To change your iPhone's name, open Settings, tap General, tap About, then tap Name. Tap the clear button, type the new name and go back. The new name shows up in AirDrop, Bluetooth, your Personal Hotspot, iCloud and on your computer.
If your phone shows up as plain "iPhone" in a room full of other iPhones, AirDropping a file to the right person turns into guesswork. Giving it a clear name takes about ten seconds, and it changes how your phone appears to everyone around you, not just to you.
Renaming your iPhone in Settings
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Tap Name at the top.
- Tap the small clear button in the text field to delete the old name.
- Type the new name, then tap back to save it.
There's no separate save button. As soon as you leave the screen, the new name is in use.
You can use spaces, capital letters and an apostrophe, so something like "Jo's sales iPhone" is fine. Keep it short enough to read at a glance, because AirDrop and Bluetooth lists don't give a name much room, and a long one gets cut off just where the useful bit was. If you run several phones for the business, a simple pattern such as first name plus role makes the whole team easier to find.
Where people will see the new name
Apple lists five places your iPhone's name is used. It's worth thinking about each one before you choose:
| Where | Who sees it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| AirDrop | Anyone nearby who can receive from you | They pick your phone from a list when sending you a file |
| Bluetooth | Accessories and devices you pair with | Speakers and car systems show it during pairing |
| Personal Hotspot | Anyone looking for Wi-Fi near you | It's the network name they'll see |
| iCloud | You, across your Apple devices | Helps you tell devices apart in your account |
| Your computer | You, in the Finder or Apple Devices app | It labels the phone in the sidebar when it's connected |
The hotspot name is your phone name
This is the bit people don't expect. Apple's help page on sharing your internet connection says the name of your Personal Hotspot is the same as your device name. There isn't a separate hotspot name setting. So if you want your hotspot to appear as something other than "Lilach's iPhone" when you're working from a café, you change the phone's name.
That also works the other way round. If you've named your phone something silly, everyone scanning for Wi-Fi nearby will see it when your hotspot's on. The hotspot password is separate: you change that in Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot under Wi-Fi password.
Choosing a name that's private enough
By default an iPhone often uses your first name. That's fine at home, but think about where you use AirDrop and your hotspot. On a train, at a conference or in a shared office, your phone's name is visible to strangers who are close by. Apple says AirDrop shows recipients who are nearby, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and its guide puts nearby at within 30 feet (10 meters).
A few naming ideas that work well:
- Your first name plus the device, such as "Sam work phone", so colleagues can find you in AirDrop.
- A business name for a phone you use for client work and hotspot sharing.
- Something neutral if you'd rather not have your name on show in public places.
And if strangers sending you files is the worry, renaming isn't the only fix. In Control Center, touch and hold the top-left group of controls, tap AirDrop and choose Contacts Only, or Everyone for 10 Minutes when you need to receive something from someone new.
Renaming headphones and other Bluetooth gadgets
Your phone's name and your accessories' names are set in different places. To rename a pair of headphones or a speaker, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the accessory, tap Name, enter a new one and tap Done. Apple notes that not all Bluetooth accessories support renaming, so if the Name option is missing, the gadget doesn't allow it.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Checking the new name on your computer
When you plug your iPhone into a Mac or a Windows PC, the name you chose appears in the sidebar of the Finder or the Apple Devices app. If you've got more than one iPhone in the family, this is where clear names save you from backing up or syncing the wrong phone.
If the name doesn't seem to change
- Make sure you left the Name screen, as that's when the change is saved.
- Give AirDrop a moment. Other people's devices may still show the old name briefly.
- For a hotspot, turn Personal Hotspot off and on again so devices scanning nearby pick up the new name.
- If your iPhone is managed by your employer, the name may be set by them.
That last point is a common one with company phones, and it's worth asking your IT person rather than fighting it.
My take
I'd rename every phone in a small team on day one. It's a tiny change, but it stops files going to the wrong person and makes your hotspot look professional when you share it with a client in a meeting. Pick something clear rather than clever. Once that's sorted, my guides on faxing from your iPhone and recording audio on iPhone cover two other jobs people often assume need extra kit.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I change my iPhone's name?
Go to Settings, tap General, tap About, then tap Name.
Does changing my iPhone name change my hotspot name?
Yes. Apple says your Personal Hotspot uses the same name as your device.
Will people see my iPhone name in AirDrop?
Yes. People nearby who can receive from you see your device name when they choose who to send to.
Does renaming my iPhone affect my Apple Account?
No. It only changes the device name, not your Apple Account details.
Can I rename my AirPods or a speaker?
Often, yes. Go to Settings, Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the accessory and tap Name. Not all accessories support it.
