Environment
U-M Zoom
Issue
How do I change my name in Zoom (Zoom Display Name) permanently?
Resolution
Zoom uses an individual's Preferred Name from the official university record. For reference, this is the same name that appears at the top of an individual's M-Community profile.
If MCommunity shows the incorrect name, AND the Preferred Name in Wolverine Access has already been modified correctly, IAM must help sync the systems.
PLEASE NOTE: Preferred Name is not the same as Primary Name. The Preferred Name, if set, is loaded into Zoom at login. If there is no Preferred Name set, the name in Zoom is set to the Primary Name of Record. The Primary Name often includes the Middle Name, if the middle name is entered anywhere in University databases. This will also change your name in all university services that pull from MCommunity. (Most things at the university do this.)
Step 1 Set your Preferred Name in your official University record
- All University Employees, Any Campus (including student temps): In Wolverine Access, navigate to Employee Self Service > Campus Personal Information > Names > Add a New Name > Update or Add a preferred name; you may then immediately proceed to Step 2
- Ann Arbor Students: In Wolverine Access, navigate to Student Business > Campus Personal Information > Names > Add a New Name > Update or Add a preferred name; you may then immediately proceed to Step 2
- Flint students: See U-M Flint's Preferred Name Info and WAIT to continue to Step 2 until after 2pm or 2am, whichever comes first (data is synced twice daily from Flint Banner to MCommunity at 2 pm and 2 am)
- Dearborn Students: See U-M Dearborn's Preferred Name Info and WAIT to continue to Step 2 until after 8am (data is synced once daily from Dearborn Banner to MCommunity at 8am)
Step 2 Confirm your name is set properly using MCommunity
Check your profile in MCommunity to make sure that the name that shows at the top of MCommunity is the name you want to see in Zoom. If not, go back to step 1. If yes, continue to step 3.
NOTE: The name change in MCommunity must propagate through University systems before the change in Zoom will take effect. It may be moments or hours depending upon system load.
Step 3 Log in to Zoom using an Incognito/Private Browser Window to sync your name
Your U-M data is synced to Zoom every time you log in. To ensure this happens correctly, use an incognito/private browser window to log in to Zoom.
- Open an incognito/private browser window
- Navigate to https://umich.zoom.us/profile
- Sign in with U-M Weblogin
- Check your name at the top of the page
If you don't see the updated name next time you join a meeting using the Zoom client application, sign out and back in using the client application to sync your name.
- In the Zoom desktop client application, click your avatar in the upper right
- Click Sign Out
- Click Sign In with SSO
- Enter umich as the domain
- Sign in with U-M Weblogin
NOTE: If you've followed the steps above and your name is not updating, please go to U-M Account Management > Your Information > Edit Your Information and look for a Chosen Name field. If you have the Chosen Name turned on, please clear that field and turn it off. Then repeat Step 3.
Additional Information
As of Version 5.7 of the Zoom App, you can now display your pronouns within Zoom! See "Show My Pronouns in Zoom" for more information!
There is not currently a feature in Zoom to allow individual users to change their display name on their account so that it is different than their university Preferred Name.
In the meantime, the workaround is to change your display name during a Zoom Meeting: click Participants, then hover over your name and click Rename. This must be done in each meeting.
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.
The ITS Service Center can contact IAM to have the systems synced when they are not doing that automatically.