a Zoom call and want to change your name for that meeting only, the process is the same on both the desktop app and the web version. Look at the video grid and find your own video tile — it usually has a small label with your current name. Move your mouse over your tile and three dots will appear in the corner.

Click those three dots and a menu will pop up. Select Rename from the options. A text box will appear with your current name highlighted. Delete it, type your new name, and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready and everyone in the meeting will see your new name. When the meeting ends, your name reverts to whatever it was before — the change does not carry over to your next call.

Change your permanent name in account settings

To make a name change that sticks across all your Zoom calls, you need to edit your profile in your account settings. Sign in to your Zoom account on the web at zoom.us. In the top right corner, click your profile picture or initial, then select My Profile from the dropdown menu.

On the Profile page, you will see your current first and last name. Click the Edit button next to your name (or click directly on the name field itself). Type your new first name and last name in the boxes provided. When you are done, click Save. The next time you join a Zoom call, your new name will appear by default. If you are already in a call when you make this change, you will need to leave and rejoin for the new name to show up.

Rename yourself on mobile phones

On iPhone or Android, the process is slightly different because the mobile app does not show the same menu options as the desktop version. Open the Zoom app and start or join a meeting. Once you are in the call, look at the bottom of the screen and tap Participants to see the list of people on the call. Find your own name in the list, then tap and hold on it until a menu appears.

Select Rename from the menu. Type your new name in the text box that appears and tap Save or Done (the exact button label depends on your phone). The name change takes effect when ready for that meeting only. To change your permanent profile name on mobile, open the Zoom app, tap your profile picture at the top left, select Settings, then Profile, and edit your name the same way you would on the web.

What other people see when you change your name

When you change your name on Zoom, other participants see only the name you set — they do not see your email address, your real name, or any other account information unless you have chosen to display those things in your public profile. The name you display is purely what you control.

If you are hosting the meeting, your name appears with a Host label next to it so other people know you are running the call. If you are a participant, your name appears the same way as everyone else's. Changing your name does not change your host status or any of your permissions in the meeting.

Rename yourself before joining a meeting

You can also set a temporary name before you even join a call. When you click a Zoom meeting link or join from the app, you will see a preview screen that shows your camera and microphone status. At the top of that preview, your current name appears in a text field. Click on the name field and type a different name. When you click Join Meeting, you will enter the call with that new name.

This approach is useful if you want a different name for a specific meeting but do not want to change your permanent profile. The name you enter here applies only to that one call. Once the meeting ends, your profile name stays the same.

Troubleshooting name changes that do not appear

If you changed your name in your profile settings but it still shows your old name when you join a call, try signing out of Zoom completely and signing back in. Sometimes the app caches your old information and needs to refresh. On desktop, click your profile picture, select Sign Out, then close the app entirely. Reopen it, sign back in, and join a new meeting.

If you renamed yourself during a meeting and the change did not take effect, check that you actually clicked Save or pressed Enter — sometimes the rename menu closes without saving if you click elsewhere. If other people still see your old name after you renamed yourself, ask them to refresh their participant list by closing and reopening the Participants panel. In rare cases, a slow internet connection can delay the name change from syncing across all participants' screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a fake name on Zoom?

Yes. Zoom does not verify that the name you display matches your real identity. You can set any name you want in your profile or for a specific meeting. However, if you are joining a work or school meeting, your organization may have policies about what names are acceptable, so check with your administrator first.

Does changing my name on Zoom change my email address?

No. Your email address and your display name are separate. Changing your name does not affect your email or your account login. Other people cannot see your email address unless you have added it to your public profile, which you can control in your account settings.

If I change my name, will it show up in the meeting recording?

Yes. If the meeting is recorded, your name will appear in the recording exactly as it showed during the call. If you renamed yourself mid-meeting, the recording will show both your old and new names at the points where you changed it. If you want a different name in the recording, change it before the meeting starts.

Can the meeting host see my real name if I use a fake name?

The host sees the same name that everyone else sees — whatever you set as your display name. However, if you signed up for the meeting with your real email address, the host can look up your account and see your registered name that way. The display name is what appears on screen during the call.

What happens to my name if I change my profile while I am in a meeting?

If you edit your permanent profile name while you are already in a call, the change does not take effect until you leave and rejoin the meeting. The name you see on screen during the call will not update automatically. You would need to use the in-meeting rename option if you want to change your name without leaving.