Your display name is what everyone sees next to your video in Zoom. You can change it just for one meeting, or permanently in your profile. This guide shows how to rename yourself on laptop and phone, and what to do when the Rename option is missing. National IT Service helps Indian teams set up Zoom, including enforced naming for organised webinars and classes.
Step 1 — Rename yourself during a meeting (laptop): Click "Participants" in the toolbar, hover over your own name, click "More" > "Rename", type your new name, and click OK. The change is instant and lasts for that meeting.
Add context like "Anish – Sales" so others know your role
Some hosts lock renaming; then you can't change it mid-meeting
Step 2 — Rename yourself during a meeting (phone): Tap "Participants", tap your own name in the list, choose "Rename", enter the new name, and confirm. Same effect as on desktop.
Tap your name, not another participant's
Useful when you joined from a family device showing the wrong name
Step 3 — Change your name permanently: To change it for all future meetings, go to zoom.us, sign in, click "Profile", click "Edit" next to your name, update First/Last name and "Display Name", and Save. Or in the desktop app: profile picture > "My Profile".
This is the fix if your name shows wrong in every meeting
Display Name overrides First/Last name in meetings
Step 4 — Rename other participants (host only): As host, you can rename anyone: Participants > hover the person > More > Rename. Hosts can also enforce naming rules for webinars and classes so attendees appear consistently.
Great for classes where students join with nicknames
Enable "Allow participants to rename themselves" on/off as needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Rename option greyed out in Zoom?
The host disabled self-renaming for that meeting (common in schools and webinars to keep names consistent). Ask the host to enable "Allow participants to rename themselves" under the Security menu, or ask them to rename you directly.
How do I change my Zoom name permanently?
Sign in at zoom.us, go to Profile, click Edit next to your name, update the Display Name, and Save. This changes your name in every future meeting, unlike the in-meeting rename which only lasts for one call.
Can the host change my name in a Zoom meeting?
Yes. Hosts can rename any participant via Participants > (name) > More > Rename. Hosts often do this to keep names tidy in webinars, training, and online classes.
How do I change my name on the Zoom phone app?
During a meeting, tap Participants, tap your own name, choose Rename, and enter a new name. For a permanent change, edit your Display Name in your profile at zoom.us or in the app's settings.
Running organised classes or webinars on Zoom? National IT Service supplies the right Zoom licenses in India with GST invoice — authorised Zoom partner.