How to Change Your Phone's Wi-Fi Name: Instructions for Android and iOS

When you connect to Wi-Fi, your phone will appear in the router's device list under a specific name. This is usually the smartphone model (e.g., iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S23) or a random string of characters. But such a name isn't always convenient, especially if you have several similar devices on your network. Changing it in 2-3 minutes will help you quickly identify your device, improve security, or simply add a personal touch.

In this article, we will look at how to change the phone's Wi-Fi name. Android And iOS, why this is important for a home network, and what nuances should be taken into account. You will also learn how the device name affects the operation of certain functions (for example, AirDrop or Google Nearby Share) and what to do if the new settings are not applied. The instructions are relevant for all modern smartphones, including Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, iPhone and other brands.

Why change your phone's Wi-Fi name?

By default, manufacturers assign standard names to devices, which are often repeated. For example, a network might have three iPhone or two Redmi Note 12 - this makes managing the router more difficult, especially if you are setting up traffic priority or parental control.

Here are the key reasons to change your name:

• 🔍 Convenience of identification: It's easy to find your phone in the list of connected devices (for example, "Vasily-iPhone" instead of "iPhone-15-Pro").
• 🛡️ Security: Standard names make it easier for hackers to determine the device model and exploit vulnerabilities in specific firmware.
• 📶 Network optimization: Some routers allow you to prioritize traffic by device name (for example, for online gaming or video calls).
• 🤝 File sharing: functions like AirDrop (iOS) or Quick Share (Android) display the device name when transferring data.

In addition, a personalized name will help avoid confusion if you often connect to public Wi-Fi (in cafes, airports) or use guest networks home. For example, the name "Laptop-Work" clearly indicates the device's purpose, while "Alex-iPad" indicates its owner.

What is a "device name" and how does it relate to Wi-Fi?

The phone's name on the Wi-Fi network is host name (hostname) that the device sends to the router when connecting. It can be the same as name of the device on the local network (used for file sharing) or Bluetooth ID, but not always. For example, on Android The name for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is often configured separately.

It is important to understand the difference between:

• 📱 Device name: displayed in the phone settings (for example, in Settings → About phone → Device name).
• 🌐 Host name: used by the router for identification on the network. It can match the device name or be generated automatically (for example, android-12345678).
• 🔗 MAC address: unique physical identifier of the network card (does not change unless special tools are used).

Most modern routers show this in the control panel. host name, not the MAC address. Therefore, by changing the device name in the smartphone settings, you will automatically update it in the list of connected gadgets. However, on some firmware versions (for example, on MIUI from Xiaomi) you may need to reboot your phone or router.

How to change your phone's name on Android

On Android The process depends on the operating system version and the manufacturer's shell. Below is a general guide that will work for most devices (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google Pixel etc.). If your phone works on Android 12 and newer, please check the menu items for relevance - they may differ slightly.

Open your phone's Settings

Find the "About phone" or "About device" section

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi (to check for changes)

Remember the current device name (in case of rollback)-->

Standard method (Android 9–14)

1. Open Settings → About the phone (or About the device).

2. Select Device name (on some phones this item may be called Model name or Device name).

3. Enter a new name (up to 32 characters, no special characters like @, #, $).

4. Save changes and reboot your phone (recommended for the settings to apply).

On phones Samsung with shell One UI the path may look like this:

Settings → Device Maintenance → About Phone → Device Name

On Xiaomi (shell MIUI):

Settings → About phone → All specifications → Device name

Features for different manufacturers

If the name on the router is not updated after changing it, check:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and router.
• 📶 Disconnect from Wi-Fi and reconnect.
• 🔧 Update your router firmware (outdated versions may cache device names).

adb shell settings put global device_name "New_name"

How to Change Your iPhone or iPad's Wi-Fi Name

On devices Apple the process is simpler than on Android, but there are some nuances. Name iPhone or iPad used not only for Wi-Fi but also for AirDrop, Personal Hotspot and displays in Find MyBy changing it, you will update the data in all services. Apple.

