I have had to reinstall new outlook and need to change the email name

Question

When I reinstalled, the name comes up with all of the letters and numbers...how do I change to my old outlook name which was my yahoo email name

Answer 1

Hi @Forrest Covin, 

Thanks for reaching out, and I completely understand how confusing it can be to see a long string of letters and numbers instead of your actual email address after reinstalling New Outlook. This is actually a very common occurrence when your Microsoft Account login is linked to a third-party email provider like Yahoo. 

To get this fixed, the steps will depend slightly on how you primarily use this email address. I’ve outlined the two most common scenarios below so you can choose the one that fits your situation: 

Scenario A: You simply want your Yahoo mail, calendar, and contacts in New Outlook 

If your main goal is just to check your Yahoo emails using the New Outlook app: 

1. Open New Outlook and click the Settings (gear icon) in the top right corner. 
2. Go to Accounts > Email accounts. 
3. Click Manage next to the account showing the letters and numbers, and select Remove. 
4. Once removed, click Add Account and type in your Yahoo email address. 
5. Select the Yahoo provider icon and log in. It should now properly sync and display your Yahoo email name. 

Scenario B: You use this Yahoo address to manage a Microsoft account or Microsoft 365 Subscription 

If you don't actively use Yahoo Mail, but rather use this Yahoo address purely as your login name for your Microsoft services: 

1. Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Log in with your Yahoo email. 
2. Go to Your Info at the top, and in the "Account info" section, click Edit account info. 
3. Click Add email and choose to create a brand new, free @outlook.com email address. 
4. Once created, click Make primary next to that new Outlook.com address. (Don't worry, your Yahoo email stays securely attached to your account as an alternate login, and you won't lose any data). 
5. Go back to New Outlook on your computer, remove the numbered account (as detailed in Scenario A), and click Add Account. 
6. This time, log in using the new @outlook.com address you just created. Your account will now load perfectly with a clean name, and no random numbers attached. 

If you have any questions along the way, or if you need further clarification on either of these steps, please feel free to reply to me. I’ll be more than happy to continue assisting you. 

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your reply.

Answer 2

Hello,

This happens a lot when you sign in using a Microsoft account that is tied to your Yahoo address instead of just adding it as a normal Yahoo email account in the app.

Let me know if that is exactly what you are seeing and whether you just want your normal Yahoo emails to come through or if you actually need the Microsoft account itself connected. I can give you the exact steps to get your normal name back once you confirm.

Answer 3

To show the correct name when sending mail from the new Outlook, adjust the account’s display name. Because the question mentions a Yahoo address, also ensure the Yahoo account is the primary/default account if needed.

For classic Outlook (desktop) display name:

1. Open classic Outlook for Windows.
2. Select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
3. Select the email account that currently shows the long string of letters/numbers and choose Change.
4. On the Account Settings screen, edit the Your name field to the name that should appear to recipients (for example, the Yahoo email name or a friendly display name).
5. Select Next, then Close.

Notes:

• If the account Type is Microsoft Exchange, only the Exchange administrator can change the display name.
• In new Outlook for Windows, editing the display name for recipients is not yet available; use classic Outlook to change it.

If using a Yahoo account in classic Outlook and want it as the main sending account:

1. Select File.
2. Select Account Settings > Account Settings.
3. Select the Yahoo email account.
4. Select Set as Default.
5. Select Close.

If the Yahoo account is not yet added in new Outlook, add it:

1. In new Outlook, go to the View tab and select View settings, or from File select Account info.
2. Select Accounts > Your accounts.
3. Under Email accounts, select Add Account, enter the Yahoo email address, then Continue and complete sign-in.

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References:

• Change the display name that email recipients see in classic Outlook
• Add an email account to Outlook for Windows
• Add or manage a Yahoo! email account in Outlook