Change the name your iPhone broadcasts to other devices

Your iPhone has a Bluetooth name that other devices see when they search for it to connect. By default, it is something like "Sarah's iPhone" or "iPhone 14 Pro". You can change this name to anything you want in the Settings app on your phone itself — the change takes effect when ready and applies to all devices that try to connect to your iPhone.

The name you set is what appears on car stereos, wireless speakers, smartwatches, and laptops when they search for Bluetooth devices nearby. Changing it does not affect your Wi-Fi network name, your Apple ID, or anything else on your phone — it is purely the label other devices see.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then About to find the Name field where you can type a new Bluetooth name for your iPhone.
  • The new name shows up on other devices' Bluetooth lists within seconds of saving it.
  • You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks in the name.
  • If you cannot find the Name field in About, your iPhone may be running an older version of iOS and the setting may be in a different location.

Steps to rename your iPhone's Bluetooth name

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then scroll down and tap About. At the top of the About screen, you will see a field labeled Name with your current iPhone name in it. Tap that field to edit it.

Delete the current name and type the new one you want. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. Tap Done in the top right corner of the keyboard. The change saves automatically, and your iPhone will now broadcast the new name to any device searching for Bluetooth connections.

The new name appears on other devices' Bluetooth lists within a few seconds. If you are already connected to a device with the old name, that device may still show the old name until you disconnect and reconnect it.

What happens when you change the name

Changing your Bluetooth name does not disconnect any devices that are already paired with your iPhone. A car stereo, speaker, or smartwatch that was connected under the old name will stay connected and will continue to work normally.

The next time you pair a new device — or when you unpair and re-pair an old one — that device will see and use the new name. The change is visible to anyone searching for Bluetooth devices in your area, so choose a name you are comfortable with other people seeing.

Reasons to change your iPhone's Bluetooth name

You might change the name to make it easier to identify your phone in a crowded place. If you are at an office or coffee shop where many iPhones are nearby, a specific name like "Sarah's Work iPhone" or "Kitchen iPhone" makes it obvious which device is yours when you are pairing a speaker or headphones.

Some people change the name for privacy — instead of broadcasting their full name or a personal identifier, they use something generic. Others change it to match a device they use it with, like "Living Room Setup" or "Car Audio", so anyone looking at their Bluetooth list knows what that phone is for.

If the Name field is not visible

On very old versions of iOS, the Name field in the About screen may not be editable, or it may appear in a different location. If you do not see an editable Name field in Settings > General > About, check what version of iOS your phone is running by looking at the Software Version line on that same About screen.

If your iOS version is older than iOS 16, you may need to update your phone to access the Bluetooth name setting. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install any available updates. After updating, the Name field in About should be editable.

Bluetooth name versus other iPhone names

Your iPhone has several different names that serve different purposes. The Bluetooth name (set in Settings > General > About) is what other devices see when searching for Bluetooth connections. Your iCloud name is tied to your Apple ID and is used for iCloud services and Find My. Your Wi-Fi network name (if you are sharing internet) is set separately in Settings > Wi-Fi.

Changing the Bluetooth name does not change any of these other names. If you want to change your iCloud name or your Wi-Fi network name, those are separate settings in different places in the Settings app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use special characters or emoji in my iPhone's Bluetooth name?

Most special characters work, including hyphens, apostrophes, and periods. Emoji may not display correctly on all devices — some older car stereos or speakers may show garbled text or question marks instead. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and basic punctuation if you want the name to display correctly everywhere.

Do I have to rename my iPhone if I sell it or give it away?

You should change the Bluetooth name before handing the phone to someone else, since the current name may identify you personally. You should also erase the phone completely using Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to remove your personal data, accounts, and photos.

Will changing the Bluetooth name affect my AirDrop or Find My?

No. AirDrop and Find My use your iCloud account and Apple ID, not your Bluetooth name. Changing the Bluetooth name will not affect either of those features or any other Apple service.

How long does it take for the new name to show up on other devices?

The new name usually appears within a few seconds on devices that are actively searching for Bluetooth connections. If a device is already paired with your iPhone, it may continue showing the old name until you unpair and re-pair it.