Where to Find the Device Name Setting

Your iPad's device name appears when you connect it to a computer, join a Wi-Fi network, or use AirDrop to share files with other Apple devices. To change it, open the Settings app on your home screen and tap General. Scroll down and look for About — this is where your current device name lives.

The name field sits near the top of the About screen, usually showing something like "iPad" or "John's iPad" depending on how your device was set up. Tap directly on the name text to edit it. Your iPad will highlight the current name and open a keyboard so you can type a new one.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then About to find your device name at the top of the screen.
  • Tap the name field directly to edit it, then type your new name and tap Done.
  • Device names can be up to 32 characters and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks.
  • The new name takes effect when ready and will show up the next time you connect to a computer or use AirDrop.
  • Avoid special characters like @ or # that may cause problems with some networks or services.

Typing and Confirming Your New Name

Once the name field is active and the keyboard appears, delete the old name completely. Type your new device name — you can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation. Keep it short and descriptive so you recognize it easily when you see a list of devices (for example, "Sarah's iPad" or "Kitchen iPad").

After you finish typing, tap the Done button in the keyboard's bottom right corner. Your iPad will save the change when ready. You do not need to restart your device or confirm the change anywhere else — it takes effect right away.

What Happens After You Change the Name

The new name will show up the next time your iPad connects to another device or network. If you use AirDrop to send files to a friend, they will see your new device name in their AirDrop menu. When you plug your iPad into a computer to sync or back up, iTunes or Finder will display the new name instead of the old one.

If your iPad is part of a shared iCloud account or Family Sharing setup, the name change affects only how your device identifies itself — it does not change anyone else's settings or access. Other people on the account will straightforward see the updated name when they look at shared devices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not use special characters like the @ symbol, # symbol, or quotation marks in your device name. While your iPad may accept them during typing, they can cause problems when your device connects to certain Wi-Fi networks or syncs with computers. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes for the smoothest experience.

Avoid making the name too long or too vague. A 32-character limit exists, but names longer than 15 characters can be cut off in some menus. Names like "iPad" or "Device" make it hard to tell your iPad apart from other devices in a crowded list, especially if multiple people in your household have iPads.

Changing the Name on Older iPad Models

The steps are identical on iPad models running iPadOS 15 or newer. If your iPad is running an older version of iOS, the process is the same: Settings > General > About, then tap the name field. The location and appearance may look slightly different on very old devices, but the name field is always in the About section.

To check which version of iPadOS your iPad is running, go to Settings > General > About and look for the "Software Version" line. If you are running anything older than iPadOS 15, you may want to update your device for security reasons, though the name-change feature works on all supported versions.

Renaming Your iPad for Specific Purposes

Choose a name that reflects how you use the device or where it lives. If you have multiple iPads, naming them by location ("Living Room iPad," "Bedroom iPad") or by user ("Mom's iPad," "Dad's iPad") makes it much easier to find the right device when using AirDrop or checking backups. Work iPads might be named with your company name or department.

If you plan to sell or give away your iPad, change the name to something generic like "iPad" before you hand it over. This removes any personal information from the device name and gives the new owner a clean slate to personalize it themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emoji in my iPad's device name?

Your iPad will let you type emoji while editing the name, and they will appear in the Settings app. However, some older computers and networks may not display emoji correctly, so they could show as blank spaces or symbols. Stick with standard letters and numbers if your iPad connects to older devices regularly.

What if I cannot tap the name field to edit it?

Make sure you are tapping directly on the text of the name itself, not on the label that says "Name." If the field still will not open, try closing the Settings app completely and reopening it. If the name field remains locked, your iPad may be managed by a school or workplace, and you may not have permission to change it.

Will changing the device name affect my iCloud account or backups?

No. Your device name is separate from your Apple ID and iCloud account. Changing it will not affect your backups, photos, or any data stored in iCloud. Your backups will straightforward appear under the new device name in iCloud settings.

How long does it take for the new name to show up everywhere?

The name change takes effect when ready on your iPad. Other devices will see the new name the next time your iPad connects to them or the next time they refresh their device list, which usually happens within a few seconds to a minute.

Can I change my iPad's name back to the original?

Yes. Go back to Settings > General > About, tap the name field, and type whatever name you want. There is no "default" name you have to restore — you can set it to anything. If you want the original name back, it is usually something like "iPad" or "[Your Name]'s iPad" depending on how it was first set up.