To change your iPhone’s name, go to Settings > General > About > Name, type a new name, and tap Done. That one change controls how your iPhone appears in AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, Bluetooth, iCloud, and on your Mac.
This guide shows you how to rename your iPhone on the phone itself or from a Mac using Finder. It also explains why the new name sometimes doesn’t show up right away, and how to fix that in each place.
Quick Reference: How to Change iPhone Name and Fix Common Issues
| Scenario | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Rename on iPhone | Settings > General > About > Name, type the new name, tap Done |
| Rename from a Mac | Connect the iPhone, open Finder, select it under Locations, and try editing the name shown |
| AirDrop shows the old name | Turn AirDrop off and on, then reopen the share sheet on the other device |
| Personal Hotspot shows the old name | Turn Personal Hotspot off and on, and forget the old network on the other device |
| Find My shows the old name | Give iCloud time to sync, then close and reopen Find My |
| Finder shows the old name | Eject or unplug the iPhone, then reconnect it |
| CarPlay shows the old name | Disconnect and reconnect, or remove and re-pair the iPhone in the car’s settings |
What Is Your iPhone’s Name?
Your iPhone’s name is a label that other devices and services see. It’s set during setup and often includes your first name, like “Alex’s iPhone.” You can change it any time.
Here’s the key idea. According to Apple’s iPhone User Guide (retrieved November 2, 2026), this one name is used by iCloud, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, and the computer your iPhone connects to. You change it once, and every one of those places reads the same value.
That also explains most “it won’t update” problems. Each service or device can hold on to a saved copy of the old name for a while. You don’t need five separate fixes. You just need to get each place to read the name again.
Before You Begin
Make sure you have:
- An iPhone running a current version of iOS. This guide was checked against iOS 27.2, which Apple released on October 26, 2026. Check for later updates in Settings > General > Software Update.
- For the Mac method: a Mac running a current version of macOS (macOS 27.2 was current when this was written)
- For the Mac method: a cable that connects your iPhone to your Mac
- About two minutes
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Device | Any iPhone that runs a current iOS version |
| OS version | Current iOS (check in Settings > General > About) |
| Cost | Free. Renaming is a built-in feature. |
| Apps or subscriptions | None. No App Store app, paid plan, or iCloud+ needed. |
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Your iPhone Name
On iPhone (iOS)
Step 1: Open the About Screen
On your iPhone, open the Settings app. Tap General, then tap About.
Expected result: You see the About screen, including the Name row.
Step 2: Tap Name and Clear the Old Name
Tap Name. A text field opens with your current name and the keyboard appears. Tap the clear button (the small x in the text field) to delete the old name.
Step 3: Type the New Name and Tap Done
Type your new name. Then tap Done on the keyboard to save it.
Don’t skip Done. If you leave the screen before tapping it, the change may not stick.
Expected result: You go back to the About screen, and the Name row shows your new name.
Tip: Pick a name you’re happy for strangers to see. More on that in the “Choosing a Name” section below.
On Mac (macOS Finder)
Prefer to do it from your computer? This is handy if you already manage your iPhone from your Mac.
Apple confirms the computer uses this same device name, but its support documentation doesn’t spell out Finder’s exact editing control. The steps below describe commonly available Finder behavior; if your Finder differs, use the iPhone method instead.
Step 1: Connect Your iPhone to Your Mac
Plug your iPhone into your Mac with a cable that works with both devices. If your Mac has few ports, a USB-C hub works fine too.
If this is the first time connecting, your iPhone may show a prompt asking whether to trust this computer. If you see it, tap Trust and enter your passcode. This standard pairing prompt appears for any new computer, not just when renaming.
Step 2: Open Finder and Select Your iPhone
On your Mac, open a Finder window. In the sidebar, look under Locations and click your iPhone.
Expected result: The main part of the window shows your iPhone’s name at the top, with sync options below.
Step 3: Edit the Name
Click the iPhone’s name at the top of the main pane. On many macOS versions it becomes an editable field. Type the new name and press Return to save.
Apple’s support pages don’t document this exact Finder control, so results may vary by macOS version. If clicking the name doesn’t let you edit it on your Mac, use the iPhone method above instead, since that’s the officially documented way to change the name.
Expected result: The new name appears in the Finder sidebar and in Settings > General > About > Name on your iPhone.
Step 4: Check Your Personal Hotspot Name
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot. Your hotspot’s Wi-Fi network name is your iPhone’s name, so it should now match what you just set.
This is why people are often surprised to see their real name in a café’s Wi-Fi list. If your iPhone is still called “Alex’s iPhone,” that’s exactly what nearby laptops and phones see when your hotspot is on.
