Congratulations on your marriage! While you're busy updating official documents and bank accounts, it's easy to overlook the more personal corners of your digital life. Your streaming subscriptions, online shopping accounts, and favourite apps might feel less pressing than your passport, but they're still part of your daily routine. Changing your name across these digital assets ensures a seamless experience, especially if your payment methods are also changing.
This guide will walk you through how to update your name on popular digital platforms after marriage in the UK, helping you keep your online world as organised as your new surname.
Why Update Your Digital Accounts?
You might wonder if it's strictly necessary to change your name on every single app or streaming service. While many of these won't cause issues if they remain in your maiden name, updating them offers several benefits. Firstly, it creates consistency. You'll avoid confusion if you ever need to contact customer service or if your new surname is linked to updated payment details. Secondly, it helps streamline your digital identity, ensuring everything aligns with your new legal name. Finally, some services might link to your official ID for age verification or purchasing, making it wise to keep things up-to-date.
Streaming Services: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify & More
For platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Spotify, and Apple Music, the process is usually quite straightforward. You typically won't need to provide a marriage certificate, as these services primarily care about your subscription and payment details rather than official identification.
- Login to your account on the platform's website (not usually the app).
- Navigate to 'Account Settings', 'Profile', or 'Manage Account'.
- Look for options to 'Edit Profile' or 'Change Name'.
- Update your first and/or last name. If your payment method is also changing (e.g., linked to a new bank account), update those details too.
- Save your changes. It's often a good idea to log out and then back in to ensure the changes have registered.
For services like NOW TV or BT Sport where your subscription might be tied to another official account like your broadband provider, you might need to update your details with that primary provider first, and the change will usually propagate to the linked streaming service.
Online Shopping & Retailer Accounts
Your online shopping accounts are important to update, especially if you have saved payment methods or delivery addresses associated with your old name. Think about Amazon, eBay, ASOS, John Lewis, and other regular online retailers.
Similar to streaming services, navigate to your account settings or profile section. Here you can edit your personal details, including your name. Remember to also check and update any saved delivery addresses and payment methods, as these are often stored separately within the account settings.
Other Apps and Digital Subscriptions
Don't forget loyalty apps (like Greggs or Costa), delivery apps (Deliveroo, Just Eat), health and fitness apps, or online gaming accounts. While these are rarely critical, updating them keeps everything consistent. If you use 'Sign in with Google' or 'Sign in with Apple' for many of these, changing your name on your primary Google or Apple account will often update it across linked services. Otherwise, you'll need to go into each app's settings individually.
What If There's No Name Change Option?
Occasionally, you might stumble across an app or service that doesn't offer a direct option to change your name in the settings. In these cases, your best bet is to contact their customer support. A quick message or call to their help desk should usually resolve it, as they can often update your details manually for you.
Updating your digital assets after marriage is one of those smaller tasks that can make a big difference to your daily convenience. It's often less formal than changing your name with banks or the Passport Office, making it a relatively stress-free part of your post-nuptial to-do list!