How to Add Pronouns to Teams: Step-by-Step Profile Customization

I added my pronouns to Teams last year and the process took under a minute. The option sits right in your profile settings, but it’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look.

Windows, Mac, and web versions all handle it the same way. You’ll need to click your profile picture, select the edit option, then scroll to the pronouns field. No admin rights or special permissions required.

This small change makes a big difference in how colleagues see and address you. It’s visible in meetings, chats, and profile cards once saved.

Works across all modern Teams versions, including the free tier. Here’s exactly how to set it up.

What Youll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions for Adding Pronouns to Your Teams Profile

Here’s the reliable method I use to customize my profile across all Teams environments.

Launch the Microsoft Teams desktop or web app and sign in to your account. I always start by clicking my profile picture or initials in the top-right corner of the window. This opens a dropdown menu where you’ll see your name and current status.

From this menu, select Settings. This takes you to the main configuration panel where you can adjust various aspects of your Teams experience. The process is identical whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or the web version.

In the Settings menu, click on the General tab on the left-hand sidebar. Scroll down until you see the Pronouns section—it’s usually near the bottom, just below the language and time zone options.

If you don’t see the Pronouns option, your organization’s admin might have disabled this feature. In that case, you’ll need to contact IT support to request access. Most personal and business accounts have this enabled by default.

Click the dropdown menu under Pronouns and select from the list of common options like he/him, she/her, or they/them. If your pronouns aren’t listed, choose the Custom option at the bottom of the dropdown.

For custom pronouns, type your preferred set in the text field that appears. You can enter up to 40 characters, including spaces and slashes. Double-check for typos—once saved, this will be visible to everyone in your organization.

After selecting or entering your pronouns, click the Save button at the bottom of the Settings window. The change takes effect immediately, but it might take a few minutes to appear for others in your contacts list.

To verify, go back to your profile by clicking your picture again. Your chosen pronouns should now appear directly below your name in parentheses. I always ask a colleague to check their view of my profile to confirm the update propagated correctly.

If you use Teams on multiple devices, sign out and back in on each one to ensure consistency. Mobile users should update the app to the latest version, as pronoun support was added in recent iterations.

Remember that your pronouns will only display to others if your organization allows profile customization. If they don’t appear after 24 hours, check with your admin about profile visibility settings.

Tips and Common Mistakes

These small details often determine whether your pronouns appear correctly across all Teams environments.

Step 2 Navigation: The Pronouns section can be easy to miss in the General tab. I always scroll slowly and look for it just below the language and time zone options, as mentioned in Step 2. If it’s not there, your admin has likely disabled the feature—this is more common in corporate environments than personal accounts.

Character Limit in Step 3: When entering custom pronouns, remember the 40-character limit includes spaces and slashes. I’ve seen people get cut off mid-pronoun because they didn’t account for the slashes between sets. Always double-check before saving.

Verification in Step 4: After saving, don’t assume it worked immediately. I always wait a few minutes and then ask a colleague to check their view of my profile. Sometimes the update takes longer to propagate through the system, especially in larger organizations.

Device Sync in Step 5: If you use Teams on multiple devices, sign out and back in on each one after updating. Mobile users should also ensure their app is updated to the latest version, as older versions might not support pronoun display at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adding pronouns to your Microsoft Teams profile is a simple yet meaningful way to foster inclusivity. Take a few minutes today to update your profile and show respect for everyone’s identity. 💡 Next, encourage your team to do the same—small steps can make a big difference!