Where your iPhone name appears and why it matters

Your iPhone has a device name — the label that appears when you connect it to a computer, share files with other Apple devices, or set up AirDrop. This is separate from your Apple ID name. The device name shows up in Settings, in Finder on a Mac, and when other people search for your phone to connect via Bluetooth or AirDrop. If your iPhone is still called "John's iPhone" but you've changed your name, or if you inherited a phone with someone else's name on it, you'll want to change this.

Changing your device name takes about two minutes and requires no restart. You do this directly in Settings on your phone — there's no computer step needed, though you can also change it through a Mac if you prefer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone's device name is the label it shows when connecting to other devices or computers, separate from your Apple ID name.
  • You change the device name in Settings under General, then About, then tap the current name to edit it.
  • The new name takes effect immediately and will show up the next time another device searches for your iPhone.
  • Device names can be up to 32 characters and can include letters, numbers, and spaces, but not special symbols.
  • If you cannot tap to edit the name, restart your iPhone and try again — this usually fixes the problem.

Change your device name in Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap General. Scroll down and tap About. At the top of the About screen, you'll see your device name — it might say "iPhone," "John's iPhone," or whatever name was set up when the phone was first activated.

Tap directly on the device name text. A keyboard will appear and the current name will be highlighted. Delete the old name and type the new one. Tap Done in the top right corner of the keyboard. The change saves immediately.

If tapping the name does nothing, close Settings completely and try again. If it still won't let you edit, restart your iPhone: press and hold the power button and volume down button together until the power-off slider appears, drag it to turn off the phone, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.

What you can and cannot use in a device name

Your device name can be up to 32 characters long and can include letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. You cannot use special characters like @ # $ % ^ & * or emoji. If you try to use a character that isn't allowed, the keyboard will simply not let you type it.

Keep the name short enough to be useful — something like "Sarah's iPhone" or "Home iPad" is clearer than a long string. If you have multiple Apple devices, naming them by device type and location (like "Kitchen iPad" and "Bedroom iPad") makes it much easier to find the right one when you're setting up AirDrop or connecting to a Mac.

When the change shows up on other devices

The new name takes effect on your iPhone immediately, but other devices won't see it right away. When another person's iPhone or Mac searches for your device to connect via AirDrop or Bluetooth, it will show the new name the next time it scans — usually within a few seconds to a minute. If someone has your iPhone already paired to their device (like a car's Bluetooth system), they may need to "forget" the old pairing and pair it again to see the new name.

If you're changing the name because you sold or gave away the phone, make sure to erase it completely before handing it over. Changing the device name alone does not remove your data or your Apple ID from the phone.

Change your device name from a Mac instead

If you prefer to change the name from a computer, you can do this through a Mac. Connect your iPhone to the Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations. At the top of the window, you'll see your device name. Right-click on it and select Rename, type the new name, and press Enter.

On older Macs running macOS Catalina or earlier, use iTunes instead: connect the iPhone, click the device icon in iTunes, and look for the name field at the top of the Summary tab. The process is the same — click the name, type the new one, and the change syncs back to your phone.

Troubleshooting if the name won't change

If you tap the name in Settings and nothing happens, the most common fix is to restart your iPhone. Close Settings first, then restart using the power and volume buttons as described above. After the restart, go back to Settings > General > About and try tapping the name again.

If you're still stuck, make sure you're not in Restrictions or Screen Time mode, which can lock certain settings. Go to Settings > Screen Time and check whether restrictions are turned on. If they are, you'll need to enter your Screen Time passcode to change them. If you don't remember the passcode, you'll need to reset it through Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode.

Another rare cause is a software glitch. If restarting doesn't work, try updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version: go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. After updating, restart your phone and try changing the name again.

Difference between device name and Apple ID name

Your device name is what shows up when you connect to other devices — this is what you just changed. Your Apple ID name is the name associated with your account, used for the App Store, iCloud, and purchases. These are two separate things. Changing your device name does not change your Apple ID name, and vice versa.

If you need to change your Apple ID name instead, that's a different process done through Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone, Email. That change affects how your name appears to other people in Messages, FaceTime, and shared documents — not how your physical device appears when connecting to other devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my device name affect my iCloud or Apple ID?

No. Your device name is only the label your iPhone shows when connecting to other devices. It has no connection to your Apple ID, iCloud account, or any of your data. You can change it as many times as you want without affecting anything else on your phone.

Can I use emoji or special characters in my device name?

No. Your device name can only include letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. If you try to type a special character or emoji, the keyboard won't let you. Stick to simple characters to avoid confusion when other devices are searching for your iPhone.

If I change my device name, will my family members' devices still be able to find me?

Yes. Family members who have your iPhone already paired to their devices (like a car's Bluetooth system) will still be connected, though the name will update the next time their device scans for it. If they're using AirDrop to find you, they'll see the new name immediately on their next search.

What happens to the device name if I sell my iPhone?

The device name stays on the phone until someone erases it. If you're selling or giving away your iPhone, you should erase it completely before handing it over — this removes all your data, your Apple ID, and the device name. The new owner can then set it up fresh with their own name and account.

Can I change my device name without going into Settings?

No. The only way to change your device name is through Settings > General > About on your iPhone, or through Finder or iTunes on a Mac. There's no Siri command or shortcut to do it.