There comes a time when most of us need to change our Skype name, whether you’re now using the video-chatting app for more professional interactions or you’ve simply grown out of your original name choice.
This guide will walk you through exactly where to go in your Skype settings to switch out your name. Make sure to make a respectable choice this time, though, so you don’t have to do it again next week. (Not a Skype fan? These other VOIP services and clients are worth considering, too.)
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Changing your Skype account name
When you first sign up for Skype, you are assigned an auto-generated account name, known as your Skype Name. First, the bad news: You can’t change this name. The Skype Name associated with your account is permanent from when you first started your account, and Skype won’t let you alter it at all.
But you can choose to create a new account entirely. In fact, creating a new account may actually be the best solution for some users, especially those who are starting to use Skype professionally or who may want a separate Skype account for business purposes. Here are several important steps to consider:
Step 1: Don’t delete your old account. In fact, you can’t delete your old Skype account without also deleting the Microsoft account that’s associated with it, which is usually something you want to avoid. Instead, look into creating a second Skype account. Skype allows this as long as you have a second Microsoft account to use.
Step 2: Begin by creating a new account for Skype. This is functionally the same as creating a new Microsoft account for yourself. If you already have a separate Microsoft business account, you should probably use this here. If not, you’ll need a second email address or phone to make a new account.
Step 3: Follow the steps for making this new account. Keep in mind, though: You still won’t get to choose your own Skype Name for this new account either. You’ll still have to just accept whatever account name is auto-generated by Skype. This name will at least be different than the one you had previously.
Since you’ve made a new account, make sure you use the right account at the right time. You made a professional account so you won’t have to be embarrassed by the name on your personal account.
You might not care about your account name. If that’s the case, you can easily change your display name without having to go through the above steps of creating a new account.
Changing your Skype display name
The display name is what other Skype users see beneath your profile picture. In many cases, this is the only thing users want to change, and it’s a whole lot easier than changing your account name. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Open your Skype desktop app. Log into your desired account if you’re not already logged in. In the main window, click on your profile picture, which should be located in the top left corner of your screen.
Step 2: A menu will pop up. Under Manage, select the Skype Profile option.
Step 3: The next screen will show you your basic Skype profile information, including your display name. On this screen, and to the right of your display name, there should be a Pencil icon. Click on this icon to edit your display name.
Step 4: Type in your desired name. Once you’re happy with it, select the Checkmark icon to the right of your new display name to save and confirm your new name.
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