Can you change the name on an email address?

How do I change it in Microsoft 365?

You need an admin role such as User Administrator.

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Users, then Active users, and select the person.
2. To change the address: on the Account tab, select Manage username and email, edit the Username, check the domain, and select Done.
3. Keep the old address working: under Manage username and email, add the old address as an alias, select Add, then Save changes. Microsoft says aliases can take up to 24 hours to update.
4. To change the display name: select Manage contact information, update the name and select Save changes.
   • Expected result: the person signs in with the new address, and mail to either address reaches their inbox.

These steps follow Microsoft’s guides to changing a user name and email address and adding an alias. If you bought Microsoft 365 through GoDaddy or another partner, Microsoft says you may need to set the primary address in that partner’s console instead.

Which change do you need?

You want	What it is	Who changes it
“Jane Smith” instead of “J Smith” on sent mail	Display name	An administrator, or sometimes the user in their mail app
jane@ instead of jsmith@	The email address	An administrator
Both addresses to work	An alias	An administrator

The short version

• The name people see (display name) and the address itself are separate changes.
• When the address changes, keep the old one as an alias so mail sent to it still arrives.

How do I change it in Google Workspace?

An administrator changes the first part of the address (before the @) or the domain in the Google Admin console. Google says the old address then becomes an alias, so mail to either one lands in the same inbox and the person keeps their old email and files. They must sign in with the new address afterward. See Google’s overview of changing a user’s name or email.

What else needs updating?

• Phones and computers: the person may need to sign in again with the new address on each device.
• Email signature: see add or change your email signature.
• Website forms and logins that send to or use the old address.
• Business cards and your website’s contact page.

What are the common mistakes?

• Changing the address without an alias. Customers who still have the old address get bounces.
• Creating a second mailbox instead. That splits the person’s mail across two inboxes. Rename, then add an alias.
• Renaming a shared address like info@. Use a shared mailbox for those instead.

How does E-3 handle this?

If your email is on E-3’s mail server (mail.e3webmail.com), the admin steps above don’t apply. Send us the old address, the new one and the display name through Request a change, and do the same if you’d like us to make the change in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Never send a password. Call 814-399-4655 or email support@e3help.me.

Related questions

• How do I get a new email address for a new employee?
• How do I forward one email address to another?
• How do I remove an email account for someone who left?