Change the name that appears in Find My iPhone

To change how a device shows up in Find My iPhone, open the Find My app on any Apple device signed into your iCloud account, tap the Devices tab, select the device you want to rename, tap the info icon (circle with an i), then tap Edit Name and type the new name. The change takes effect when ready and shows up on all your devices.

You can also rename a device through Settings on the device itself. Go to Settings, tap [Your Name] at the top, select Find My, then tap Find My iPhone, and look for the device name field. Both methods work equally well — use whichever is faster for you.

Key Takeaways

  • The device name in Find My iPhone is separate from the device name in Settings — changing one does not automatically change the other, though most people keep them the same for clarity.
  • You can rename a device from any Apple device on the same iCloud account, not just the device itself.
  • The new name appears in Find My within seconds and syncs across all your devices.
  • Device names can include letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation, but Apple recommends keeping them short and descriptive so you can identify them quickly in an emergency.

Renaming through the Find My app

Open Find My on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen. You will see a list of all devices linked to your iCloud account — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and any other Apple devices you own.

Tap the device you want to rename. A detail screen opens showing the device location, battery level, and other information. Look for the circle with an i in the top right corner and tap it. A menu appears with options including Edit Name. Tap Edit Name, delete the current name, type the new one, and tap Done or press Return. The change saves when ready.

Renaming through device Settings

On the device itself, open Settings and tap your name at the very top of the screen. Select Find My, then tap Find My iPhone (or Find My iPad, Find My Mac, depending on the device type). You will see a toggle for Find My and below it the current device name.

Tap the name field to edit it. Type the new name and tap Save or Done. This method is useful if you are already in Settings or if you want to change the name on the device while you are holding it.

Why the device name matters in Find My

The device name is what appears when you open Find My and look for a lost or stolen device. If all your devices have generic names like "iPhone" or "iPad," you will waste time figuring out which one is which. A descriptive name like "Sarah's Work iPhone" or "Dad's iPad" tells you when ready which device you are looking for.

The name also appears when you share your location with family members or when someone else is trying to locate a shared device. Clear naming prevents confusion and speeds up the process if you need to find a device in an emergency.

What characters and length work best

Apple allows letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and most punctuation in device names. There is no hard character limit, but names longer than 30 characters may be cut off in some views. Keep names short enough to read at a glance but descriptive enough that you know which device it is.

Good examples: "Sarah's iPhone," "Work MacBook," "Mom's iPad," "Bedroom Apple TV." Avoid names that are only numbers or that do not identify the device or owner, because those will not help you in a moment of stress.

Device name versus computer name

The name you set in Find My is separate from the device name that appears in Settings under General > About > Name. You can have different names in each place, though most people keep them the same to avoid confusion. If you change the name in Settings, it does not automatically update in Find My, and vice versa.

If you want both names to match, change them in both places. The Find My name is what matters for locating a device, so prioritize that one if you are in a hurry.

Renaming a device you no longer own

If you sold or gave away an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can still see it in Find My until you remove it from your account. To remove it, open Find My, tap Devices, select the old device, tap the info icon, scroll down, and tap Remove This Device. Once removed, you cannot rename it — it will no longer appear in your Find My list.

If you want to keep the device in your list but mark it as inactive or archived, removing it is the only option. After removal, the new owner can set up the device with their own iCloud account and it will appear in their Find My instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rename a device that is offline or turned off?

Yes. The device does not need to be powered on or connected to the internet to rename it in Find My. The name change syncs the next time the device connects to iCloud, usually within minutes of turning it back on.

Will renaming a device affect its backups or data?

No. Changing the device name in Find My does not touch your photos, messages, apps, or any other data. It only changes the label that appears in the Find My app.

What happens if two devices have the same name?

Find My will show both devices with the same name, which can be confusing. The app usually adds a small indicator like a number or the device type to tell them apart, but it is clearer to give each device a unique name.

Can I rename someone else's device in Find My?

No. You can only rename devices on your own iCloud account. If a family member wants to rename their device, they must do it themselves through their own iCloud account or through Settings on their device.