Where to find your username setting in Teams

Your username in Microsoft Teams is the name that appears next to your messages and in the member list. To change it, open Teams and select your profile picture in the top right corner, then choose Profile from the menu that appears. On the profile page, look for the Edit profile button — this is where you can change the name displayed to other people in your workspace.

The exact location of this button depends on whether you are using Teams on a computer or phone. On desktop, the Edit profile button appears near the top of your profile card. On mobile, you may need to scroll down slightly to find it. Once you click or tap Edit profile, you will see a field with your current name that you can now change.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Teams username is changed through your profile settings, accessed by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner.
  • The name you change here is what other people see next to your messages and in chat member lists.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but other people may need to refresh their Teams window to see the new name.
  • Your email address and account login remain separate from your display name and do not change when you update your username.

Steps to change your display name on desktop

Start by opening Microsoft Teams on your computer. Look for your profile picture — a small circle or square image — in the very top right corner of the Teams window. Click on it once. A dropdown menu will appear with several options including Profile, Settings, and Sign out.

From this menu, select Profile. Your profile card will open, showing your current name, email, and other account details. Near the top of this card, you will see an Edit profile button or link. Click it to enter edit mode. The name field will now be active, allowing you to select the text and replace it with your new username. Type your new name, then look for a Save button — click it to confirm the change.

Steps to change your display name on mobile

On your phone or tablet, open the Teams app and tap your profile picture, which is usually in the bottom right corner of the screen. This will open your profile page. Scroll down until you see the Edit profile option and tap it.

The name field will become editable. Clear the current text and type your new username. After you have entered the new name, look for a Save or Done button — the exact label depends on whether you are using iOS or Android. Tap it to save your change. Your new name will appear in Teams within a few moments.

What happens after you change your username

Once you save your new username, it takes effect when ready on your account. However, other people in your Teams workspace may not see the change right away — they might still see your old name until they close and reopen Teams or refresh their window. This is normal and happens because their version of Teams is still showing cached information.

Your email address and login credentials do not change when you update your display name. If someone needs to find you by email or mention you in a message, they will still use your email address or your original account name, not your new display name. The display name is purely what appears visually next to your messages and in the member list.

Reasons your username change might not appear

If you changed your username but it is not showing up, the most common reason is that Teams has not refreshed on your screen or on other people's screens. Try closing Teams completely and opening it again. On desktop, click the X button to close the window entirely, wait a few seconds, then reopen the app. On mobile, swipe the app away from your recent apps list and reopen it.

If you are using a work or school Teams account, your organization may have restrictions on what names you can use or whether you can change your display name at all. If you see an error message or the Edit profile button is grayed out, contact your IT department or workspace administrator — they may have locked this setting for security or compliance reasons.

The difference between username and email in Teams

Teams uses two separate identifiers for your account: your display name (what you change in profile settings) and your email address (your login and how others find you officially). When you change your display name, you are only changing what appears visually in chat. Your email address stays the same and is what your organization uses to manage your account.

If someone wants to mention you in a message, they can type the @ symbol followed by your display name, and Teams will usually find you. However, if your organization has set up your account with a specific email format, that email is what appears in your profile details and what administrators see in their records. Changing your display name does not affect this underlying email address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Teams username back to what it was before?

Yes. Go back to your profile, click Edit profile, and type your old name. There is no limit to how many times you can change your display name, and no record is kept of previous names. You can change it back when ready if you change your mind.

Will changing my username affect my Teams files or chat history?

No. Your files, messages, and chat history remain exactly as they are. The only thing that changes is the name displayed next to your messages going forward. Old messages will still show your old name because they were sent under that name at the time.

What if my organization does not let me change my username?

Some organizations lock the display name setting for all employees. If the Edit profile button is grayed out or you see an error, your IT department or Teams administrator has restricted this feature. You will need to contact them to request a name change or to understand why it is restricted.

Does my new username change how people search for me in Teams?

Teams search looks at both your display name and your email address. Changing your display name makes you searchable by that new name, but your email address remains searchable as well. People can find you either way.