Change Your iPhone's Device Name Through Settings
You can change your iPhone's device name—the name that appears when you connect to Wi-Fi, pair with Bluetooth devices, or show up in iCloud—directly in the Settings app. The process takes about two minutes and requires no restart.
Open Settings, tap General, then tap About. At the top of the About screen, you'll see a field labeled "Name" with your current device name. Tap that field, delete the existing text, type your new name, and tap Done. Your iPhone will update the name when ready.
The name you choose appears to other devices and networks right away. If you're connected to a Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch, those devices will see the new name the next time they search for your iPhone. If you're paired with a car's Bluetooth system or a speaker, you may need to "forget" the device and pair it again for the new name to show up.
Key Takeaways
- Your device name is found in Settings > General > About, in the "Name" field at the top of the screen.
- You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks, but avoid special characters like @ or # that may cause connection problems.
- The new name takes effect when ready on Wi-Fi and iCloud, but Bluetooth-paired devices may need to be re-paired to recognize the change.
- If you share an iCloud account with family members, each person's iPhone should have a unique device name so you can tell them apart in Find My or when sharing files.
Why Your Device Name Matters
Your device name is how your iPhone identifies itself to the world. When you connect to Wi-Fi, the network sees this name. When you pair with a Bluetooth speaker or car, that device stores and displays this name. When you use AirDrop to send files to a friend, they see your device name on their screen.
A clear, recognizable name makes it easier to find your iPhone in a list of devices. If you have multiple Apple devices, unique names prevent confusion—for example, "Sarah's iPhone" instead of just "iPhone" makes it obvious which device is yours when you're troubleshooting or sharing files.
Naming Rules and What to Avoid
iPhone accepts most characters in a device name, including letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. You can use up to 32 characters, though shorter names are easier to read on small screens.
Avoid special characters like @, #, %, or &. These can cause problems with some Wi-Fi networks or older Bluetooth devices that don't recognize them. If you pair your iPhone with a car or speaker and the name doesn't appear correctly, try removing any special characters and re-pairing.
Your device name is visible to anyone on the same Wi-Fi network or within Bluetooth range, so avoid including sensitive information like your full address, phone number, or passwords.
Changing Your Name on a Shared Family Account
If multiple people use devices on the same iCloud account, each iPhone should have its own distinct name. This prevents mix-ups when you're looking at Find My, sharing photos through iCloud, or troubleshooting which device is which.
Each person can change their own device name by going to their iPhone's Settings > General > About > Name. The change applies only to that individual iPhone and doesn't affect anyone else's devices or account settings.
What to Do If Your Device Name Won't Change
If you tap the Name field and it won't let you edit it, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press the side button again to turn it back on.
If the name still won't change after a restart, sign out of iCloud, restart again, then sign back in. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, tap Sign Out again when prompted, restart your iPhone, then go back to Settings > Sign In with Your Apple ID and enter your credentials.
If you've tried both steps and the problem persists, the issue may be with your iCloud account rather than the iPhone itself. In that case, contact Apple Support through the Support app or apple.com.
How Device Name Changes Affect Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
When you change your device name, Wi-Fi networks and iCloud see the new name when ready. You don't need to reconnect to Wi-Fi or sign out of iCloud.
Bluetooth devices like speakers, headphones, and car systems may not recognize the name change right away. If a Bluetooth device still shows your old name after you've changed it, go to that device's settings, find your iPhone in the list of paired devices, and select "Forget This Device." Then go back to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, find the device in the list, and tap it to pair again. It will now show your new device name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use emoji in my iPhone's device name?
No, iPhone does not accept emoji in device names. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. If you try to paste emoji, they will be removed when you tap Done.
Will changing my device name affect my photos, messages, or other data?
No. Your device name is only a label that identifies your iPhone to networks and other devices. Changing it does not touch any of your photos, messages, contacts, apps, or settings.
What if I want to change my device name back to the default?
The default name is usually "[Your Name]'s iPhone" based on your iCloud account name. You can type this back in manually, or go to Settings > General > About > Name and type whatever you prefer. There is no automatic reset button.
Does my device name show up when I use AirDrop?
Yes. When you turn on AirDrop and another person's iPhone is nearby, they see your device name in their AirDrop menu. This is why a clear, recognizable name is helpful—it tells them exactly whose iPhone they're sending a file to.
Can I change my device name from my Mac or iPad?
No. Each device has its own name, and you can only change a device's name from that device itself. If you want to change your Mac's name, you do that on your Mac. If you want to change your iPad's name, you do that on your iPad.