'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Hide User Names in Exchange Email Sender Information
Question details
The user wants to prevent recipients from seeing a user's full display name and instead show an alternative name or just the email address in Exchange Online.
- Product
- Exchange Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring remote domain settings to alter how sender information is displayed to external email recipients.
- Observed behavior
- By default, Exchange Online displays the user's full name. The goal is to configure Simple Display Name settings so that selected recipients see only an email address or a simplified name.
Ensure you have Exchange Administrator privileges and the Exchange Online PowerShell module installed on your computer to run the necessary configuration commands.
Enable Simple Display Name via Exchange PowerShell
Use Exchange Online PowerShell to apply the Simple Display Name configuration to your remote domain.
By enabling the Simple Display Name setting on a remote domain, Exchange will replace the standard display name with the Simple Display Name assigned to the mailbox. If a user does not have a Simple Display Name configured, only their email address will be shown to the recipient.
Open PowerShell on your computer and connect to the Exchange Online PowerShell module using your administrator credentials.
Run the command: Set-RemoteDomain "Default" -UseSimpleDisplayName $true to enable this feature for the default remote domain.
If you want certain users to display a specific alternative name rather than just their email address, use the Set-Mailbox command to assign a SimpleDisplayName value to those specific accounts.
Allow 5 to 10 minutes for the directory changes to propagate across the domain before testing the email sender information.
Looking for a Free Alternative to Microsoft Office?
While server-side email configurations require Microsoft Exchange tools, you don't need expensive Microsoft Office subscriptions for your daily document management. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for all your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the suite on your computer.
- 3. Open existing documents: Seamlessly open, edit, and save your existing Microsoft Office files without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the Simple Display Name settings to apply?
After running the PowerShell command, it typically takes between 5 to 10 minutes for the changes to propagate and take effect across the Exchange network.
What happens if I don't assign a Simple Display Name to a user?
If the UseSimpleDisplayName setting is enabled for the remote domain but a specific user has a blank Simple Display Name field, external recipients will only see the user's email address as the sender.
Does this setting affect internal email communications?
No, the Set-RemoteDomain command specifically applies to emails sent to external recipients (the remote domain). Internal emails will typically continue to show the standard full display name.
