diff --git a/backend/app_controller.py b/backend/app_controller.py
index d11670f..d03c842 100644
--- a/backend/app_controller.py
+++ b/backend/app_controller.py
@@ -276,7 +276,6 @@ class AppController:
         self.current_model_size = model
         self.current_device_config = device_config
 
-        user_name = self.config.get('user.name', 'User')
         continuous_mode = self.config.get('transcription.continuous_mode', False)
 
         if continuous_mode:
@@ -293,7 +292,6 @@ class AppController:
         if remote_mode in ('managed', 'byok'):
             self.transcription_engine = DeepgramTranscriptionEngine(
                 config=self.config,
-                user_name=user_name,
                 input_device_index=audio_device,
             )
             self.transcription_engine.set_callbacks(
@@ -343,7 +341,7 @@ class AppController:
                 initial_prompt=self.config.get('transcription.initial_prompt', ''),
                 no_log_file=self.config.get('transcription.no_log_file', True),
                 input_device_index=audio_device,
-                user_name=user_name,
+                app_config=self.config,
             )
             self.transcription_engine.set_callbacks(
                 realtime_callback=self._on_realtime_transcription,
diff --git a/client/deepgram_transcription.py b/client/deepgram_transcription.py
index 8b26f9d..15a8100 100644
--- a/client/deepgram_transcription.py
+++ b/client/deepgram_transcription.py
@@ -36,18 +36,16 @@ class DeepgramTranscriptionEngine:
     #  Construction / configuration
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------ #
 
-    def __init__(self, config, user_name: str = "User", input_device_index: Optional[int] = None):
+    def __init__(self, config, input_device_index: Optional[int] = None):
         """
         Initialise the engine from a :class:`client.config.Config` object.
 
         Args:
             config: Application ``Config`` instance.
-            user_name: Display name attached to transcriptions.
             input_device_index: Index of the audio input device to use
                 (``None`` for the system default).
         """
         self.config = config
-        self.user_name = user_name
         self.input_device_index = input_device_index
 
         # Mode: 'managed' (proxy) or 'byok' (direct Deepgram)
@@ -454,7 +452,7 @@ class DeepgramTranscriptionEngine:
                     text=text,
                     is_final=is_final,
                     timestamp=datetime.now(),
-                    user_name=self.user_name,
+                    user_name=self.config.get('user.name', 'User'),
                 )
                 if is_final:
                     if self.final_callback:
@@ -505,7 +503,7 @@ class DeepgramTranscriptionEngine:
                     text=transcript,
                     is_final=is_final,
                     timestamp=datetime.now(),
-                    user_name=self.user_name,
+                    user_name=self.config.get('user.name', 'User'),
                 )
                 if is_final:
                     if self.final_callback:
@@ -536,10 +534,6 @@ class DeepgramTranscriptionEngine:
                 pass
             self._ws = None
 
-    def set_user_name(self, user_name: str):
-        """Update the user name attached to future transcriptions."""
-        self.user_name = user_name
-
     def is_recording_active(self) -> bool:
         """Return ``True`` if audio is currently being captured."""
         return self._is_recording
diff --git a/client/transcription_engine_realtime.py b/client/transcription_engine_realtime.py
index 8144e7c..bf28f07 100644
--- a/client/transcription_engine_realtime.py
+++ b/client/transcription_engine_realtime.py
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
         no_log_file: bool = True,
         # Audio device
         input_device_index: Optional[int] = None,
-        # User name
-        user_name: str = ""
+        # App config (for reading user.name at transcription time)
+        app_config=None
     ):
         """
         Initialize RealtimeSTT transcription engine.
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
             initial_prompt: Optional prompt to guide transcription
             no_log_file: Disable RealtimeSTT logging
             input_device_index: Audio input device index
-            user_name: User name for transcriptions
+            app_config: App Config object for reading user.name dynamically
         """
         self.model = model
         self.language = language
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
         self.enable_realtime = enable_realtime_transcription
         self.realtime_model = realtime_model
         self.realtime_processing_pause = realtime_processing_pause
-        self.user_name = user_name
+        self.app_config = app_config
 
         # Callbacks
         self.realtime_callback: Optional[Callable[[TranscriptionResult], None]] = None
@@ -162,6 +162,11 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
         self.realtime_callback = realtime_callback
         self.final_callback = final_callback
 
+    def _get_user_name(self) -> str:
+        if self.app_config:
+            return self.app_config.get('user.name', '')
+        return ''
+
     def _on_realtime_transcription(self, text: str):
         """Internal callback for realtime transcriptions."""
         if self.realtime_callback and text.strip():
@@ -169,7 +174,7 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
                 text=text,
                 is_final=False,
                 timestamp=datetime.now(),
-                user_name=self.user_name
+                user_name=self._get_user_name()
             )
             self.realtime_callback(result)
 
@@ -180,7 +185,7 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
                 text=text,
                 is_final=True,
                 timestamp=datetime.now(),
-                user_name=self.user_name
+                user_name=self._get_user_name()
             )
             self.final_callback(result)
 
@@ -406,10 +411,6 @@ class RealtimeTranscriptionEngine:
         if self.is_recording:
             print("VAD settings updated. Restart transcription to apply changes.")
 
-    def set_user_name(self, user_name: str):
-        """Set the user name for transcriptions."""
-        self.user_name = user_name
-
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"RealtimeTranscriptionEngine(model={self.model}, device={self.device}, running={self.is_recording})"
 
diff --git a/gui/main_window_qt.py b/gui/main_window_qt.py
index f9552d1..46e4758 100644
--- a/gui/main_window_qt.py
+++ b/gui/main_window_qt.py
@@ -401,7 +401,6 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             # Use Deepgram-based remote transcription
             self.transcription_engine = DeepgramTranscriptionEngine(
                 config=self.config,
-                user_name=user_name,
                 input_device_index=audio_device
             )
             self.transcription_engine.set_callbacks(
@@ -431,7 +430,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
                 initial_prompt=self.config.get('transcription.initial_prompt', ''),
                 no_log_file=self.config.get('transcription.no_log_file', True),
                 input_device_index=audio_device,
-                user_name=user_name
+                app_config=self.config
             )
 
         # Set up callbacks for transcription results
diff --git a/main_cli.py b/main_cli.py
index 05bf848..b1d1620 100755
--- a/main_cli.py
+++ b/main_cli.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class TranscriptionCLI:
             initial_prompt=self.config.get('transcription.initial_prompt', ''),
             no_log_file=True,
             input_device_index=audio_device,
-            user_name=user_name
+            app_config=self.config
         )
 
         # Set up callbacks