How to change your name on PayPal – Full Guide

PayPal is an app/website that millions of people use on a daily basis to transfer money to friends and family.

Due to the fact that the app revolves entirely around money transferring, the security on the platform is understandably very tight. As a result, individuals are only allowed to have one personal account.

While this makes sense from a security/fraud prevention point of view, it can cause logistical problems if you input any incorrect details upon sign up or if you simply forget your login details.

Fortunately, PayPal doesn’t make it too difficult for users to change basic information such as names and email addresses.

In this article, we are going to provide a step by step instruction on how you can go about changing your name on PayPal. Plus, we’ll also looking at what else you are able to change on the platform.

Changing your PayPal name – Step by step

The process of changing your name on PayPal differs slightly depending on whether you are trying to do it on a personal account or a business account. Luckily for you, we’re going to provide a step by step guide for both accounts.

In order to change your name on a PayPal personal account, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to your PayPal account on a web browser.
2. Select the settings icon on the top right hand side of the screen next to the ‘log out’ button.
3. Select the ‘change name’ button which will be situated to the right of your current account name at the top of the screen.
4. Input your new name and select ‘continue’ to confirm.
5. You may be prompted to upload certain documents such as a driving license or passport to confirm that the name change is legal and legitimate.

In order to change the account name on a PayPal business account, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to your PayPal account via a web browser.
2. Click the settings icon which can be found next to ‘log out’ and select ‘profile and settings’.
3. Select ‘my business info’ and then select ‘change’ next to current name of your business.
4. Select ‘business name change’ and then input your new desired name for your business.
5. Select continue to complete the process.
6. After submitting your name change you may well be prompted to provide certain documentation relating to your business in order to confirm the name change. This is so PayPal can ensure that you are indeed the owner of said business and that no fraudulent activity is taking place.

For a Business account, bear in mind you’ll need to use the legal name of your company. This method will allow you to make a minor correction if there’s a typographical error.

What else can you change on PayPal?

As mentioned earlier, PayPal does run a tight ship when it comes to security but that doesn’t mean to say that whatever you input to the platform when you first sign up is what you have to live with forever.

In addition to your name, there are a few other things which you can change years after initial sign up. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Address

This is quite an important one given that if you move house it is imperative that you update all information relating to your new address when it comes to banking in general.

If you’re billing address on your bank accounts no longer match with where you live then you could end up having your accounts frozen. To update your address information on PayPal, take the following steps:

1. Log in to your PayPal account on a web browser.
2. Select the settings icon on the top right hand side of the screen next to the log out button.
3. You will see your current addresses on the right hand side of this screen. To edit your current address, select ‘edit’ next to it, or to add a completely new one select ‘add’.
4. You may be asked to provide proof of address upon confirmation.

Proof of address are the same typical things you may need to open up a bank account – something like your drivers licence or a utility bill should work fine.

Email address

You may have recently moved from one email provider to another and want to update this on PayPal so all your important accounts are in one place. To update your PayPal email, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your PayPal account on a web browser.
2. Select the settings icon on the top right hand side of the screen next to the log out button.
3. Your email address information can be found directly underneath your address information. To add a new email address, select the plus icon within the email address box.

You can also do this for your Business email address too, which may show up on your bank statement.

Mobile phone number

While most people manage to keep their phone number when changing phones, there are instances where you have no choice other than to get a new number.

Given that some people use their phone number to verify logins on PayPal, it is imperative that you keep this information up to date on the platform. To update your PayPal phone number, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your PayPal account on a web browser.
2. Select the settings icon on the top right hand side of the screen next to the log out button.
3. Your phone number information can be found directly underneath the email address information box. To change your primary phone number, select ‘change’ next to your current phone number.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is very easy to change your name on PayPal, regardless of whether you are using a personal account or a business account.

It is also very simple to change other key profile information on the app, allowing you to keep your PayPal accounts in order and up to date at all times. We hope the information provided in this article will help you to change any information that you desire on PayPal.