Where to find your username in Word
Your username in Microsoft Word is the name that appears in the top right corner of the screen and on comments and tracked changes you make to documents. It is tied to your Microsoft account, not to Word itself, so changing it means updating your account information rather than a Word setting.
To see your current username, open any Word document and look at the top right corner. You will see either your full name or email address depending on how your account was set up. If you click on that name or profile picture, a menu appears showing your account details.
The username you see in Word is pulled directly from your Microsoft account profile. This is the same name that shows up in Outlook, OneDrive, and other Microsoft services you use. Changing it in one place changes it everywhere.
Key Takeaways
- Your Word username comes from your Microsoft account profile, not from Word settings, so you change it through your account page.
- You can change your display name (the name shown in documents) separately from your email address (your login credentials).
- Changes to your display name take effect when ready in Word, but you may need to restart the program to see the update.
- If you use Word through your workplace or school, your administrator may have locked your display name and you will need to contact them to change it.
Changing your display name through your Microsoft account
The fastest way to change your username is through your Microsoft account settings online. Go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in with the email address you use for Word. Once you are logged in, click "Your info" on the left side of the page.
On the Your Info page, you will see your current name displayed at the top. Click "Manage your Microsoft account" or the edit icon next to your name. A text field will appear where you can type your new name. Type what you want to appear in Word and other Microsoft programs, then click "Save".
The change takes effect when ready in your Microsoft account. The next time you open Word or restart it if it is already running, your new name will appear in the top right corner and on any new comments or tracked changes you make.
Changing your username in Word on Windows
If you prefer to start from Word itself, you can reach your account settings directly from the program. Open Word and click on your name or profile picture in the top right corner. A small menu will drop down showing your account information.
Click "View account" or "Manage your account" from that menu. Your web browser will open to your Microsoft account page. From there, follow the same steps as above: click Your Info, find your name field, and type your new name. Save the change and return to Word.
You may need to close Word completely and reopen it for the new name to appear everywhere in the program. If you have multiple documents open, close all of them before restarting Word to may support the change takes effect.
Changing your username in Word on Mac
On a Mac, the process is nearly identical. Open Word and look for your account information in the top menu bar or in Word's preferences. Click on your profile picture or name, then select an option like "View account" or "Account settings".
This will open your web browser to your Microsoft account page. Make the same change to your display name through Your Info, save it, and return to Word. Restart Word to see the updated name throughout the program.
Mac users sometimes find that the name change takes slightly longer to appear in Word than it does on Windows. If you do not see your new name after restarting, wait a few minutes and restart Word again.
What to do if you cannot change your username
If you are using Word through a work or school account, your organization's administrator may have restricted changes to your display name. In that case, you will not be able to edit your name through your personal Microsoft account settings.
Contact your IT department or help desk and ask them to change your display name. Provide them with the name you want to appear in Word. They can make the change on their end, and it will take effect the next time you sign into Word.
If you are using a personal Microsoft account and still cannot change your name, try signing out of Word completely and signing back in. Sometimes a cached version of your account information prevents the change from showing up. Sign out through File > Account > Sign out, then sign back in with your email address and password.
The difference between your display name and your email address
It is important to understand that your display name (what shows in Word) and your email address (what you use to sign in) are two separate things. You can change your display name without changing your email address, and you should not need to.
Your email address is your login credential — the thing you type into the sign-in screen along with your password. Changing your email address is a much larger process that affects how you access all Microsoft services. Unless you specifically need to change your email address, leave it alone and only change your display name.
If you do need to change your email address, that is also done through your Microsoft account settings, but it requires additional verification steps and can take several days to complete across all Microsoft services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my username in Word affect my email address or password?
No. Your display name is separate from your email address and password. You can change what appears in Word without touching your login credentials. Your email address and password remain the same.
How long does it take for my new username to show up in Word?
The change usually appears when ready after you save it in your Microsoft account settings. If you do not see it right away, close Word completely and reopen it. The update should be visible within a few minutes.
Can I have a different username in Word than in Outlook or OneDrive?
No. Your display name is the same across all Microsoft services. When you change it in your account settings, it changes everywhere you use a Microsoft program or service. This is by design to keep your identity consistent.
What if I share documents with others — will they see my old username on my comments?
Comments and tracked changes you made before the name change will still show your old name. Only new comments and changes you make after the update will show your new username. The old ones remain unchanged in the document history.
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Yes. You can change your display name as many times as you want by going back to your Microsoft account settings and editing the name field again. There is no limit to how many times you can make this change.