If you think about it, Zoom is kind of “late” to the party — they started growing in popularity quite a while after there were already other dominant video conferencing apps like Skype. That doesn’t change the fact that Zoom started revolutionizing the game for many industries worldwide, especially after the pandemic. Its wild success might’ve come somewhat unexpectedly, but Zoom has shown that it is here to stay.
Thanks to the pandemic, there are now countless schools, individuals, families, and businesses using Zoom every single day. Zoom helped push online education further, allowing schools to conduct lessons despite students being forced to stay at home. Companies have also been able to continue doing business thanks to employees being able to continue collaborating through Zoom.
No matter your reason for using the app, you may have run into the problem of not knowing how to change your name on Zoom.
This article discusses how to change your name on Zoom, regardless of whether you are on a desktop or a mobile device.
In Short: How to Change Name on Zoom
- Click your profile image
- Click Profile > Edit
- Enter a new display name in the designated box
Profile Names on the Zoom Platform
In Zoom, you can assign your user name and display name. The latter is the one that others will see on their computers during meetings. While this guide covers how to change your display name, you can also change your user name in the same settings window.
If you’re a first-time user and aren’t up to date with Zoom being one of the best work-from-home apps, you can also add a temporary user name when you first log in.
How to Change Zoom Name Outside a Meeting
How to Change Name in Zoom Outside a Meeting: Desktop
Option 1: Using the Zoom Website
Step 1: Navigate to the Zoom.us website and log in or create an account.
Step 2: Once you have logged in, click on your profile icon on the top-right corner of the page.
Step 3: Click on your name and email address, and it will take you to your profile page. On this page, you’ll see your avatar with your name next to it. Farther to the right, you’ll see an “Edit” button that you can click. Click on it and it will take you to the next page where you can finally change your display name.
Step 4: Fill in your first name and your last name (optional). Then, finally, you can input your chosen display name in the Display Name field. Type whichever name you’d like in the field, then click on the save button — and that’s it, you’re done!
Option 2: On the Desktop App
Step 1: First, download and install the latest version of the Zoom app onto your computer. Once you have installed it, open the app and log in or create your account. Once logged in, click on your profile icon on the top right-hand side.
Step 2: Click on “My Profile” on the dropdown menu that appears.
Step 3: You will then be taken to the Zoom website, where you can follow the instructions to change your name as detailed in Option 1 above.
How to Change Display Name on Zoom Outside a Meeting Using Mobile
Here’s how to change your screen name on Zoom on Android and iOS apps outside of meetings:
Step 1: Download the Zoom app onto your phone or tablet and make sure that it is updated to the most recent version. Once installed, open the app and log in or create an account if necessary.
Step 2: Once you are logged in, you’ll see the following screen below. Tap on the banner with your name on it and it will take you to the page where you can finally change your name.
Step 3: Tapping on the banner will take you to the page below, where you can tap on “Display Name”.
Step 4: Enter your chosen names and tap “Save” on the top-right corner and that’s all you need to do to change Zoom display names.
How to Change Zoom Name in Meeting
We all know that Zoom is one of the best communication apps for remote workers, and as such you’re able to change names during meetings. Here’s how:
How to Change Name in Meeting on Desktop Using the App or the Website
Step 1: Once you’re in the meeting, navigate to the bottom toolbar and click on “Participants”.
Step 2: The Participants section will then appear on the right side of the window as seen below. Hover over your name, and the Mute and More buttons will show up. Click on “More.”
Step 3: Clicking on “more” will bring up the “Rename” option. Click on that and it will give you a dialog box where you can then change your display name. Type whichever name you’d like, then click on “Rename” — and you’re done!
Related Content: How to Share Screen on Zoom
Changing Name in a Zoom Meeting – Mobile
Here’s how to change yout name on a Zoom call while using the mobile apps:
Step 1: Download and install the latest version of the Zoom app onto your mobile device. Log in or create an account, then enter a meeting. Once you are in the meeting, tap on your profile picture to bring up the bottom menu. Then, tap on “Participants.”
Step 2: Tap on Participants, which will bring up the list of participants below. Once you see the list, tap on your own name. It will then bring up the next menu, where you can tap on “Rename.”
Step 3: Enter whichever screen name you’d like and tap on “OK” — and you’re one!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Change My Name on Zoom?
Navigate to your profile, then click Edit and change the name to whatever you wish.
Why Can’t I Rename Myself on Zoom?
We mentioned above that Zoom allows infinite name changes, so your name can appear however you’d like, whenever you’d like. If you’ve been trying to follow all of the instructions listed above but you’re still unable to change your name on a Zoom call, there might be a couple of reasons why.
Joining a meeting through a link will skip the ability for you to change your username as it joins you straight in. To change your name before joining a meeting, you must enter via meeting ID and not through a link.
If you’re in a meeting, you also cannot change your name if the host changes the meeting permissions to disallow it. If you want to change your name, you’ll need to ask the meeting’s host to permit you.
The quick troubleshooting guide below can help you fix any issues you may run into when trying to change your Zoom display name.
- If your Zoom name keeps reverting to the old one on your Zoom mobile app, you can do a few things that might help.
- First, make sure your app is updated to the latest version by updating through the app store. If there isn’t an update button, you’re already on the newest version.
- If you are on Android and the issue continues to occur, you can try clearing the app’s cache. To clear the cache, navigate to Settings >> Apps >> Zoom. Go to Storage, then tap the “Clear Cache” button.
- If your display name keeps changing while you’re in a meeting, the reason may be simple: the host or co-hosts might be changing it. Hosts of a meeting can change any name at any time.
How Do I Rename in Zoom While in Waiting Room?
Unfortunately, you currently cannot change your name while you are in a waiting room. To change your name, you will have to do it prior to joining a meeting.
How Do I Find My Zoom Username?
Navigate to your profile settings, then click on Edit. There, you can see the Zoom change name options. You can also edit your default background on Zoom here.
How Do I Edit My Zoom Profile?
Simply double-click your profile image, then click on Profile > Edit.
Can I Change Someone Else’s Username in Zoom?
You can only change other people’s names if you’re a meeting administrator, and you can only change the name on a Zoom meeting at a time, the changes won’t be permenant. To do so:
- Click on the user you wish to change
- Click More
- Change their name
Wrapping up How to Edit a Name on Zoom
We hope that this article on how to change your name on Zoom has helped you change your screen name to exactly what you want it to be. Thankfully, the process is pretty straightforward — and if you’re having issues, you can try some of the troubleshooting steps mentioned above!
Related Reading:
- How to Change Signature in Outlook [Desktop and Mobile]
- How to Track Changes in Google Sheets [5 Easy Ways]
- How to Uninstall Apps on a Mac (6 Easy Methods)
- How to Transfer Data From Android to iPhone [Fast & Easy]
- How to Encrypt Email in Outlook – Protect Your Data
- How to Share Screen on Google Meet
Chriselle has been a passionate writer for over 10 years, working with many publications worldwide. She currently writes for Productivity Spot, The Grad Cafe, and Hackr.io, among others.
