Microsoft Account Users Can Now Change Display Names, Add Email Aliases

Changing your Microsoft account username is not as straightforward as it seems, as it involves two separate controls: display name and email alias. The display name update changes what people see when they interact with your account, while an email alias gives you another sign-in address for the same account.

To change your display name, sign in to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com and follow these steps:

1. Select 'Edit name' from the dropdown menu under your profile picture.
2. Enter your desired new name.
3. Complete a CAPTCHA if prompted, then select 'Save'. The change may take up to 24 hours to propagate across all linked Windows devices.

To add an email alias, go to account.live.com/names/manage, select 'Add email', and choose either a new Outlook.com address or an existing external address. Note that adding an alias doesn't change the primary sign-in address.

When you're ready, make your replacement address primary by opening account.live.com/names/manage and selecting 'Make primary' beside the new address. This process is available for eligible personal Microsoft accounts only.