Change Your Name on Zoom Meeting: Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're correcting a typo, switching to a professional display name, or joining a meeting as a guest, knowing how to change your Zoom name is a simple skill that saves awkward moments.

This guide covers everything you need to know:

• Why you might need to update your Zoom display name
• How to rename yourself during a live Zoom meeting on desktop and mobile
• How to change your name before a meeting via the Zoom web portal, desktop app, or mobile app
• How to make a permanent name change through your Zoom profile
• Troubleshooting fixes for common Zoom name issues

Why You Might Need to Change Your Zoom Name

There are more reasons to update your Zoom display name than you might expect. Here are the most common ones.

• Professionalism. In client meetings or internal work calls, your full name makes a better impression than an account alias or a nickname. Zoom users in professional settings benefit from keeping their name accurate and recognizable to other participants.
• Privacy. In large public webinars, you may prefer to show a nickname or initials instead of your real name. This keeps your identity visible enough to participate without oversharing with other meeting participants.
• Correcting mistakes. Your name on Zoom might appear incorrectly if you signed in with a company email alias, used a default device name, or simply made a typo during setup. It's a quick fix once you know where to look.
• Guest users. Joining without a Zoom account means your display name is whatever you typed at login. If you were in a hurry, that could be anything. Zoom does allow guests to rename themselves mid-meeting if the host has enabled it.
• Pronouns and identity. Zoom Workplace now includes a dedicated pronouns field in profile settings. You can add your pronouns so they appear alongside your display name during meetings.
• Consistency. Using the same name across all your Zoom meetings helps other users recognize you and keeps transcript attribution accurate.

💡 Pro tip: Tactiq automatically tags each speaker by display name in your meeting transcript, so keeping your Zoom name consistent means your notes are always accurately attributed. Try it free.

How to Change Zoom Name While in a Meeting

Renamed yourself mid-meeting before? The steps have changed slightly in the current Zoom Workplace app. Here's exactly what to do on each platform.

On desktop (Zoom Workplace app)

1. Join the meeting and locate the toolbar at the bottom of the meeting window.

2. Click Participants to open the side panel on the right side of the screen.

3. Hover over your name in the participants list.

4. Click the three dots ("More") that appear next to your name.

5. Select Rename from the dropdown menu.

6. Type your desired name in the pop-up window.

7. Click OK to confirm.

On mobile (iOS and Android)

1. Tap Participants in the bottom toolbar.

2. Find your name in the list and tap it.

3. Tap Rename.

4. Enter your new name and tap Save.

For a visual walkthrough of the full process, this video covers exactly how it looks in the current Zoom app:

Important limitations to know

• Session-only changes. Any name you set during a meeting applies to that single session. When the meeting ends, your display name reverts to your Zoom profile name.
• Host restrictions. If the Rename option is grayed out or missing, the meeting host has disabled participant renaming. You can ask them to re-enable it via Host tools > Participants > Enable Rename Themselves, or send them a message in the meeting chat. See the troubleshooting section below for more details.
• Waiting room behavior. If the meeting uses a waiting room, the host sees your name before admitting you. Set your name correctly before joining when you can.

How a host can rename any participant

Meeting hosts can rename any participant directly from the Participants panel.

1. Open the Participants panel.

2. Hover over the participant's name and click the three dots ("More").

3. Select Rename, enter the new name, and click OK.

Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt+R (Windows) or Cmd+R (Mac) while hovering over a participant's name.

How to Change Zoom Name Before a Meeting

Updating your name before you join is the best way to make sure you appear correctly from the start. Here's how to do it on every platform.

Via the Zoom Workplace web portal

1. Sign in at zoom.us/profile.

2. Click Edit next to your display name.

3. Update your display name.

4. Click Save.

Via the Zoom desktop app

1. Click your profile picture in the top right corner of the app.

2. Select Profile > My Profile from the dropdown menu. This opens the Zoom web portal in your browser.

3. Follow the web portal steps above.

Via the Zoom mobile app

1. Tap your profile icon in the upper left corner of the screen.

2. Tap My profile to open your profile section.

3. Tap Display Name and enter your new name.

4. Tap Save.

Setting your name when joining as a guest (no account required)

If you're joining via a meeting link without a Zoom account, Zoom will prompt you to enter a display name before you enter the room. This name is session-only and does not create or affect any Zoom account.

If the meeting host has enabled renaming, guests can also update their name mid-meeting using the Participants panel.

Tips to make sure your name is saved correctly

• Double-check spelling before you click save.
• If your changes don't appear right away, sign out and sign back in to force a sync.
• After updating your name in Zoom Workplace, the changes can take up to 24 hours to appear across all devices. Signing out and back in forces an immediate update.

How to Change Name on Zoom Permanently (Profile Settings)

Renaming yourself during a meeting only lasts for that session. If you want your name to stick across all your meetings, you need to update it at the profile level through the Zoom web portal.

Steps to update your name permanently

1. Sign in at zoom.us/profile.

2. Click Edit next to your display name.

3. Update your first and/or last name.

4. Click Save.

This change automatically applies to all future Zoom meetings.

