When you purchase an iPhone, you’ll be given a name by Apple. This name will show up in the Find My app when your device is misplaced or stolen, on your iCloud account, iTunes for Windows and MacOS, and on AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
This visible name isn’t a bad thing, but it can make it confusing when you exchange files on AirDrop or connect to Personal Hotspots with other iPhones. For both privacy and security reasons, it’s a good idea to change your iPhone’s name.
Reset your device
If you’re having trouble with your iPhone, you might want to reset it. There are a few different ways to do this, but one of the easiest is through Settings.
The iPhone Settings app is usually on your home screen, but if you can’t find it, you can also swipe down on the middle of the screen and type “settings” into the search bar.
Once you’re in the Settings app, tap General and then About. From here, you can change your device name.
You can use a unique name to help distinguish your iPhone from others, or you can simply use a name that you like. Whatever you decide, it will appear in all the apps, settings and other Apple devices that use iCloud.
You can also use iCloud to backup your data before resetting it, so you can retrieve it later. However, if you plan to sell your device or give it to another person, you should sign out of your account.
Connect your device to a computer
When you first get an iPhone, it comes with a default device name that mirrors the device itself. This can be a good thing, but it can lead to confusion when sharing files through AirDrop or using Personal Hotspot.
Thankfully, you can change the name of your device with just a few clicks. This will help you stand out from the crowd and make it easier to find your phone when you connect it to a PC or Mac with other iOS devices.
The same process can be used to rename Bluetooth accessories connected to your iPhone, too. Changing the name of your AirPods, for example, will make it much easier to tell which ones you’ve got at any given time.
A USB cable can have multiple connector types, including Standard-A, Standard-B, Mini-B, Micro-A, and Micro-AB. They all have a specific strategic purpose, and it’s important to know what you’re connecting to so you can avoid accidentally plugging in something else!
Connect your device to a Mac
Apple assigns each iPhone a unique name, but there are several reasons why you might want to change it. It can help you easily identify your device when sharing files with other people through AirDrop, viewing iCloud backups, using the Find My app, or even managing your iPhone when it’s connected to your Mac.
There are a few ways to connect your iPhone to a Mac, but one of the easiest is with a Bluetooth connection. This is a free way to make your iPhone or iPad discoverable in MacOS and also allows you to share your internet connection with it.
If your iPhone doesn’t have a Bluetooth connection, you can also use a USB cable to connect it to your computer. However, unless you have an iPhone cable that matches the USB ports on your Mac, this will likely require an adapter.
Connect your device to a Windows PC
If you want to change the name of your iPhone, there are a few simple steps. This is a great way to keep your privacy and security in mind, and it also makes it easier to find your device when you sell or trade in an old iPhone.
To change the name of your iPhone, you can open the Settings app and go to Bluetooth. Then, tap the Name option and enter a new name.
Once your iPhone has a new name, any other devices or networks that connect to it will see that name.
This is a great way to keep your device secure and easy to find, and it also makes it easier to find and remove the device from your iCloud account when you are ready to sell or trade in your iPhone.
If you have a Windows PC, it’s possible to pair your device through a process called Swift Pair. This allows you to connect your Bluetooth devices quickly and automatically, but it does require some setup on both the PC and phone sides.