What you can change about your Microsoft account name

Microsoft accounts have two separate names you can change: your display name (what appears to other people) and your account email address (what you use to sign in). Most people want to change their display name, which takes about two minutes and happens immediately. Changing your sign-in email is more involved and requires access to both your current email and a backup email address.

You cannot change the name associated with a Microsoft payment method or subscription without contacting Microsoft support directly. If you have a work or school account through your organization, your administrator controls what can be changed.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (what others see) can be changed in account settings in under two minutes and takes effect right away.
  • Your sign-in email address can be changed but requires you to verify both your old and new email addresses.
  • If you use Microsoft 365, Xbox, or OneDrive, changing your display name updates across all those services automatically.
  • Work or school accounts managed by an organization cannot be changed by you — your administrator must make those changes.
  • If you forget your password during the process, you will need access to your recovery email or phone number to regain access.

How to change your display name

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your email and password. On the left side, select Your info. Look for the section that shows your name — it usually appears near the top of the page with your profile picture. Click Edit name or the pencil icon next to your name.

Type your new first name and last name in the fields provided. You can use any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces. Click Next, then Save. The change takes effect immediately. If you use Outlook, Xbox, OneDrive, or Skype, your new name will appear in all of those services within a few minutes.

If the Edit name button does not appear, your account may be managed by your workplace or school. Contact your IT administrator to request a name change.

How to change your sign-in email address

Changing the email you use to sign in is different from changing your display name and requires more steps. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in. Select Your info, then look for Email and phone or Manage how you sign in. Click Add email or Change email.

You will be asked to enter a new email address. This email must be one you have access to right now — Microsoft will send a verification code to it. Enter the code when prompted. After you verify the new email, Microsoft will ask you to confirm your current password. Once confirmed, your new email becomes your sign-in address.

Your old email address remains linked to your account as a recovery option for 30 days. After 30 days, it is removed completely. During those 30 days, you can still use your old email to sign in if you need to, but Microsoft recommends using your new email going forward.

What happens if you cannot access your recovery email

If you are trying to change your sign-in email but cannot access the recovery email Microsoft sends the verification code to, you will need to add a phone number to your account first. Go to account.microsoft.com, select Your info, then Email and phone. Add a phone number and verify it by entering the code Microsoft texts to you.

Once your phone number is verified, you can use it as an alternative way to verify your identity when changing your email. If you do not have access to either your recovery email or a phone number on file, contact Microsoft support through their account recovery page — they can help you regain access to your account.

Changing your name on a work or school account

If your Microsoft account is managed by your workplace or school (often called an Azure AD or Entra ID account), you cannot change your own name through account.microsoft.com. Your organization's IT administrator controls all account settings, including your name.

Contact your IT help desk or administrator and request a name change. They can update your display name and, in some cases, your sign-in email through their admin portal. The process and timeline depend on your organization's policies — some make changes within hours, others within a few business days.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you see an error message saying "We couldn't save your changes," try signing out completely and signing back in. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. If the problem continues, try a different browser or device.

If your new name does not appear in Outlook, Xbox, or OneDrive after an hour, sign out of those services and sign back in. The name change syncs automatically, but signing out and back in speeds up the process. If your name still does not update after 24 hours, contact Microsoft support.

If you changed your sign-in email but cannot sign in with the new address, make sure you are typing it exactly as you entered it — email addresses are case-sensitive in some systems. If you still cannot sign in, use your old email address (which remains active for 30 days) and try the change again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my display name affect my password?

No. Your password stays the same no matter what name changes you make. You sign in with your email address and password, not your display name. Changing your display name does not require you to create a new password.

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes. Go back to Your info, click Edit name, and enter your old name. The change takes effect immediately. There is no limit to how many times you can change your display name.

If I change my email, will my old emails in Outlook disappear?

No. Your emails stay in your mailbox. Changing your sign-in email address does not delete or move any messages. You will still see all your old emails when you sign in with your new email address.

What if my name has special characters or is in a different language?

Microsoft accepts most letters, numbers, spaces, and some punctuation marks in display names. If you use characters from another language (Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, etc.), they usually work fine. If you get an error, try removing special characters like apostrophes or hyphens and try again.

How long does it take for my new name to show up everywhere?

Your display name updates immediately in account settings. It appears in Outlook, OneDrive, and Skype within a few minutes. Xbox may take up to an hour. If you changed your sign-in email, that takes effect right away, but your old email remains active as a backup for 30 days.