How to Change Name in Zoom

Changing your name in Zoom takes less than a minute, but where you do it depends on what you are trying to achieve. Zoom actually stores two different names for your account: your account profile name (your first and last name as registered) and your display name (the name other people see during meetings and on your profile). You can change either one, and you can do it before a meeting, at the moment you join, or while a meeting is already in progress.

This guide covers every scenario across all platforms, including what to do when the option is greyed out or missing entirely.

How to change your name before meetings

You can choose to use a different name on Zoom before you start a meeting. You can do this on the desktop, website, or mobile app. This section will explore how to change your name on Zoom before meeting on all platforms.

Step 1: Sign in to the Zoom web portal

Step 2: On the Zoom homepage, click ‘Profile.’ You can find it on the left sidebar.

Step 3: Once the options appear, click ‘Edit’ next to your name.

Step 4: Enter your full name; you can also choose to change your nickname on Zoom by entering a new display name. This display name is what other users in your Zoom meeting will see.

Step 5: Now, scroll to the end and click ‘Save.’

Note that you can also change your job title, company, pronouns, and location on this page.

You can also change Zoom's name before meeting on the desktop client. The process is quite similar to the Zoom web process. Additionally, it will redirect you to the Zoom website to complete the process. However, below is the process you should follow to change your name on Zoom before meeting on the desktop client.

Step 1: Start by opening the desktop app and logging into your account if you’re not already logged in.

Step 2: Click on your profile icon; you can find it at the top right corner of the window.

Step 3: On the list of options, select ‘Settings,’ which will open a new window. Then click on ‘Profile.’

Step 4: Click ‘Edit My Profile’ underneath your name.

Step 5: When you click on ‘Edit My Profile,’ you’ll be directed to the Zoom browser profile edit page. Click on ‘Edit’ beside your display name and make the change.

That’s it. When you join a meeting on Zoom, your new name will be on display.

If you’re looking to change your Zoom name on your mobile device, that’s also achievable. Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, or iPad, changing your name on Zoom is easy when you follow the steps below. 

Step 1: Open the Zoom mobile app and sign into your account.

Step 2: Now, tap the dotted lines on the bottom right side of your screen and click on your profile image.

Step 3: Tap on ‘Display Name’ and enter your new details, then click save.

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How to change your name during a meeting

Zoom remains one of the most flexible video conferencing apps. It allows users to change their names during a meeting. The best part is you can change your name on Zoom during sessions on any device and at any time.

Below are the steps to take to change Zoom's name during a meeting.

Changing your name on the Zoom web or desktop client is quite similar. Additionally, Zoom will redirect you to the web to complete the process, so you can simply complete the process on the Zoom Web. 

Step 1: Log into your Zoom account.

Step 2: Click ’Participant’ at the bottom of the meeting screen.

Step 3: A ‘Rename’ box will pop up; click the text field in the box to enter a new name.

Step 4: Once you enter your desired name, click ‘Change’ to complete the process.

You can also change your Zoom name on your Zoom mobile app during a meeting. Below are the steps to follow.

Step 1: Click the ‘Participants’ option at the far right end of the meeting screen. If you can’t find this option anywhere, it’s entirely normal, especially when using Zoom focus mode. Simply tap on your phone screen, and the option will appear.

Step 2: Select your name to proceed on the ‘Participants’ screen.

Step 3: A menu will appear; tap ‘Rename’ to proceed.

Step 4: An ‘Enter a New Screen Name’ box will appear where you can enter your new name.

Step 5: Once you’ve provided the new name, select ‘OK’ to save your desired name. 

That’s it! That’s how to rename on Zoom before and during a meeting in Zoom. However, you should note that your meeting host can turn off the option of changing your name on Zoom once the session begins. So, if you’re not seeing this option, that’s a plausible explanation. 

Common Problems and Why They Happen

• The rename option is missing during a meeting. The meeting host controls whether participants can rename themselves. When a host disables this setting, the rename option simply does not appear in your participant menu. You cannot work around this during the session. If you need to change your name, ask the host to re-enable renaming, or update your display name through the web portal before your next meeting.

• You cannot change your display name at all, even outside of meetings. Some organisations lock profile editing at the account admin level. If the Edit button next to your name is greyed out or absent on the profile page, your account administrator has restricted self-service changes. You will need to contact your admin directly to request a name update.

• Your name is not updating in the meeting after you saved it. If you changed your display name through the web portal or desktop app while a meeting was already in progress, the change will not appear live in that session. Rejoin the meeting after saving your profile and your new name will appear.

Can You Change Your Name in the Zoom Waiting Room?

No. Zoom does not currently allow participants to change their display name while sitting in a waiting room. If you realise your name is wrong after you have been placed in the waiting room, your only option is to leave the meeting entirely and rejoin after you have updated your display name through the web portal or mobile app.

This catches a lot of people off guard because the waiting room screen looks interactive, but name editing is disabled there by design.

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FAQs

Can I change my name while I am in the Zoom waiting room? 

No, you can’t. Currently, there’s no option for participants to change names on Zoom while they’re in the waiting room. However, you can either exit and change your name before rejoining or join the meeting and then change your name by following the steps above.

Why can’t I change my name during a Zoom meeting? 

The host has a lot of power, and one of them is restricting the change of names during a meeting. Therefore, if you can’t change your name during a Zoom meeting, it’s probably a setting on the administrator’s end.

Can I change the names of the other participants? 

Yes, but only if you’re the meeting host. This option should be available once you click on the ‘Participants’ tab at the end of the screen. Then, select ‘More’ next to the user’s name, and when the option appears, click ‘Rename’ and enter a new name.

Does changing my display name affect my Zoom account permanently?

Changes made through your profile (web portal, desktop app, or mobile app outside of a meeting) are permanent and will apply to all future meetings. Changes made at the point of joining a specific meeting as a guest are session-only and do not update your account.

Can I update my profile pictures for Zoom? 

Yes, you can. On your account page, click ‘Settings,’ select ‘Profile,’ and select your current profile picture. Two options will appear; click ‘Change Picture’ and choose the new profile picture, resize, and then select ‘Save.’

Can I have different names for different meetings?

Not automatically. Your display name is account-wide. If you regularly need different names for different contexts, the quickest approach is to change your display name through the web portal before each meeting and change it back afterward. There is no per-meeting name setting built into Zoom.

Where to find my Zoom profile setting? 

That’s easy; log into your Zoom account. Then, in the navigation panel, select ‘Account Management.’ Next, select ‘Account Profile’ from the options that appear to view your Zoom profile setting.

On the mobile app, click ‘Settings’ on the meeting screen and tap on the banner with your email address and profile picture. This will show you your profile settings.

In summary

As you’ve seen, changing names on Zoom is very easy on every device, and you can do so before or during a meeting. 

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