Change your display name before or during a meeting

You can change the name that appears to other people in Zoom in two ways: edit your profile name (which changes it permanently across all meetings), or change it just for a single meeting. The single-meeting change is faster if you only need a different name for one call.

To change your name for just one meeting, join the call, find the Participants button at the bottom of the screen, locate your own name in the list, hover over it, click "Rename," type the new name, and click "OK." This change lasts only for that meeting. When you join your next meeting, your profile name appears again.

To change your profile name permanently, sign into your Zoom account on the web (zoom.us), click your profile picture in the top right, select "Profile," find the "First Name" and "Last Name" fields, edit them, and click "Save Changes." This name will appear in all future meetings unless you rename yourself in a specific meeting.

Key Takeaways

  • Renaming yourself during a meeting takes 30 seconds and affects only that one call; your profile name reappears next time.
  • Changing your profile name on zoom.us changes what appears in every meeting you join going forward.
  • You can rename yourself during a meeting by clicking Participants, finding your name, and selecting Rename.
  • If you are a meeting host, you can also rename other participants, though they will see a notification that you did so.

Edit your profile name on the Zoom website

Sign into your account at zoom.us using your email and password. Once you are logged in, click your profile picture or avatar in the top right corner of the page. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.

Click "Profile" from that menu. You will see your account information, including your first and last name fields. Click directly on the "First Name" field to edit it, type your new first name, then do the same for the "Last Name" field if you want to change that too. After you finish editing both fields, scroll down and click the blue "Save Changes" button. The change takes effect immediately, and your new name will appear the next time you join any Zoom meeting.

Rename yourself during a Zoom meeting

If you are already in a meeting and need to change your name just for that call, use the Participants panel. At the bottom center of your Zoom window, click the "Participants" button. A panel will open on the right side showing everyone in the meeting, including your own name at the top or bottom of the list.

Find your name in the list, move your mouse over it, and a small menu will appear. Click "Rename" from that menu. A text box will pop up with your current name highlighted. Delete it, type your new name, and click "OK." Your name changes immediately for everyone in that meeting. When the meeting ends and you join a different call, your profile name returns.

What happens if you rename yourself as a host

If you are hosting the meeting, you can rename other participants as well as yourself. To rename someone else, open the Participants panel, find their name, hover over it, and click "Rename." Type the new name and click "OK." That person will see a notification saying their name was changed by the host, and they can change it back if they want.

Renaming participants is useful if someone joins with a confusing name, a blank name, or a name that does not match their identity. However, the renamed person can always rename themselves back at any time during the meeting using the same Participants panel method.

Rename yourself on the Zoom mobile app

On iPhone or Android, the process is slightly different. Start a meeting or join one, then tap "Participants" at the bottom of the screen. Your name will appear in the list. Tap your own name, and a menu will appear with the option to "Rename." Tap that option, enter your new name, and tap "OK" or "Done" depending on your device.

Like the desktop version, this change applies only to that meeting. To change your name permanently across all meetings on mobile, you need to edit your profile on the Zoom website using a web browser, since the mobile app does not have a profile editing section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does renaming myself during a meeting change my profile name?

No. Renaming yourself during a meeting changes only what appears in that specific call. Your profile name stays the same, and it will show up again the next time you join a different meeting. To permanently change your name, you must edit it on the Zoom website.

Can I change my name if I am not the host?

Yes. Any participant can rename themselves during a meeting by opening the Participants panel and clicking Rename next to their own name. You cannot rename other people unless you are the host.

What if I forget to change my name back after a meeting?

You do not need to do anything. The name change expires when the meeting ends. Your profile name will appear automatically in your next meeting. If you want to use the same temporary name in another meeting, you will need to rename yourself again in that meeting.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Zoom name?

Zoom allows most characters, including some emojis, in your display name. However, some special characters or very long strings may not display correctly on all devices. Keep your name simple and readable to avoid technical issues.