Step-by-step instructions for iOS 15–17

1. Open Settings → Main → About this device.

2. Click on the current device name (the first line under the word "Name").

3. Enter a new name (up to 64 characters, emoji allowed).

4. Click Ready — changes will be applied automatically.

Example path for iPad:

Settings → General → About → Name

What should I do if the name has not changed in the router?

Sometimes routers (especially with older firmware) cache device names. To force a refresh:

1. Forget the Wi-Fi network on iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → Click on the "i" icon next to the network → Forget this network.

2. Please reconnect by entering your password.

3. Reboot your router (turn off the power for 30 seconds).

On some routers (for example, ASUS RT-AX88U or Keenetic) iPhone name may appear as Apple-XXXX, where XXXX are the last digits of the MAC address. This is normal and does not affect network operation.

How to check if the name has changed?

After changing the device name, it's important to verify that the changes were applied correctly. Here are three ways to check:

Method 1: Via the router control panel

1. Open the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).

2. Log in (using the login and password indicated on the router sticker).

3. Find the section Connected devices, DHCP clients or Local area network.

4. Check if the new name appears next to your phone's MAC address.

Method 2: Via the router's mobile app

If your router has an official app (for example, Mi Wi-Fi For Xiaomi, TP-Link Tether For TP-Link), open it and find the list of connected devices. The new name should appear there within 1-2 minutes.

Method 3: Via the command line (for advanced users)

If you use Windows, you can check the name of the device on the local network:

1. Open Command line (Win + R → enter cmd).

2. Run the command:

   arp -a

3. Find your phone's IP address in the list and check that the name matches.

On Mac or Linux use the command:

nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

(replace 192.168.1.0/24 to your router's subnet).

Security: Which names should you avoid?

Changing the name of the device is not only a convenience, but also an element cybersecurityA poorly chosen name can make things easier for attackers or cause problems on the network. Here's what not recommended indicate:

• 🚫 Personal information: Names like "Ivan_Ivanov_Passport1234" or "Home_Address_ul.Lenina5" make you vulnerable to social engineering.
• 🚫 Device model"iPhone15ProMax" or "SamsungGalaxyS23Ultra" will tell hackers which vulnerabilities to exploit.
• 🚫 Offensive or provocative names: This may result in blocking on public networks (e.g. airports or hotels).
• 🚫 Random characters: Names like "asdf1234" or "qwerty" will make it difficult for you to identify the device.

Optimal options:

• ✅ Neutral names: "Phone-Alex", "Tablet-Kitchen", "Work-iPad".
• ✅ Emoji + text: "📱MyAndroid", "🍎iPhone-Office".
• ✅ Code names: "Device-01", "Home-Phone-2" (if you have many gadgets).

⚠️ AttentionSome public Wi-Fi networks (such as those in shopping malls) may block devices with suspicious names. If you frequently connect to such networks, use neutral names.

Common problems and their solutions

Sometimes problems arise after changing the device name. Let's look at common issues and how to resolve them.

Problem 1: The name has not changed on the router

If you followed the instructions, but the router still shows the old name:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and router.
• 📵 Forget the Wi-Fi network on your phone and reconnect.
• 🔧 Update your router firmware (outdated versions may cache names).
• 🛠️ Check if your router is using static DHCP (IP to MAC address binding). In this case, the name may not be updated.

Problem 2: Name resets after update

On some phones (especially Xiaomi And Realme) After updating the firmware, the device name is reset to the default. To avoid this:

• 📲 Use name-capturing apps (e.g. Device Name Changer For Android).
• 🔄 Check your name regularly after major updates.

Problem 3: Network name conflict

If there's already a device with the same name on the network (for example, two "iPhones"), errors may occur when sharing files or connecting to printers. Solution:

• 🔤 Add a unique suffix (e.g. "iPhone-Kitchen", "iPhone-Bedroom").
• 🌐 Use local domain names (if your router supports mDNS or Bonjour).

⚠️ AttentionOn corporate networks (in offices), administrators may restrict the ability to change device names through security policies. In this case, please contact your IT department.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions