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How to Change Name on Zoom (Before and After You Join a Meeting)
Learn how to change your Zoom name step by step on any device, plus tips for hosts, waiting rooms, and troubleshooting.
✅ Free meeting recording & transcription
💬 Automated sharing of insights to other tools.
Changing your name in a Zoom meeting might seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in how you’re perceived by colleagues, clients, and classmates. Zoom makes it easy to update your display name across devices.
This article walks you through how to change your name on Zoom before or during a meeting using the Zoom web portal, desktop app, and mobile app. We’ll also cover host settings, waiting room rules, troubleshooting tips, and best practices.
And because productivity goes far beyond a name change, we’ll also show you how tools like MeetGeek can turn your Zoom experience into a complete knowledge resource with transcription, summaries, and AI-powered insights.
Quick answer (TL;DR)
- Before a meeting (Web, Desktop, Mobile): Go to your profile → click edit → update your display name → click save.
- During a meeting: Open participants → hover over your name → click rename → enter a new name → click change.
- Waiting room: You can’t rename yourself in the waiting room; update beforehand or ask the host.
- Restrictions: Hosts can disable participant renaming, so the option may not always be visible.
Why change your Zoom name?
There are several reasons you might want to update your display name on Zoom. In professional meetings, using your full name or including your department helps colleagues and clients recognize you easily and avoids confusion.
In larger webinars or public sessions, you may prefer to use a shortened version of your name or a nickname to protect your privacy. Sometimes the change is as simple as correcting a typo so your name appears correctly on screen.
And if you join recurring meetings, keeping a consistent display name format helps others recognize you right away and maintains a professional impression.
Make the most out of Zoom with MeetGeek
Renaming in Zoom only takes a few seconds. But what if you could also capture every decision, action item, and follow-up from the meeting without taking notes yourself?
That’s where MeetGeek comes in.
- Record and transcribe with ease: MeetGeek automatically records and transcribes your Zoom meetings, generating searchable transcripts in 50+ languages.
- AI-powered summaries: Within minutes, you’ll receive concise summaries with key points, action items, and decisions, perfect for staying aligned.
- Bot-free recording option: The MeetGeek Chrome extension records directly in your browser, so no extra participant shows up in your Zoom meeting.
- Centralized repository: Store all meeting transcripts from Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Discord, and Webex in one place.
- Search and ask questions: Use AI chat to ask questions like “What did we decide about the budget?” and get instant, time-stamped answers.
- Integrations for your workflow: Sync notes to Slack, Notion, Trello, or your CRM automatically.
Renaming helps you look professional, but MeetGeek ensures your meetings are truly productive.
Change your name on Zoom before a meeting
Updating your display name before joining ensures the name that appears is correct from the start.
Here’s how you can change your name before a Zoom meeting:
On the Zoom web portal (desktop browser)
- Sign in to your Zoom account at www.zoom.com on your computer.
- From the left menu, click Profile.
- Next to your name section, click Edit.
- Update your first name, last name, and display name.
- Optional: add your pronouns, job title, company, or location when you access profile settings.
- Scroll down and click Save.
On the Zoom desktop app (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- Open the Zoom desktop app and log into your account.
- At the top right corner, click your profile picture or avatar.
- Select Settings → Profile.
- Click Edit My Profile. You’ll be redirected to the web portal.
- Follow the web steps above to click Edit and Save your changes.
On the Zoom mobile app (iOS/Android/iPadOS)
- Open the Zoom app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
- Tap your profile banner in the top left corner to open details.
- Click on My profile.
- Tap Display Name.
- Update your name fields, then tap Save.
Change your name during a Zoom meeting
If you’ve already joined a Zoom meeting, you can still update your display.
On the Zoom desktop app/web portal
- Join the meeting and click Participants at the bottom.
- In the participant list, hover over your name.
- Click More (… menu) → tap Rename.
- Enter your new name → click Change.
On the Zoom mobile app
- During the meeting, tap Participants in the bottom menu.
- Tap your own name → Rename.
- Enter your new name and tap Done or OK.
