Microsoft introduces editable display names in Teams meetings for Preview users

New Names Feature Enhances Privacy and Context in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft has rolled out an exciting new feature in Teams for users under Public Preview and Microsoft 365 Targeted Release. This capability allows participants to modify their display names during meetings, facilitating clearer identification among attendees and enhancing overall participation.

Flexible Identity Management for Enhanced Privacy

With this feature, users can tailor their display names to their preferences. Whether you want to shorten your name for simplicity, include your job title or company for added context, or utilize an alias more suited to your audience, this tool provides valuable options. It’s all about flexibly managing how others perceive your identity during virtual interactions.

Accessing the New Feature

Before you can utilize this innovative feature, you need to ensure it is enabled by your organization’s Teams administrator within the Teams admin center. By default, this functionality is disabled for all tenants. Upon activation, users can access this feature through the Teams client on Windows, Mac, or via the web interface.

Temporary Changes and Notifications

Microsoft clarifies that any name alterations made during a meeting will only persist for that session, meaning they won’t affect the participant’s People card. If someone makes adjustments to their display name, the system will display (Edited) next to their name. Additionally, any permanent records related to the meeting, such as attendance reports and transcriptions, will retain the individual’s original name, ensuring the integrity of official documentation.

Guidance for IT Administrators

For administrators interested in enabling this feature, Microsoft provides clear instructions:

To activate the Public Preview for Teams, IT administrators must enable the “Show preview features” option in their update policy.

For the Targeted Release, global admins can manage access via the Microsoft 365 admin center, allowing a selected group or the entire organization to utilize the feature.

Feedback Encouraged

As users explore this new functionality, Microsoft is eager to receive feedback. Users can navigate to Settings and more > Feedback in the top-right corner of the Teams app to share their experiences, whether it’s reporting a problem, complimenting the feature, or suggesting improvements.

Source & Images