Change Your iPhone's Bluetooth Name Through Settings

Your iPhone's Bluetooth name is the label that appears when other devices search for it to connect. By default, it's usually "John's iPhone" or "[Your Name]'s iPhone," but you can change it to anything you want. The process takes less than a minute and happens entirely in your iPhone's Settings app.

Open Settings, tap General, then select About. At the top of the About screen, you'll see a field labeled "Name"—this is your device's Bluetooth name. Tap it, delete the current text, type your new name, and tap Done. The change takes effect when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone's Bluetooth name is found in Settings > General > About, in the "Name" field at the top of the screen.
  • You can change it to any text you want, and the change applies to all Bluetooth connections right away.
  • Other devices will see your new name the next time they search for available Bluetooth devices.
  • This name also appears in AirDrop, CarPlay, and other wireless connection systems, so choose something you'll recognize.

Where to Find the Name Field

The Name field is in the About section of your iPhone's settings, but it's straightforward to miss because it's not labeled as "Bluetooth name." When you open Settings and navigate to General > About, the Name field sits at the very top of the screen, above information like Model, Serial Number, and Storage capacity.

If you're using an older version of iOS, the layout may be slightly different, but the Name field will still be in the About section. Tap it once to edit.

What You Can Name Your iPhone

You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks in your iPhone's name. There's no character limit that will affect Bluetooth function, though some older devices may not display names longer than 20 or 30 characters fully. Keep the name short and descriptive so you recognize it when pairing with speakers, headphones, cars, or other devices.

Avoid names that are confusing or identical to other devices in your home—if you have multiple iPhones, naming them "iPhone 1" and "iPhone 2" or "Sarah's iPhone" and "Work iPhone" makes it clear which device is which when you're pairing.

When the Change Takes Effect

The name change is when ready on your iPhone. However, other devices won't see the new name until they search for available Bluetooth devices again. If a device is already paired with your iPhone, it may continue showing the old name in its paired devices list until you unpair and re-pair it, or until the other device refreshes its connection list.

For example, if your car is already paired with your iPhone under the old name, you may need to unpair it and pair it again to see the new name in your car's Bluetooth menu. Most devices will update automatically after a few minutes, but manual unpairing and re-pairing guarantees the new name appears when ready.

How This Name Affects Other Wireless Features

The name you set in Settings > General > About is used for more than just Bluetooth. It's also your device name for AirDrop, AirPlay, Handoff, and any other wireless connection system on your iPhone. If you change your device name, all of these features will use the new name.

This means if you share files via AirDrop with friends or family, they'll see your new device name when you send something. Similarly, when you cast to an Apple TV or connect to AirPlay speakers, the new name will appear in those devices' connection lists.

Troubleshooting a Name Change That Didn't Work

If you changed your iPhone's name but other devices still show the old name, restart your iPhone and the other device. Turn off Bluetooth on both devices, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This forces both devices to refresh their connection information.

If a car or speaker is still showing the old name after restarting, unpair the devices completely and pair them again from scratch. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find the device in the list, tap the info icon next to it, and select "Forget This Device." Then search for your iPhone on the other device and pair it again—it will now show the new name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my iPhone's Bluetooth name without using Settings?

No. The only way to change your device name is through Settings > General > About. There's no Bluetooth-specific menu or shortcut that lets you do it.

Will changing my iPhone's name affect my Apple ID or iCloud account?

No. Your device name and your Apple ID are separate. Changing the name in Settings does not change your Apple ID, password, or any account information.

What happens if I use special characters or emoji in my iPhone's name?

Most special characters and emoji will work, but some older Bluetooth devices may not display them correctly. If you're pairing with an older car or speaker, stick to letters, numbers, and spaces to may support the name displays properly on that device.

Can I change my iPhone's name back to the default?

Yes. Go back to Settings > General > About, tap the Name field, and type "[Your Name]'s iPhone" or whatever the original format was. You can also use any other name you prefer—there's no requirement to keep the default.

Do I need to change my iPhone's name on each device it's paired with?

No. You only change the name once in your iPhone's settings. All paired devices will eventually see the new name, though you may need to unpair and re-pair some devices for the change to show up when ready.