Note: If the option to rename isn’t visible, the host has likely disabled participant renaming. You can politely message the host or use the Raise Hand feature to request a change.
Waiting room + SSO/SAML considerations
- Waiting room limits: You can’t change your display name while waiting to be admitted. Exit the meeting, update your name, and rejoin.
- Enterprise settings: In some organizations using SSO or SAML, admins lock the account profile name, preventing changes for compliance or security reasons.
Host controls for participant names (for admins/hosts)
If you’re hosting, you control whether others can rename themselves.
- Enable/disable at account level: Go to Account Management → Account Settings → Meeting.
- At group level: User Management → Group Management → Meeting.
- At user level: Settings → Meeting.
From the Participants panel, you can:
- Rename participants directly (including from the waiting room).
- Restrict renaming to prevent impersonation, ensure accurate attendance, or meet compliance requirements.
Profile name vs display name (what shows where)
Zoom uses two types of names, and it helps to understand the difference. Your profile name is the permanent name linked to your Zoom account profile. It appears in your contacts and is the default name shown whenever you sign in.
Your display name, on the other hand, is what participants see during a live Zoom meeting. This can be updated to reflect your preferred name for each meeting, making it more flexible but temporary compared to your profile name.
Best-practice naming tips for Zoom
Choosing the right display name on Zoom helps you appear professional and avoids confusion, especially in larger or recurring meetings.
A simple but effective approach is to use your full name followed by your department or role, such as “Maria Lopez – Marketing” or “David Chen, Project Manager.” This format makes it easy for colleagues across teams to identify you and understand your role in the discussion.
It’s also a good idea to avoid emojis, unusual symbols, or nicknames in formal settings. While “Sarah 🌸” might be fine in a casual catch-up with friends, it can look unprofessional in a business context. Stick with clean, readable text that reflects your professional identity.
Consistency is another important factor. If you regularly join client calls, try to keep the same format for every meeting. For example, always using “James Carter – Finance” ensures that clients recognize you immediately, even if they don’t interact with you often. This consistency builds trust and makes you easier to identify in recordings, transcripts, and participant lists.
Troubleshooting (common issues and fixes)
- Can’t find Rename → host has disabled it. Ask the host or co-host.
- Name change doesn’t stick → log out/in, confirm you clicked Save in the web portal.
- Sync issues across devices → update name in the web portal; update or reinstall the Zoom app on mobile.
- Special characters error → use only standard letters and numbers.
If these don’t resolve your issue, you can contact Zoom Support by submitting a ticket through their help center or browsing the Zoom Community forums for assistance.
How to get started with MeetGeek + Zoom (quick start)
Using MeetGeek with Zoom is simple:
- Sign up for a free MeetGeek account.
- Connect Google or/and Outlook Calendar.
- Toggle which Zoom meetings should be recorded/transcribed, or use the Chrome extension for direct browser recording (no bot).
- After the meeting, get an email with your AI summary, transcript, and highlights ready to share.
With MeetGeek, your updated display name is just the start. Every Zoom workplace meeting becomes a searchable, shareable resource.
Zoom is better with MeetGeek
Learning how to change your name on Zoom is simple, whether you’re on the desktop app, web portal, or mobile app. Just remember to update it before the meeting starts or use the rename option during the call if it’s enabled.
But beyond your display name, the real key to professional and productive meetings is capturing what’s said and decided. With MeetGeek, you get recordings, transcriptions, summaries, and integrations that make every meeting actionable.
Try MeetGeek for free today and turn your Zoom meetings into a powerful knowledge base.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my name in the waiting room?
No. You must leave, update your name, and rejoin, or ask the host to rename you.
Why can’t I change my name mid-meeting?
The host may have disabled the rename setting.
Does changing my display name update my account profile?
No. It’s temporary for that session. Update your profile in the web portal for permanent changes.
Can hosts rename participants?
Yes. From the Participants panel on desktop or mobile.
Will my updated name sync across devices?
If you update it in the web portal, it usually appears everywhere you’re signed in. Otherwise, update it manually on each device.
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