Change Your iPhone Display Name in Settings

Your iPhone stores your name in two places: your Apple ID account and your device settings. To change the name that appears on your device itself—the one that shows up when you receive calls, send messages, or share files—go to Settings, tap General, then About. At the top of that screen, you'll see a field labeled Name. Tap it, delete the current text, type your new name, and tap Done. This change takes effect when ready on your device.

The name you set here is what other people see when you call or text them, and it's what appears in AirDrop, FaceTime, and iMessage. It's separate from your Apple ID email address, so changing it won't affect your account login or password. If you share an Apple ID with family members, each person can have their own device name without affecting anyone else's account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your device name is changed in Settings > General > About, and this is what people see when you contact them.
  • Changing your device name does not change your Apple ID email or password.
  • If you want to change your actual Apple ID name (the one tied to your account), you do that in Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone, Email.
  • Device name changes take effect when ready, but may take a few seconds to sync across your other Apple devices.
  • You can use any name you want—it doesn't have to match your legal name or your Apple ID name.

Update Your Apple ID Name Separately

If you want to change the name associated with your actual Apple ID account (not just the device name), that's a different setting. Go to Settings, tap the banner at the top with your name and photo, then tap Name, Phone, Email. You'll see your first and last name fields. Tap Edit, change the names, and tap Done. This change syncs across all your Apple devices and affects how your name appears in your Apple ID profile.

Your Apple ID name is what shows up on receipts, in the App Store, and in your iCloud account. Changing it is optional—you can keep your device name and Apple ID name completely different if you want. The change takes a few minutes to sync to all your devices and services.

What Happens When You Change Your Device Name

Once you change your device name in Settings > General > About, that new name appears when ready in several places. When you call someone, they see your new name on their phone. When you send an iMessage or FaceTime call, the recipient sees your new name. If you use AirDrop to share files with nearby devices, your new name appears in the list of available devices.

The change does not affect your phone number, email address, or Apple ID login. Your contacts remain the same, your photos and data stay where they are, and you don't need to restart your phone. If you have an Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac signed into the same Apple ID, the device name change may take a few seconds to appear on those devices as well, but each device can have its own unique name if you want.

Changing Your Name on Older iPhone Models

The steps are the same on iPhone 6 and newer. Open Settings, go to General, tap About, and edit the Name field. If you're using an iPhone 5s or earlier, the process is identical—the location and naming of these settings hasn't changed across iOS versions for many years.

If you're running an older version of iOS, the steps may look slightly different, but the path is still Settings > General > About. If you can't find the Name field, check that you're running the latest iOS version available for your device. You can update by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is confusing your device name with your Apple ID name. Changing one does not change the other. If you only change the device name in Settings > General > About, your Apple ID name stays the same. If you only change your Apple ID name in Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone, Email, your device name stays the same. Both changes are independent.

Another mistake is thinking you need to restart your iPhone after changing the name. You don't—the change is when ready. A third mistake is assuming the name must match your legal name or your email address. It doesn't. You can name your device "Kitchen iPad" or "Mom's iPhone" or anything else you want, and it has no effect on your account security or functionality.

Syncing Your Name Across Multiple Devices

If you own multiple Apple devices signed into the same Apple ID, each device can have its own unique name. Your iPhone might be "Sarah's iPhone," your iPad might be "Sarah's iPad," and your Mac might be "Sarah's MacBook." Each device name is stored locally on that device and doesn't sync to your other devices.

However, your Apple ID name (the one you change in Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone, Email) does sync across all your devices. So if you change your Apple ID name from "Sarah Johnson" to "Sarah Chen," that change appears on all your devices within a few minutes. Your device names, though, remain independent—you have to change each one separately if you want them all to match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iPhone name affect my phone number or contacts?

No. Your phone number, contacts, messages, and all your data remain exactly the same. Changing your device name only changes what other people see when you call or text them—it's purely cosmetic and doesn't touch any of your actual account information or stored data.

Can I change my device name back to what it was before?

Yes. Go back to Settings > General > About, tap the Name field, and type whatever you want. There's no limit to how many times you can change it. Apple doesn't track previous names or require you to keep a certain name for any length of time.

What's the difference between my device name and my Apple ID name?

Your device name (Settings > General > About) is what people see when you contact them and what appears in AirDrop. Your Apple ID name (Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone, Email) is tied to your account and appears on receipts and in your profile. They're separate and don't have to match.

If I change my device name, will my family members see the change?

Only if they're trying to contact you or use AirDrop with you. If you share an Apple ID with family members, each person's device still has its own name, and changing yours doesn't affect theirs. If you're part of Family Sharing, the change is visible to family members in the Devices section of Family Settings, but it doesn't change anything about their devices.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my device name?

Yes. You can type letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Some special characters may not work depending on your keyboard, but standard characters like hyphens, apostrophes, and periods are fine. Emojis typically work as well, though some older devices may display them differently.