Where to find the username setting in Teams

Your Teams username lives in your account settings, not in the app's main menu. Open Teams on your computer or phone, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Profile. You'll see your display name — this is what other people see when you message them or join a meeting. Below that is your email address, which is your actual account identifier and cannot be changed through Teams.

The display name is what you can edit. This is different from your email login. If you change your display name in Teams, it updates across all Microsoft 365 services that use the same account — Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and others. Your email address stays the same and remains your login credential.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name in Teams is separate from your email address; you can change the display name but not the email that logs you in.
  • Changes to your display name in Teams also change it in Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps connected to the same account.
  • On a work or school account, your administrator may have locked the display name setting, in which case you'll need to contact them to make changes.
  • The change takes effect when ready in Teams, but may take a few minutes to show up in other Microsoft 365 apps.

Steps to change your display name on desktop

Start by opening Microsoft Teams on your computer. In the top right corner, locate your profile picture — it's usually a circle with your initials or photo. Click it to open a dropdown menu. Select Profile from the options shown.

On your profile page, look for your display name near the top. Click the Edit button or pencil icon next to your name. Type your new name in the field that appears. Teams allows up to 256 characters, but most people use a standard first and last name format. Once you've entered the new name, click Save or press Enter. The change takes effect when ready in Teams.

Changing your display name on mobile

The process on your phone is similar but the layout is slightly different. Open the Teams app and tap your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen (on iPhone) or top right (on Android). Tap Profile.

On your profile screen, tap your display name to edit it. Type your new name and tap Save. The change syncs to your desktop version and all other Microsoft 365 apps within a few minutes. If you don't see the Edit option on mobile, your administrator may have restricted this setting.

What happens if you can't edit your display name

If the Edit button doesn't appear next to your name, your organization's administrator has likely locked this setting. This is common in corporate or school environments where administrators want to keep display names consistent with official records. You cannot override this restriction yourself.

Contact your IT department or administrator and ask them to change your display name. Provide them with the name you want to use. They can make the change from their admin panel, and it will appear in your account within minutes. Some organizations have specific naming policies — for example, requiring "First Last" format — so your administrator may ask you to follow a particular pattern.

How the change affects other Microsoft apps

When you change your display name in Teams, it updates automatically in Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and any other Microsoft 365 service tied to your account. This happens because they all use the same underlying account profile. The change is usually visible within a few minutes, though it may take longer during peak usage times.

Your email address itself does not change. You still log in with the same email, and people still reach you at that email address. Only the name that displays next to your messages and profile changes. If you share files on OneDrive or SharePoint, your new name will appear as the owner or editor on those files going forward.

Reverting to your old display name

If you change your mind, you can change your display name back at any time using the same steps. Open your profile, click Edit next to your name, type your previous name, and save. There's no limit to how many times you can change it, and no waiting period between changes. Each change takes effect when ready.

Keep in mind that if you've been using the new name in work conversations or shared documents, changing it back may confuse colleagues who know you by the newer name. Consider whether the change is necessary before reverting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Teams display name?

Teams accepts most letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation marks. Emojis and special symbols like @, #, or $ may not work depending on your organization's settings. Try entering your desired name and Teams will tell you if any characters aren't allowed. If you hit a restriction, remove the problematic character and save again.

Does changing my Teams display name affect my email address or login?

No. Your email address and login credentials remain exactly the same. Only the name that displays next to your messages and on your profile changes. You continue to log in with your email address regardless of what display name you choose.

Will my old messages show my new display name or my old one?

Your old messages will show your new display name. Teams updates the display name retroactively across all your past messages and conversations. If you want people to remember a previous name, you may want to mention the change in a message or update your status.

What if my organization requires a specific name format?

Your administrator may have set a policy requiring names in a certain format, such as "First Last" or "First Middle Last". If you try to save a name that doesn't match the policy, Teams will show an error message explaining the requirement. Contact your IT department if you're unsure what format your organization requires.

How long does it take for my new display name to show up everywhere?

The change appears in Teams when ready. In other Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook and OneDrive, it usually shows up within a few minutes. If you don't see the change after 10 minutes, try signing out and signing back in to refresh your account information.