How to Change Your AirDrop Name on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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When you use AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, other devices usually see your first name as the name of your device. If you'd rather use a name that's more witty or less revealing, changing your AirDrop name is easy. When you change your AirDrop name, you'll also be changing your device name for Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, Wi-Fi, and when sharing files on a local network. Read on to learn how you can easily change your AirDrop name on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

iPhone/iPad

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this app's gear icon on your Home screen or in the Utilities folder of your app library.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's atop the third group of settings.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is the first option.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this at the top. The current name of your iPhone or iPad, which is also your AirDrop device name, appears beside it.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    That's all you'll need to do! Once you change the name of your phone or tablet, other devices will see the new name when AirDropping files. [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Mac

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can do this by clicking the Apple icon at the top-left corner of the screen and selecting System Preferences .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's the blue folder icon in System Preferences.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If the padlock at the bottom-left is locked, click it and enter your password to make it possible to edit your Mac's name.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Airdrop-Name-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The name you type here will replace your Mac's AirDrop name, as well as the name that identifies your Mac on local networks. [2]
    • Just close the System Preferences window to exit when you're finished. Your changes will be saved automatically.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-the-name-of-your-iphone-iphf256af64f/ios
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-computers-local-hostname-mac-mchlp2322/mac

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your iPhone or iPad's Settings.
      2. Tap General .
      3. Tap About .
      4. Tap Name .
      5. Enter a new name and tap Done .

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