Expected result: The network name shown on the Personal Hotspot screen should reflect your new device name, since Apple ties the hotspot name to the device name.
Configuration: Choosing a Name
There’s only one setting here, Name, but what you type matters more than you’d think.
- For privacy: Skip your full name. Anyone nearby can see your iPhone’s name in their Wi-Fi list when your hotspot is on. AirDrop can also show this name to nearby devices. A generic name like “Blue iPhone” or “Kitchen Phone” tells strangers nothing about you.
- For households with several devices: Make each name unique, such as “Sam iPhone 17” and “Sam Work iPhone.” That way you won’t pick the wrong one in AirDrop, Find My, or a Bluetooth list.
- For a hand-me-down or new iPhone: If the name still shows a previous owner’s name or a generic label, rename it now. It’s quick, and it saves confusion later in Find My and CarPlay.
The trade-off: a very generic name protects your privacy, but friends may not recognize you in AirDrop. Something like “Sam’s Phone” is a good middle ground. It’s recognizable to people you know without giving away your full name.
Tips and Troubleshooting
Remember the core idea: there’s one name, and several places that each keep a saved copy. Every fix below just makes one of those places look again.
Quick fixes to try first:
- Go back to Settings > General > About > Name and confirm the new name actually saved.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Make sure iOS is up to date in Settings > General > Software Update.
The new name doesn’t show up in AirDrop
Why it happens: The other device may still be showing a nearby-devices list from before the rename.
Fix: Try turning AirDrop off and back on, or toggling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then reopening the share sheet on the other device. Apple doesn’t document this as an official fix, but it’s a common way to prompt devices to refresh their nearby-device list.
Personal Hotspot still shows the old network name
Why it happens: The hotspot name comes from your device name. Laptops and phones that joined before the rename may show a cached version of the old network name.
Fix: On your iPhone, turn Personal Hotspot off and back on. On the connecting device, forget the old network, then look for the new name in its Wi-Fi list and join again.
Find My still shows the previous name
Why it happens: Apple’s documentation confirms iCloud uses your device’s name, but it doesn’t detail how quickly Find My reflects a name change after you update it. In practice, the update may not be instant.
Fix: First confirm the name saved in Settings > General > About > Name. Then give it some time, and close and reopen the Find My app on your iPhone or Mac.
Finder still shows the iPhone’s old name
Why it happens: Finder can remember the name from the last time you connected.
Fix: Click the eject button next to your iPhone in the Finder sidebar, or unplug the cable. Plug it back in and check the sidebar again.
CarPlay still shows the old name
Why it happens: Apple’s rename guide doesn’t list CarPlay as a place that uses the device name. Many cars do show your iPhone’s name during pairing based on common experience, though this isn’t something Apple documents.
Fix: Try disconnecting your iPhone from CarPlay and reconnecting it, either by cable or wirelessly. If the old name still appears, remove your iPhone from the car’s list of paired devices and pair it again; check your car’s manual for that menu. This isn’t an Apple-documented fix, but it often clears a cached name.
The name change doesn’t save at all
Why it happens: The edit wasn’t confirmed with Done, or an older iOS version has a bug.
Fix: Go back to Settings > General > About > Name, type the name again, and tap Done before leaving the screen. If it still doesn’t save, check Settings > General > Software Update, since general iOS issues are sometimes resolved by updating.
FAQ
Where exactly do I go to rename my iPhone? Go to Settings > General > About > Name.
Can I rename my iPhone from my Mac? Often, yes. Connect it, open Finder, select the iPhone under Locations, and try editing the name at the top of the window. Apple doesn’t document this Finder control specifically, so if it doesn’t work, use the iPhone method, which is the officially documented way to change the name.
Why does my hotspot show my real name? Your Personal Hotspot network name is your iPhone’s name. Rename the iPhone, and the hotspot name changes with it.
Does renaming cost anything or need iCloud? No. It’s free and built into iOS. You don’t need an app, a subscription, or a special iCloud plan.
Wrapping Up
Renaming your iPhone is quick, and now you know why the new name sometimes lags: one name gets copied to several places, and each copy refreshes on its own schedule. Honestly, the privacy angle is the best reason to do this. If your hotspot still broadcasts your full name, take a minute and change it today.
| Step | Action | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Settings > General > About > Name, then tap Done | iPhone |
| 2 | Finder > select iPhone under Locations > edit name | Mac |
| 3 | Check Settings > Personal Hotspot for the new name | iPhone |
| 4 | Refresh AirDrop, hotspot, Find My, Finder, or CarPlay if needed | All |