Change your display name before or during a meeting
You can change the name that appears to other people in a Zoom meeting in two ways: by editing your Zoom profile (which changes your name for all future meetings), or by changing your display name just for that one meeting. The fastest route if you need to change it right now is the in-meeting option — it takes about 10 seconds and does not affect your account settings.
If you are already in a meeting, hover over your own video or name in the participant list, click the three dots that appear, and select "Rename". Type the new name and press Enter. That name will show only in that meeting. When you leave and join another meeting, your account name will appear again.
If you want to change the name that shows up in every meeting going forward, you need to edit your Zoom profile. This is the permanent change — it affects all future meetings unless you rename yourself again in a specific meeting.
Key Takeaways
- You can rename yourself in a single meeting by clicking the three dots next to your name in the participant list and selecting "Rename".
- To change your name for all future meetings, go to your Zoom account settings, find "Profile", and edit the name field there.
- Your camera must be on or you must have joined the meeting for the rename option to appear in the participant list.
- Other participants see the change when ready — there is no delay or approval step.
Edit your profile name in Zoom account settings
To change the name that appears in all your Zoom meetings, log into your Zoom account on the web (zoom.us), not in the app. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.
On your profile page, find the "First Name" and "Last Name" fields. Click the pencil icon next to either field to edit it. Type your new name and click the checkmark or press Enter to save. The change takes effect when ready for any new meetings you join.
If you have already started a meeting before making this change, you will need to rename yourself in that specific meeting using the in-meeting method. Your new profile name will show for anyone who joins after you make the change.
Rename yourself on the Zoom mobile app
On the Zoom mobile app (iPhone or Android), you can rename yourself during a meeting but not from the app's settings. Once you are in a meeting, tap the "Participants" button at the bottom of the screen. Find your own name in the list, tap it, and select "Rename". Type the new name and tap "OK".
To change your profile name on mobile, you will need to use a web browser instead. Go to zoom.us, log in, and follow the same steps as the web version above. The mobile app does not have a profile editing option.
What happens when you change your name mid-meeting
When you rename yourself during a meeting, everyone in that meeting sees the new name appear in the participant list and on your video tile when ready. There is no notification that you changed it — it just updates. If the meeting is being recorded, the new name will appear in the recording from that point forward.
If you are the host and you rename yourself, it does not change the name that appears in the meeting invite or the calendar event. Only the live meeting display changes. Participants who were already in the meeting will see the change; anyone who joins after will see whatever name is currently showing.
Rename yourself if you joined with a guest link
If you joined a Zoom meeting using a guest link (rather than logging into your account), you can still rename yourself in that meeting. The process is the same: find your name in the participant list, click the three dots, and select "Rename". However, this change only affects that one meeting — it does not change anything in your Zoom account because you are not logged in.
If you want a permanent name change and you are joining meetings as a guest, you will need to create a Zoom account, log in, and edit your profile. Once you log in, your account name will show instead of "Guest".
Troubleshooting: rename option does not appear
If you do not see the three-dot menu next to your name, it usually means your camera is off and you have not enabled your video yet. Turn on your camera or unmute your video, and the option should appear. Some meeting hosts restrict who can rename themselves — if you still cannot see the option after turning on your camera, the host may have disabled self-renaming for that meeting.
If you are trying to rename someone else (not yourself), you need to be the host or a co-host. Regular participants can only rename themselves. If you are the host and you want to rename another participant, click the three dots next to their name and select "Rename", then type the new name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different name in each meeting?
Yes. Your profile name is your default, but you can rename yourself in any individual meeting without changing your account. The new name shows only in that meeting. When you join the next meeting, your profile name appears again unless you rename yourself there too.
Does the host get notified when I change my name?
No. The host sees your name change in the participant list, but there is no notification or alert. It just updates like any other change in the meeting.
What if I change my name but then want to change it back?
Use the same method: click the three dots next to your name and select "Rename" again. Type your original name or whatever name you want, and it updates when ready. There is no limit to how many times you can rename yourself in a meeting.
Will my changed name show in the meeting recording?
Yes. If the meeting is being recorded, your new name will appear in the recording from the moment you changed it. The recording shows the live state of the meeting at each point in time.
Can I change my name before I join a meeting?
You can change your profile name before joining (by editing your account on zoom.us), and that name will show when you join. You cannot pre-set a different name for a specific future meeting — you can only rename yourself once you are already in the meeting.