How To Change iPhone Name
Your iPhone name is what appears in Bluetooth pairing lists, AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, Find My, and when connecting to WiFi networks. If it still says "John’s iPhone" from years ago or you want something more private, here’s how to change it.
How To Change Your iPhone Name
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap About
- Tap "Name" at the top (it shows your current iPhone name)
- Clear the current name and type your new name
- Tap Done on the keyboard
Your iPhone name is instantly updated everywhere — Bluetooth, AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, Find My, iCloud, and iTunes/Finder.
What Your iPhone Name Affects
When you change your iPhone name, it updates across:
- Bluetooth: What other devices see when pairing (car stereo, speakers, headphones)
- AirDrop: The name shown when someone wants to send you a file
- Personal Hotspot: The WiFi network name when you share your cellular data
- Find My: The name shown in the Find My app when locating your device
- iCloud: The device name in your Apple ID device list
- iTunes/Finder: The name shown when you connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC
Tips for Choosing a Good iPhone Name
- For privacy: Avoid using your full name (e.g., use "iPhone" instead of "John Smith’s iPhone") — strangers can see your name via AirDrop and Bluetooth
- For multiple devices: Include the model to tell them apart (e.g., "My iPhone 16" vs "My iPhone SE")
- For Personal Hotspot: Choose something recognizable so you can find it in WiFi lists
- Keep it short: Very long names may get truncated in Bluetooth and WiFi lists
How To Change iPad Name
Same process:
- Settings → General → About → Name
- Type the new name → Done
How To Change Mac Name
- Go to System Settings → General → About
- Click the Name field
- Type your new Mac name
- Press Enter
How To Change AirDrop Name
Your AirDrop name is your iPhone name (set above) combined with your contact card name. To change what others see in AirDrop:
- Change your iPhone name (Settings → General → About → Name)
- Also update your contact card: Open Contacts → tap "My Card" at the top → Edit → change your first/last name
Both influence what people see when you appear in their AirDrop list.
Tested on iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone SE running iOS 18.3 and iPad Air M2 running iPadOS 18.3. Last updated March 2026 by the DevX editorial team.