Adding pronouns to your Zoom profile

Zoom Workplace includes a dedicated pronouns field in profile settings. Once added, your pronouns appear alongside your display name during meetings. To add them:

1. Sign in at zoom.us/profile.

2. Click Edit next to your display name.

3. Find the Pronouns field and enter your preferred pronouns. Choose how you want them displayed: always share, ask you every time, or do not share.

4. Click Save.

When you can't change your name

In some corporate or institutional Zoom accounts, admins lock the profile name at the account level. If the Edit option is grayed out or missing next to your display name, your organization controls that field. Contact your IT or admin team to request a name update.

You can also check your full profile settings and profile picture while you're in the Zoom web portal. Keeping both current gives other users a complete, professional view of who they're meeting with.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues When Changing Your Zoom Name

Most Zoom name issues have a straightforward fix. Here's what to do when something goes wrong.

Rename option is missing or grayed out

This is the most common issue. It means the meeting host has disabled participant renaming. You have two options:

• Send the host a private chat message and ask them to enable it via the Security panel; or
• Ask them to rename you directly from the Participants panel

If you're the host and want to re-enable it, click Host tools in the meeting toolbar > Participants > Enable Rename Themselves.

Name reverts after saving

If your display name keeps reverting, the most likely cause is that you made an in-meeting rename, which is session-only by design. To make the change stick, update your name permanently through the Zoom web portal at zoom.us/profile. Sign out and back in after saving to force the sync.

Name not syncing across devices

Profile changes in Zoom Workplace can take up to 24 hours to propagate across all devices. If you need the update to appear immediately, sign out of the Zoom desktop client or mobile app and sign back in. This forces your account to pull the latest profile data.

Name change not updating in meeting reports

Zoom meeting reports and attendance reports log the name that was active at the time of the meeting. If you renamed yourself mid-meeting, the report may show your original name. To avoid this, update your profile name before the meeting starts rather than renaming during the session.

Special characters or emojis causing errors

Zoom display names do not support certain special characters or emojis. If your name change fails or doesn't save, remove any symbols and try again with standard letters only.

Still having issues? Contact Zoom Support

If none of the above fixes work, contact Zoom Support directly. Before reaching out, gather the following:

• Any error messages you've seen
• Your device type and operating system
• Your current Zoom platform version
• Screenshots if possible

Visit zoom.us/support to submit a ticket or access live chat.

Why Tactiq Makes Your Zoom Meetings More Productive

Zoom has its own built-in AI note-taker, but it requires a Zoom Workplace paid plan and adds a visible bot to your meeting. Tactiq works differently.

Tactiq is an AI-powered Chrome extension that works with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. It runs quietly in the background of your browser. No bot joins the call, and no extra participant appears in the Participants panel.

Here's what Tactiq captures and does during and after your Zoom meetings:

• Real-time transcription: Tactiq generates a live transcript with speaker identification as the meeting happens, so every name and every word is logged accurately.
• AI meeting summaries: Get a concise summary of key points and decisions as soon as the meeting ends.
• AI workflows: Automatically generate follow-up emails, action items, or custom outputs from your transcript using Tactiq's AI workflows.
• Transcript export: Send your transcript directly to Notion or other AI platforms to keep your workflow moving.

Now that your display name is set correctly, make sure every word you say in that meeting is captured. Use Tactiq to transcribe your Zoom meetings for free.

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Update Your Zoom Name Before Your Next Meeting

Updating your name on Zoom comes down to two paths. To rename yourself in a live session, open the Participants panel, click the three dots next to your name, and select Rename. For a permanent change, update your name at zoom.us/profile. Just remember: in-meeting renames are session-only and revert when the meeting ends.

With your name sorted, make every word count. Tactiq transcribes your Zoom meetings in real time, identifies speakers by name, and turns your transcript into summaries and action items. No bot required. Try Tactiq free.

FAQs on Changing Your Zoom Meeting Name

Can I change my Zoom name without a Zoom account?

Yes. When joining via a meeting link as a guest, Zoom prompts you to enter a display name before entering the room. If the host allows renaming, you can also update it mid-meeting from the Participants panel.

Why is the Rename option missing in my Zoom meeting?

The meeting host has disabled participant renaming. Ask the host to enable it via the Host tools from the meeting toolbar > Participants > enabling Rename themselves, or request that they rename you directly from the Participants panel.

Does changing my Zoom name in a meeting change it permanently?

No. In-meeting renames are session-only. When the meeting ends, your display name reverts to your Zoom profile name. To make a permanent change, update your name at zoom.us/profile.

How do I add pronouns to my Zoom display name?

Sign in at zoom.us/profile, click Edit next to your name, find the Pronouns field, enter your preferred pronouns, and choose your display preference. Click Save to confirm.

Can a host rename me in a Zoom meeting without asking?

Yes. Meeting hosts can rename any participant from the Participants panel at any time. Zoom will notify you when your name has been changed.

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