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How to Change the Old Name on Microsoft Office Welcome Screen for Mac
Question details
The user needs to update the display name shown on the Microsoft Office welcome screen for macOS after previously changing their Microsoft 365 account name.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- The user successfully updated their Microsoft 365 account name online, but the local Office applications continue to display the old name.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Office on macOS retains and displays the previous first name on the welcome screen instead of syncing the newly updated account name.
Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet so that account changes can sync properly, and have your Microsoft 365 login credentials handy.
Update User Information in Word Preferences
Manually overriding the user information in your local Word preferences is the quickest way to correct the display name on your Mac.
Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac and press 'Command + ,' (comma) on your keyboard to open the Preferences menu.
Click on 'User Information' and replace the old name with your correct first and last name.
Quit Microsoft Word completely and reopen it to apply the new name to the welcome screen.
Update Name in Microsoft Account Settings
If the local change does not sync across all Office apps, verify and update your name directly in your Microsoft account profile online.
Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If you are tired of account syncing glitches and persistent old display names in Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly alternative for Mac users without the subscription hassle or complicated account sync issues.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the dedicated version for Mac.
- 2. Install on Mac: Open the downloaded installer package and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
- 3. Launch and Create: Open WPS Office, create a free account, and immediately start working on your documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my old name still show after updating my Microsoft 365 account?
Office for Mac often caches user information locally to speed up load times. You may need to manually update it in the app's User Information preferences or sign out and sign back in to force a refresh from the server.
Will changing the name in Word preferences update Excel and PowerPoint?
Yes, modifying the User Information in Word preferences typically acts as a global setting and updates the display name across all Microsoft Office applications installed on your Mac.
What should I do if the welcome screen name still won't change?
If the name persists after updating local preferences and your online profile, try completely signing out of your Microsoft account in the Office app, restarting your Mac, and signing back in to establish a fresh connection.
