Open Settings and find the About section

To change your iPhone's Bluetooth name, start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap About. The name that appears at the top of this screen — under "Name" — is the Bluetooth name other devices will see when they search for your iPhone to connect.

This is the same name that shows up in AirDrop, when you connect to a Mac, and whenever another phone or device scans for Bluetooth connections nearby. Changing it here changes how your iPhone appears to all those devices at once.

Tap the name field and type a new one

At the top of the About screen, you'll see a text field with your current iPhone name. Tap directly on that name to select it. The keyboard will appear and the existing text will highlight, ready to be replaced.

Type the new name you want. iPhone names can be up to 63 characters long and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation. Keep it something you'll recognize — many people use their own name, "John's iPhone," or something similar so they know which device is theirs when multiple phones are nearby.

Confirm the change by tapping Done

After you've typed the new name, tap the Done button on the keyboard. Your iPhone will save the change immediately. You don't need to restart your phone or toggle Bluetooth off and on — the new name takes effect right away.

The next time another device searches for Bluetooth connections, it will see your iPhone under the new name you just entered. If a device was already paired with your iPhone under the old name, it will still recognize the connection, but the name displayed will update to the new one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone's Bluetooth name is set in Settings > General > About, in the Name field at the top of the screen.
  • Tap the name field, delete the old text, type your new name, and tap Done to save the change.
  • The new name appears immediately to other devices searching for Bluetooth connections — no restart needed.
  • Your Bluetooth name can be up to 63 characters and is the same name used for AirDrop and Mac connections.
  • Devices already paired with your iPhone will keep their connection and see the updated name automatically.

What happens if you don't see a name field

On older iOS versions, the name field in the About screen may not be directly editable. If tapping on the name doesn't open a keyboard, try going to Settings > General > About and looking for an edit button or pencil icon near the name. On very old iPhones running iOS 12 or earlier, you may need to use a Mac or PC to change the name through iTunes or Finder instead.

If you're on a current iOS version and still can't edit the name, restart your iPhone and try again. Sometimes the Settings app needs a refresh to show the editable field properly.

Changing your name back to the default

If you want to return your iPhone to its original name, go back to Settings > General > About and tap the name field again. The default name is usually "[Your Name]'s iPhone" — for example, "Sarah's iPhone." Type that format back in and tap Done.

You can also set it to just your name, your initials, a nickname, or anything else you prefer. There's no penalty for changing it multiple times, and you can change it as often as you want.

Why your Bluetooth name matters

Your Bluetooth name is what other people see when they're trying to connect to your phone. In a crowded area with many iPhones nearby — a coffee shop, office, or airport — a clear, unique name makes it much easier for the right person to find your device. Generic names like "iPhone" or "iPhone 12" can cause confusion when multiple people are pairing devices at the same time.

The name also appears when you're using AirDrop to share files, connecting to a car's Bluetooth system, or pairing with a smartwatch or headphones. Changing it to something recognizable helps you and others identify your device quickly in any of those situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see my iPhone's Bluetooth name?

Yes. When your Bluetooth is on and your iPhone is discoverable, anyone nearby with Bluetooth enabled can see your iPhone's name when they search for devices to connect to. This is normal and expected — it's how pairing works. If you want to hide your iPhone from Bluetooth discovery, turn off Bluetooth or enable Airplane Mode.

Does changing the Bluetooth name affect my Apple ID or iCloud account?

No. Your Bluetooth name is separate from your Apple ID, iCloud account, or any other Apple service. Changing it only changes how your iPhone appears to other Bluetooth devices. Your account information and data remain unchanged.

What if I change my name and my car won't connect anymore?

Your car should still connect because it remembers the pairing. However, if you want to re-pair from scratch, go to your car's Bluetooth settings, forget the old pairing, and search for your iPhone again using the new name. The connection will work the same way it did before.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Bluetooth name?

Most special characters work fine, but emojis may not display correctly on all devices. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and basic punctuation like hyphens or apostrophes to make sure your name shows up clearly on every device that connects to your iPhone.