Pranay Parab · February 5th, 2025 · 5 min read 
This tutorial will show you how to rename your iPhone using the iOS Settings app, iTunes, and macOS Finder. It’ll also highlight the benefits of renaming your iPhone and what happens when you do. Finally, we’ll recommend troubleshooting steps to try if you encounter issues changing your iPhone’s name.
Why Should You Change Your iPhone’s Name?
All iPhones are branded as “iPhone” by default. Using your default iPhone name makes it difficult to recognize your device. Changing this generic name helps differentiate your phone from over a billion other iPhones out there. Say your friend wants to AirDrop you a photo in a park or mall, but there are tens of “iPhone” on the list of available devices. They’d easily find your device if it had a familiar name.
iOS also uses your iPhone’s name for Personal Hotspot and Find My. When sharing your iPhone’s internet connection, your WiFi hotspot appears as your iPhone’s name on other devices. A unique name helps differentiate your mobile hotspot from other networks. It’s also helpful when using Find My to track your iPhone if it gets lost or missing.
If you have multiple iPhones of the same model, renaming them allows for confusion-free management in your Apple or iCloud account. For example, if you own two iPhone 12 Pros, descriptive names like “My Work iPhone” and “Jon’s iPhone” are better than iPhone (1) and iPhone (2).
You can rename your iPhone to have your real name. However, we recommend using a nickname or pseudonym when sharing files, cellular data, or connecting your iPhone to a public computer.
What Happens When I Change My iPhone Name?
When you change your iPhone’s name, Apple registers and synchronizes the new name across services like Find My and iCloud. Your iPhone’s new name also pops up when connecting or sharing files or network connectivity with other (Apple and non-Apple) devices via Bluetooth, AirDrop, or Personal Hotspot.
Say someone wants to use your WiFi hotspot; they’ll see your iPhone’s name on the list of available Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, when you connect your iPhone to a computer, your device’s name appears in Finder (Mac) and iTunes (Windows).
How to Rename iPhone?
You now know why you should change your iPhone’s name and what happens when you do. Now, we’ll show you different ways to change the name of your iPhone.
Note: You can also use the methods below to change the name of your iPad or iPad touch.
How to Rename Your iPhone in iOS Settings
The iOS Settings app offers the fastest and easiest way to change the name of your iPhone. Open your iPhone’s Settings and follow the steps below.
- Select General, tap About, and check the “Name” row for your iPhone’s default or current name.
- Tap the Name section, delete the current name, and type the new name in the dialog box.
- Finally, tap Done on the on-screen keyboard to save your new device’s new name.
How to Rename Your iPhone via iTunes
If you have a Windows computer, you can change the name of your iPhone through the iTunes app. To do this, connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and follow the steps below.
- If your iPhone prompts you to “Trust This Computer,” tap Trust and enter your iPhone’s passcode. Otherwise, launch the iTunes app and proceed to step #2 to continue.
- Select the device icon in the top-left corner, right below the iTunes menu bar. That will open your iPhone details page in iTunes.
- Your iPhone’s current name, storage, and battery level should be in the top-left corner. Select the current name to edit it.
- Type your preferred device name in the dialog box and press Enter on your keyboard to save the change. That’ll rename your device in iOS settings and across services like Find My, iCloud, etc.
How to Rename Your iPhone via Finder (on Mac)
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a compatible USB cable and follow these steps.
- Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar (under the “Locations” section).
- Select your current iPhone’s name (next to the device icon).
- Type the preferred name you want to give your iPhone and press Return on your Mac’s keyboard.
FAQs
Why Did My iPhone Name Change by Itself?
When you transfer your old iPhone’s data to a new one, the new iPhone takes the old phone’s name. Software bugs and temporary system glitches sometimes cause your iPhone to change its name automatically. Restarting your iPhone or updating its operating system can resolve the issue.
Note that resetting your iPhone’s settings (or network settings) also restores your device name to factory default.
How Often Can I Change the Name of My iPhone?
You can change the name of your iPhone as often as you want. There’s no limit to how many times you can rename your iPhone.
Why Is It a Good Idea to Rename Your iPhone?
Personalizing your iPhone’s name helps distinguish your device from nearby iPhones. A unique name helps people recognize your iPhone when sharing files or connecting to other devices. Also, tracking and managing your phone on services like Find My and iCloud is much easier with unique names.
Conclusion
When you rename your iPhone, the change happens instantly on your device and across Apple services. If your new iPhone name doesn’t appear on other devices or services, give it a few minutes and check again. If the issue persists, restart your device and update its software to the latest version.
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