Whether you’ve just purchased a new iPhone or you’ve been using the same one for years, it can be useful to update your device’s name. Your iPhone’s name is used across iCloud, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, and your computer, so keeping it organized and recognizable makes taking care of all your Apple devices much easier.
Let’s look at how to change the name of your iPhone with four easy-to-follow methods.
Why Change the Name of Your iPhone?
Typically, if you choose not to update the name of your device while setting it up with your Apple ID, it will have either “iPhone” or its model type as its assigned name. But your phone is exclusive to you, and it can be helpful to add a name.
There are a few different reasons to update your phone’s name- it can make it easier for you to manage your devices and protect your personal information, among other things. Giving it a name lets you smooth along the management of your Apple products- it also makes it much easier when sharing content between devices because you can track which device is which.
Apple uses your iPhone’s name for the following functions:
- iCloud
- AirDrop
- Bluetooth
- Personal Hotspot
- Your computer
- Find My
When you name your phone, you can manage it even if you have multiple other Apple devices- it will smooth along everything from connecting to a Bluetooth speaker to AirDropping a photo to a close friend since there will be an identifiable name connected with your iPhone. Best of all, any name change takes effect instantly and works across AirDrop, Bluetooth, and iCloud simultaneously.
A name gives you consistency when taking care of devices. It will be easier to find your iPhone’s iCloud backup if you have names for your Apple products. If you attempt to track your Apple devices on Find My, it’s much easier to find the device you want. If you need service or support, a name can help technicians check your warranty status and eligibility for service.
If you recently reset your iOS network settings, your device’s name may have reverted to a generic name- another reason to update your iPhone’s name for better management and protection.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Name Using a Mac
If you have a Mac computer, you can use it as another strategy to update your phone’s name in six easy steps:
- Open Finder on your Mac: Launch the Finder application on your Mac. Note that since Apple discontinued iTunes in 2019, Finder is now the go-to tool for managing your iPhone on a Mac.
- Connect iPhone to Mac: Use a cable to connect your iPhone to your Mac computer.
- Locate your iPhone: Once your iPhone is connected to your computer, you should see an option for your device on the left side under Locations.
- Select your iPhone: Click on the device you want to update.
- Click on your phone’s current name: At the top of the window, you will see the name of your iPhone. Double-click on it to edit the text and update your device’s name.
- Click Sync: Once you’ve renamed your phone, click the Sync button and wait for the changes to save. The updated name will instantly reflect across AirDrop, Bluetooth, iCloud, and any other connected services.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Name Using iTunes
In 2019, Apple announced the discontinuation of iTunes and split it into three separate apps:
- Apple Music
- Apple TV
- Apple Podcasts
This means iTunes is no longer the recommended way to rename your iPhone. On a Mac, Apple replaced iTunes with Finder for device management. If you are on a Windows PC, iTunes is still available. But the simplest and most reliable strategy is to rename your iPhone directly from the device itself (you are going to need iOS 13 or later).
To rename your iPhone directly on the device, follow these steps:
- Open Settings: Tap the Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
- Tap General: Scroll down and select the General option.
- Tap About: This is found at the top of the General menu.
- Tap Name: This will be the first option listed at the top of the About screen.
- Enter your new name: Clear the existing name and type your desired new name, then tap Done on the keyboard.
The name change takes effect instantly and automatically updates across all connected Apple services – like AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, iCloud, and your computer – no syncing or saving is required.
If you prefer to use a Mac with Finder, simply connect your iPhone via cable, open a Finder window, choose your device from the sidebar, and click on the device name to edit it.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Name Using Settings
As long as your iPhone is running iOS 13 or later, you can follow these steps to change the name of your device directly from the Settings app. Your iPhone’s name is used across iCloud, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, and when your device is connected to a computer, so keeping it recognizable is worthwhile. If you run into any unexpected issues after updating, check out our guide to common iOS problems and how to fix them.
- Open Settings: Unlock your iPhone, locate the Settings app, and tap on it.
- Go to General: Scroll through Settings until you see General and select this option.
- Select About: At the top of the General settings screen, choose About.
- Tap Name: At the top of the About screen, you will see your device’s current name listed under the Name field. Tap it.
- Update Name: Clear the existing name and type in your new desired device name.
- Tap Done: Once you’ve entered your new name, tap Done on the keyboard. Your iPhone’s name is instantly updated and will immediately reflect across AirDrop, Bluetooth, iCloud, and any connected services.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Name Using Contacts
You can also change the name on your device through your Contacts app- this process will not change the name of your iPhone itself, but will update the name connected with your personal contact information.
Having your information saved on your device can be helpful if someone has stolen your phone or if you experience a medical emergency. Update your name by following these easy steps:
- Open Contacts: Find the Contacts app on your home screen and select it.
- Locate My Card: You may need to scroll up to see an option for My Card with a name and icon. Choose this option.
- Select Edit: Tap on Edit in the top right corner of the screen to access your personal information.
- Add your first and last name: Type in your name and any other information you wish to store on your iPhone.
- Tap Done: Once your name is successfully updated, tap Done in the upper right corner, and you are good to go.
Remember that this is separate from your iPhone’s system name, which is used by iCloud, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, and your computer. To change that, you’ll need to get through to Settings > General > About > Name.
Check Out More iPhone Tips and Tricks From Gazelle
From linking payment methods to taking care of multiple Apple devices, knowing how to update your iPhone’s name is a fairly helpful skill. Your iPhone’s name appears across iCloud, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, and even your computer – so keeping it organized makes taking care of your Apple devices much easier. Along with this helpful how-to, Gazelle shares tons of iPhone knowledge on our blog, The Horn.
Interested in learning more helpful tips and tricks? Explore more iPhone how-tos from Gazelle! You can also check out our guide to the best Apple iPhone models or learn how to put your iPhone into DFU mode.