Change your display name in Zoom in three steps
You can change the name that appears to other people in a Zoom meeting from your account settings or directly during a call. The fastest route is to edit it in your profile before the meeting starts — that way it applies to all future meetings automatically. If you need to change it only for one meeting, you can do that from inside the call itself.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using the Zoom desktop app, the mobile app, or the web portal. All three let you change your name, but the web portal gives you the most control over your permanent profile.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your display name permanently in your Zoom profile, and it will show up in all future meetings.
- To change your name for just one meeting, you can edit it from inside the call without affecting your profile.
- On desktop, go to your profile picture in the top right, select "Profile", then click "Edit" next to your name.
- On mobile, tap your profile picture, go to "Profile", and tap "Edit" to change your name.
- During a meeting, right-click your own video (or long-press on mobile) and select "Rename" to change it for that call only.
Change your name in your Zoom profile on desktop
Open the Zoom desktop app and look for your profile picture in the top right corner. Click on it to open a dropdown menu. Select "Profile" from the menu.
On your profile page, you will see your current name displayed. Click the "Edit" button next to your name. Type your new name in the text field and click "Save" to confirm the change. Your new name will appear in all Zoom meetings going forward.
If you have a Zoom account through your workplace or school, your administrator may have locked your name so you cannot change it. If the "Edit" button does not appear or is greyed out, contact your Zoom administrator to request a name change.
Change your name on the Zoom web portal
Go to zoom.us and sign in with your account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.
On your profile page, locate your name at the top. Click the "Edit" button next to it. Type your new name and click "Save". This change takes effect immediately and will show in all future meetings.
The web portal is the most reliable way to make permanent changes because it syncs across all your devices. If you change your name on the desktop app but it does not appear on mobile, sign out and back in on the mobile app to refresh it.
Change your name on mobile
Open the Zoom app on your phone or tablet. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen (on Android) or top left (on iPhone). Select "Profile" from the menu.
Tap the "Edit" button next to your name. Type your new name and tap "Save" or "Done" depending on your device. The change will sync to your account and appear in future meetings.
Mobile apps sometimes lag behind the web portal when syncing changes. If your new name does not appear in a meeting right away, close the Zoom app completely and reopen it to force a refresh.
Change your name for a single meeting only
If you want to use a different name in just one meeting without changing your profile, you can rename yourself during the call. Right-click on your own video tile in the meeting and select "Rename" from the menu. Type the temporary name and click "OK".
On mobile, long-press your own video and select "Rename". Type the new name and confirm. This name change applies only to that meeting. When you join your next meeting, your profile name will appear again.
Other participants will see your temporary name during the meeting, but it will not be saved to your account. This is useful if you want to use a nickname, initials, or a different name for a specific call without permanently changing your profile.
What happens if your name is locked by an administrator
If you work for a company or attend a school that uses Zoom, your administrator may have restricted name changes to maintain consistency or security. When this happens, the "Edit" button will not appear next to your name, or it will be greyed out and unclickable.
You can still change your name for a single meeting using the "Rename" option during the call, but you cannot change your permanent profile name. To request a permanent name change, contact your IT department or Zoom administrator and explain why you need the change.
Some organizations allow administrators to unlock individual accounts for name changes. It may take a few hours or a business day for the change to take effect after your administrator approves it.
Troubleshooting name changes that do not appear
If you changed your name but it still shows the old name in meetings, try signing out of Zoom completely and signing back in. Close the app entirely — do not just minimize it — and reopen it. This forces Zoom to refresh your profile information from the server.
If you use Zoom on multiple devices, the name change may take a few minutes to sync across all of them. Check the web portal first to confirm the change was saved, then wait a few minutes before checking your phone or tablet.
If the name still does not update after signing out and back in, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Zoom app. Occasionally a corrupted cache prevents the app from loading your latest profile information. After reinstalling, sign in again and your new name should appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name right before a meeting starts?
Yes. If you change your name in your profile, it takes effect immediately and will show in the next meeting you join. If you are already in a meeting and want to change it just for that call, use the "Rename" option from your video tile.
Will changing my name affect my Zoom recordings or past meetings?
No. Your new name will appear in future meetings and recordings, but past recordings will still show your old name. Zoom does not retroactively update historical data when you change your profile information.
What if I want to use special characters or emojis in my name?
Zoom allows most special characters and emojis in display names. Type them into the name field the same way you would in any other app. Some organizations with strict naming policies may restrict certain characters, so check with your administrator if you work for a company.
Can other people in a meeting change my name?
No. Only you can change your own display name, or an administrator can change it if they have that permission enabled. Other participants cannot rename you without your account access.
Does changing my Zoom name change my email address or account login?
No. Your display name is separate from your email and login credentials. You can change your name as many times as you want without affecting how you sign into Zoom or any other account linked to your email.