All smartphones and smart devices come with default names, usually the same as the model name as it came from the factory. So when a user buys a phone model like “Samsung M 51,” for example, when they turn it on for the first time, they will notice that the default name of the phone is Galaxy M51. These phone names usually appear when connecting to signal routers or routers via Wi-Fi, or when connecting to other devices via Bluetooth to help the user identify their device and easily connect to the desired device via Wi-Fi or pair it with other devices. In many cases, the user may need to change the name of their smartphone and set a distinctive name for it. The following paragraphs explain the steps to change the name for both Android and iPhone phones.
Common Reasons for Changing Phone Names
There are multiple reasons for changing the phone’s name, with one of the most common being to distinguish the phone with a unique name to prevent confusion and incorrect pairing of devices. When buying phones and turning them on for the first time, we notice that manufacturers usually name phones with their model names. If multiple people in one place own phones of the same type and you want to share some files via Bluetooth with a friend who has the same type of phone, you will notice the appearance of multiple devices with similar names when trying to pair, making it difficult to specify the desired device if others are also activating Bluetooth on their phones at the same time.
Another key reason for changing phone names is to correct typing errors. Many users change default phone names and set another name that often represents the user’s name, a process that may sometimes involve unintended typing errors, requiring you to change and correct the phone name. You may also need to change the phone’s name simply because the device’s user has changed after the original owner decided to give up or sell the device to someone else. This new person may need to replace the old phone name with a new name that refers to their name instead of the previous user’s name.
Steps to Change iPhone Names
To change the name of the iPhone, all we have to do is open the “Settings” app and go to the “General” section among the settings menu options, then click on “About.” The screen in front of you will display various information about the device, including the iPhone’s name and serial number, but all we want to change is the device’s name. So we click on the “Name” option, then we erase the current name of the device in the writing field and write the new name to be assigned as the phone’s name, and finally, click the “Done” button to set the new name for the phone.
Steps to Change Android Phone Names
The steps to change the name of the phone may vary for different types of Android devices depending on the device type. For example, to change the name in a Samsung phone, we need to open the “Settings” app and scroll down the screen and click on “About Phone.” The next page displays a set of information about the device, including the device’s name and serial number. We click on the “Edit” button, then erase the current name of the device in the writing field and write the new name to be assigned as the phone’s name, and finally, click the “Done” button to set the new name for the phone.
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In most other types of Android phones, the name is changed by opening the “Settings” app and going to the “About phone” section or “About Phone” from the Settings menu, then clicking on the “Device name” option. We then write the new name in the popup window that appears and click the “OK” button. This action will result in a message informing us that the new phone name will be visible to people, applications, and other devices when connected to them. Finally, we click the “Done” button to complete setting the new name for the phone.
In some Android phones, we can also set a separate name that appears when connecting to different devices via Bluetooth separately, instead of changing the phone’s name. This is done by opening the “Settings” app on our Android phone, going to the “Connected devices” from the settings menu, then clicking on the “Device Name” option. We erase the current name of the device in the writing box, write the desired new name to appear on the Bluetooth device list, then finally click on the “Rename” button.
It is worth noting that the smartphone name is not considered confidential information, as there are many situations where your phone name will appear to other people regardless of the type of phone you use. For example, when connecting to the internet through a public Wi-Fi network, your smartphone name may appear to other users on the same network, as well as when trying to connect the phone to another device using Bluetooth, such as a car stereo. In this case, your phone name will appear on the screen. Phone names may also appear when connecting to personal computers or using AirDrop to transfer files, or when backing up on the iCloud platform, so it is always advisable to choose appropriate names and never use personal data or passwords as names for smartphones.
