Personalization of a mobile device begins not with installing a bright theme, but with a basic identifier that is visible to surrounding gadgets. When you turn on Bluetooth or try to transfer a file via Wi-Fi Direct, other users see the standard model name, such as "SM-G991B" or "M2102J20SG". It looks boring and uninformative, especially if a dozen identical “Android” devices appear in a public place. Changing the name to a unique one helps you quickly find your phone in the list of devices available for connection and adds individuality.
The procedure for changing the system identifier takes only a couple of minutes and does not require superuser rights or installing third-party software. In modern versions of the operating system Android this parameter is not hidden deeply, although the menu location may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell. Renaming will affect all wireless interfaces, including Bluetooth, access point and lock screen, making your gadget recognizable.
In this article we will look at universal ways to change the name for pure Android and branded shells like One UI or MIUI. You will learn which symbols are best not to use to avoid pairing errors, and what to do if the system refuses to save new settings. Read carefully to avoid common mistakes when setting up.
Why do you need to change the standard device name
Many users ignore the standard factory name, considering changing it a cosmetic procedure. However, in conditions of a dense flow of radio signals in an office or shopping center, a unique name plays the role of an important identifier. Bluetooth devices Often displayed in a list where dozens of phones have the same prefixes, and it can be difficult to find your "Galaxy S23" among them.
In addition, changing the name increases the level of personal security when using public networks. If you distribute the Internet via access point, a name like “Hotspot_1234” does not mean anything, but “iPhone_Olega” or “Do_Not_Connect” immediately makes it clear to the owner of the device. This is especially true in crowded places where attackers may try to connect to open networks.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the device name does not hide your IP address or make the connection completely anonymous. This is only a visual identifier in the local range of wireless modules.
Another aspect is aesthetic and organizational. In a smart home, where control is carried out through voice assistants or a single hub, devices with the names “Phone”, “Tablet” and “Watch” create confusion. Google Home or Amazon Alexa may incorrectly determine the source of the command if several gadgets with the same factory names are registered in the system. The unique name simplifies ecosystem management.
It is also worth noting the impact on the process of pairing with car multimedia systems. The car may remember previous connections, and if you changed your phone but left the name "MyPhone", the car may try to restore the profile of the old device with different equalizer or contact settings. Unique identifier guarantees the creation of a new, clean connection profile.
Where to find name settings in different versions of Android
The settings interface in Android is constantly evolving, and what was on the main screen in one version of the system may be hidden in the depths of the "About phone" menu in another. In “pure” Android (used in smartphones Google Pixel, Nokia, Motorola) the path is usually standard. You need to open the settings, scroll down to the "System" section and select the "About phone" item.
Owners of devices from Samsung with a shell One UI were a little more lucky - the engineers of the Korean company brought this function to a more prominent place. Here you just need to go to “Settings”, scroll to the very bottom and click “About phone”, and then select “Edit” next to the model name. In some firmware versions, this field is located immediately at the root of the settings menu.
- 📱 Pure Android: Settings → System → About phone → Device name.
- 🌌 Samsung One UI: Settings → About phone → Edit (top of the screen).
- ⚡ Xiaomi MIUI/HyperOS: Settings → About phone → Device name (at the very top).
- 🔵 Realme UI / ColorOS: Settings → About device → Rename.
On devices Xiaomi and Realme the situation is also quite transparent. In most cases, the rename field is located at the very top of the screen in the "About phone" section. If you cannot find this item, use the settings search. Enter the word “Name” or “Name” into the search bar at the top of the settings menu, and the system itself will highlight the desired section.
It is worth considering that in corporate versions Android Enterprise the network administrator can block the ability to change the device name. In this case, the field will be either hidden or inactive. This is done to ensure that employees do not violate corporate naming standards required by the IT department when remotely managing a fleet of equipment.
Use the built-in search in the settings by entering the phrase "device name" - this is the fastest way to find the desired item in the confusing menu of the new shell.
Step-by-step guide: how to change the name of your smartphone
The renaming process is technically simple, but requires care when entering characters. After you have found the desired menu in the "About phone" section, click on the field with the current name. The system keyboard will open and the cursor will move to the end of the line or select all the text to be replaced. Editing happens in real time, you immediately see what the name will look like.
Enter the desired name using Latin or Cyrillic. The system allows you to use letters, numbers and some special characters. However, you should not overload the name with complex graphics, as older devices (for example, car radios or old headphones) may incorrectly display emoji or non-standard fonts, showing squares or question marks instead.
Settings → About phone → Device name → Enter a new name → OKAfter entering text action must be confirmed. Depending on the interface version, this may be an “OK”, “Save” button or a checkmark in the corner of the screen. Once you click confirm, the system will apply the changes instantly. A reboot is usually not required for the changes to take effect, although in rare cases, updating the Bluetooth list may require briefly turning off and on the corresponding module.
☑️ Renaming algorithm
It is important to understand the difference between the device name and the account name. Changing the name in the "About phone" section does not change the name of your Google account, which is visible in mail or Play Market. This is an exclusively local name for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct and display when connected to a PC.
Setting names for Bluetooth and access point
In modern versions Android (starting from 10) device name, Bluetooth name and access point name are often synchronized. By changing one, you automatically change the others. This is done for the convenience of the user so as not to configure each module separately. However, in some custom firmware or on older devices, these settings may be different.
