Email on one device shows my nickname?

Question

Email on one device shows my nickname?

Jaime 0

When I try and send myself an email on one device, the autofill contact for my email address comes up showing my nickname. Other devices show my real name.

I'm confused why different devices would be showing different things, but I'm also not sure where it's gotten my nickname from, as I can't find it on my Microsoft profile/account?

Is this something anyone can help with?

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Emma1-N 5,495 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Welcome Jaime,

I understand how frustrating it can be when one device shows a nickname for your own email address in autofill, while other devices show your real name, and you are unsure where this nickname is coming from.

To help resolve this as quickly as possible, could you please confirm the following details:

Whether the email account involved is a personal Microsoft account or a work/school account?
Does the nickname appear only when using autocomplete, or does it also appear after you manually type the full email address and send the message?

I look forward to your reply so we can continue working together to address the issue.

Jaime 0 Reputation points

2026-04-07T11:25:52.2+00:00

It is a personal account, and it appears for both the autocomplete, and if I manually type the full email address and when I send the email.
Emma1-N 5,495 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-08T07:45:25.65+00:00
Hello Jaime,

Thank you for your response. You can try the steps below to troubleshoot the issue:

Option 1: Remove the autofill entry on the affected device

Open the Outlook app on the device where the nickname appears

Create a new email message

In the To field, start typing your own email address

When the suggestion showing your nickname appears, hover your mouse over it

Click the small X or delete icon next to the suggestion

Close the email and restart Outlook

Test again by typing your email address to confirm the nickname no longer appears

Option 2: Check and remove the local contact entry

Open Outlook

Go to the People or Contacts section

Use the search box and type your own email address

If a contact entry appears with your nickname, open it

Edit the name to your correct full name or delete the contact entirely

Save changes

Restart Outlook and test again

Option 3: Reset autocomplete cache in New Outlook for Windows

Open New Outlook for Windows > Settings (gear icon) > Mail > Compose and reply

Turn off Suggested replies and autocomplete options

Close Outlook completely

Reopen Outlook

Turn the autocomplete options back on

Test by composing a new email Thank you for your response.
Emma1-N 5,495 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-09T07:55:54.5866667+00:00

Hello Jaime,

Have you had the chance to check my answer yet?

Please do keep me updated.

Answer 2

Francisco Montilla 30,210 Independent Advisor

Hello,

This usually happens because that specific device has your nickname saved locally in its email autocomplete cache or a local address book. Your email app is just remembering an old entry you might have typed in the past and suggesting it to save you time. Since it is saved locally on that one device, it will not show up on your online Microsoft profile or affect your other devices.

To help you clear that out, I need to know what exact email app you are using on the device that shows the nickname. Are you using the classic Outlook desktop app, the New Outlook app, the older Windows Mail, or logging in through a web browser?

Once you let me know, I can tell you exactly where to find and delete that cached suggestion.

Jaime 0 Reputation points

2026-04-07T11:26:35.66+00:00

I believe it is the New Outlook App.
Francisco Montilla 30,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-07T14:39:56.76+00:00

From the New Outlook app the fix is super simple, it's just pulling from your recent autocomplete cache.

Just open a new email and start typing your address in the To field so the nickname suggestion pops up. Do not click it to select it. Instead, hover your mouse over the suggestion and you will see an X icon appear on the far right side of it. Just click that X to clear it from the local cache.

Close the new email window, open another one, and type your address again. It should now pull your normal contact info instead of that old nickname.

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Email on one device shows my nickname?

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