If you’re using your iPhone for personal reasons, you may want to change its name. This can be for privacy or security purposes.
By default, your iPhone’s name shows up on networks, AirDrop, iCloud, and more. It’s also visible to strangers who may be looking for a Wi-Fi connection.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Name
The default device name that Apple sets for your iPhone when you first set it up is ‘iPhone’. While this makes it easy to identify your device, it can get confusing when you’re sharing files via AirDrop or if there are multiple iPhones in the vicinity.
Changing your iPhone’s name is a simple task that can be completed in just a few steps. You can do this through iTunes on a PC or Mac, as well as through the Settings app on an iPhone.
One of the biggest reasons to change your iPhone’s name is privacy and security. Since your device’s name can be seen when other people use AirDrop or if you connect to Personal Hotspot, it can expose your real name to hackers.
This is especially the case if you’re using Bluetooth. You can turn off this feature by going to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the blue Bluetooth icon. Your name will no longer be displayed in the Bluetooth menu.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Registration Name
When you first purchase an iPhone, iOS assigns the device a generic name that includes the first name of the owner. This name is used for identifying the phone when you plug it into your computer, when you AirDrop files to it, or when you set up a Personal Hotspot.
It’s a good idea to change this name to avoid confusion when you use services that identify devices by name. You can also give your phone a more distinctive name for privacy purposes.
To update your Apple ID’s registration number, open Settings and tap your name. From there, navigate to Media & Purchases > View Account.
You’ll see a new number listed at the bottom of this screen that will allow you to activate two-factor authentication on your Apple device. This will ensure that any time you need to sign in on a different device, you’ll receive a verification code from your new trusted phone number rather than relying on the old one.
How to Change Your iPhone’s Hotspot Name
The Personal Hotspot feature on your iPhone allows you to share a data connection with other devices. It uses your cellular network’s speed, which means that it goes faster than most wi-fi connections.
To change your hotspot name, open the Settings app on your device and tap Personal Hotspot. Then, you can change the name by typing a new one into the field and tapping Done.
Your personal hotspot network name is what other devices will see when they try to connect to your phone’s WiFi hotspot. That’s why it’s important to make sure you use a unique name for your personal hotspot.
Your device’s hotspot name is also the name your iPhone will display in iCloud, AirDrop, and even your computer when connected to it through USB cable. If you’d like to change your iPhone’s name, it’s easy.
How to Change Your iPhone’s AirDrop Name
AirDrop is a feature on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers that allows you to transfer files quickly through WiFi. It’s fast, convenient and barely reduces the quality of the file transferred.
Nevertheless, you should always use an easily identifiable name when using AirDrop to avoid accidentally sending your photos or videos to the wrong person. However, sometimes you want to change your AirDrop name for a number of reasons, such as to protect your privacy or to make it more unique.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply change your device name via the Settings app on your iPhone. To do this, simply navigate to the General section and tap About. Next, type a new name into the field provided and then tap Done.