If, after changing the common name in "About phone", your Bluetooth remains the same, check the individual settings. Go to the Bluetooth menu, click on the three dots in the corner (or the gear) and find the “Device name” item. Here you can set a specific name, which will be visible only when searching via Bluetooth, different from the general name of the smartphone.
| Parameter | Where it affects | Dependency on the general name |
|---|---|---|
| Device name | Settings, connection to PC | Basic |
| Bluetooth name | Pairing with headphones, auto | Frequently synchronized |
| Point name access | Wi-Fi Hotspot | Frequently synchronized |
| Name in Google Find | Search for device | Independent |
The Wi-Fi access point deserves special attention. If you share internet frequently, make sure the network name (SSID) is easy to read. Some carriers or corporate security policies may block connections to networks with names that contain prohibited characters or words. It is better to use neutral names without personal data.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use passwords or phone numbers in the access point name. This name is visible to everyone around, and attackers can use this information for social engineering.
For owners of several devices of the same brand (for example, a tablet and a phone Samsung), it is useful to add a number or letter to the end of the name, for example, "Samsung Note 1" and "Samsung Note 2". This will eliminate confusion when transferring files via Quick Share or Nearby Sharewhen you need to choose which device the document is sent to.
Restrictions and allowed characters in the name
Although the operating system Android is sufficient flexible, it has technical restrictions on the length and composition of characters in the device name. The standard name length is usually limited to 50-60 characters, but it is better not to exceed 20-25 characters. Names that are too long may be cut off on the screens of older devices that you are trying to connect, making the name unreadable.
As for characters, the safest option is to use Latin letters and numbers. The Cyrillic alphabet is supported by most modern gadgets, but when connected to car systems or old Bluetooth headsets, krakozyabs may be displayed instead of Russian letters. Special characters like @, #, $, % are usually acceptable, but spaces at the beginning or end of the name are often automatically cut off by the system.
- ✅ Recommended: Latin (A-Z), numbers (0-9), hyphen (-), underscore (_).
- ⚠️ With caution: Cyrillic, emoji, complex unicode characters.
- ❌ Not recommended: Control characters, backslash (\), quotes.
Emoji in the device name is a trend in recent years, allowing you to make your smartphone noticeable in the list. However, it is worth remembering that on the computer screen under control Windows 7 or in the menu of an old TV Smart TV smalik will turn into an incomprehensible square. If compatibility with all household appliances in the house is important to you, it is better to refrain from graphic characters.
Why can’t you use names that are too long?
Device discovery protocols (for example, mDNS or standard Bluetooth Discovery) have a limit on the size of the data packet containing the name. If the name is too long, the packet may be truncated or discarded by the receiving device, resulting in a connection error.
What to do if the name is not saved or reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where, after renaming and rebooting, the smartphone returns to the factory name. This could be due to several reasons. Most often, the problem lies in a conflict with the manufacturer's account (for example, Mi Account or Samsung Account), which synchronizes settings and returns the "standard" every time you log into the network.
Another reason is the presence of an installed device administrator profile. If enterprise business applications (MDM systems) are installed on your phone, they may block changes to system settings, including the name. In this case, the input field may be available, but the changes will not be applied globally. Check the list of device administrators in the security settings.
It is also worth checking for system updates. In rare cases, a bug in a specific firmware version may prevent settings from being saved. Resetting network settings (not a full reset of the phone, but the network) often helps solve the problem if a failure occurs in the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi module.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting network settings will delete saved passwords Wi-Fi and other Bluetooth devices. Make sure you remember passwords for important networks before performing this operation.
If all else fails, you can try Safe Mode. Boot into Safe Mode (usually by long pressing the power button on the screen) and try changing the name there. If the name is saved in safe mode, it means that some third-party application is interfering with the system. In this case, finding and removing recently installed apps that have access to system settings will help.
If the name is reset after a reboot, check for active device administrator profiles or corporate applications that block changes to system settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will the phone name change for the caller subscriber?
No, renaming the device in the settings Android does not affect Caller ID in any way. The person you are calling will see the name that you wrote down in his phone book, or your phone number. The change applies only to local wireless interfaces (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi).
Is it possible to use emoji in the name of a smartphone?
Technically, the system allows you to enter emoji, but this may cause compatibility problems. Older devices, car stereos, and some laptops may not display these characters correctly, showing question marks or empty squares instead. For maximum compatibility, it is better to use text.
Will the name be reset when updating the Android firmware?
In most cases, user settings, including the device name, are saved after a system update. However, if the update involves changing the firmware region or deep resetting the settings (which happens when moving between major versions of Android), the name may return to the factory value.
Does renaming affect the device warranty?
No, changing the device name through the standard settings menu is a standard function of the operating system and does not in any way affect the manufacturer's warranty. This is not a modification of the app code or root access.
How to rename the phone if the screen does not work?
If the sensor does not work, but there is an image, you can connect a USB mouse via an OTG adapter. If the screen is completely black but the system is working, you can try using voice commands (if configured) or connecting to the computer via ADB (USB debugging required) by entering a command to change the global name variable, but this requires command line skills.