Mobile device users are often faced with the need to personalize their smartphone. One of these tasks is changing the display name of installed software. The question of how to change the name of a game on Android arises for various reasons: from the desire to clean up the menu to the need to hide the essence of the application from prying eyes. Standard operating system tools do not always provide a direct function for editing APK file names, but there are workarounds.
There are several levels of name editing, each of which requires a different approach and level of system access. You can only change shortcut on the desktopwithout affecting the application itself, or interfere with the structure of the installation package for global renaming. The choice of method depends on your goals and device model.
It is important to understand that any intervention in system files or the use of third-party software carries certain risks. Incorrect actions may cause the game to stop starting or disappear from the list of installed apps. Therefore, before starting any manipulations, it is recommended to create a backup copy of your important data.
Changing the shortcut name through the launcher settings
The safest and easiest way is to edit the shortcut directly on the main screen. Most modern shells, such as MIUI, One UI or third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, allow you to edit the caption under the icon. To do this, you need to find the game icon on the desktop and hold it with your finger for a few seconds.
In the context menu that appears, select the “Change” item or the pencil icon. A small window will open where the “Name” field will become editable. Enter the desired name there, for example, “Calculator” instead of “PUBG”, and save the changes. This method changes the display only on a specific screen, but does not affect the list in the phone settings.
If the standard launcher does not support this function, it is worth considering installing an alternative shell. Third-party launchers provide advanced interface customization options. They allow you to flexibly customize the appearance of each element, including fonts and signatures.
- 📱 Long-press the game icon on the main screen until the menu appears.
- ✏️ Select the "Edit" option or the pencil icon.
- 💾 Enter a new name and click "Save" or tick.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the shortcut through the launcher does not hide the real name of the application in the “Settings” → “Applications” system menu. If your goal is complete privacy, this method will not work.
Using the Activity Launcher application for fine-tuning
For more advanced users who want to change the name displayed in the list of all applications or in certain menus, the utility Activity Launcheris ideal. This tool allows you to create your own shortcuts for any system activities and installed apps. With its help, you can create a duplicate of the game with any name and icon.
After installing the application from Google Play Run it and grant the necessary permissions. Find the game you need in the list. It usually has several entries associated with different activities. Select the main activity (often it is called by the name of the package or simply has the game logo) and click on it.
In the shortcut creation menu that opens, you can change the field Name to any one convenient for you. You can also replace the icon with any picture from the gallery. Once created, such a shortcut will appear in the general list of applications or on the desktop, depending on the launcher settings. The original shortcut can be deleted or hidden.
By creating a new shortcut through the Activity Launcher, you actually create a new link to the game process. The old shortcut can be removed so that only the new name is displayed in the menu.
This method is good because it does not require superuser rights (Root) and works on most versions of Android. However, it is worth remembering that updates to the game itself can sometimes reset the settings of the created shortcuts if the internal structure of the package changes.
Global renaming via APK Editor
If your task is to change the name of the game so that it is displayed everywhere, including the installation screen, task manager and settings, you will need to edit the installation file itself APK. For this, specialized software is used, for example APK Editor or MT Manager. This process is more complicated and requires care.
First you need to obtain the game installation file. This can be done through special utilities for extracting APK or by downloading the file from a reliable source. After opening the file in the editor, select the “Common Edit” mode. In the form that appears, find the “App Name” or “Application Name” field.
Enter the new value there. It is important to preserve the text encoding so that hieroglyphs or squares are not displayed instead of the name. After saving the changes, the app will offer to install the modified application. The system will warn you about a signature conflict because the file has been modified.
adb install -r game_modified.apkTo install a modified package, it is often necessary to remove the original version of the game, since the digital certificate signatures will not match. This will lead to loss of progress if the game does not use cloud saves through Google Play Games or a developer account.
Why does the system complain about the installation?
When the APK file is changed, its digital signature of the developer is broken. Android blocks the installation of such files over the original for security reasons, requiring the old version to be completely removed before installing the new one.
| Method | Difficulty | Root required | Impact on saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editing label | Low | No | No |
| Activity Launcher | Medium | No | No |
| APK Editor | High | Desirable | Possible loss |
| System files (Root) | Extreme | Yes | Risk reset |
Editing system files with root access
For users with an unlocked bootloader and acquired rights SuperSU or Magisk access to the system partition is provided. This allows you to change application names at the deepest level. However, this method is only suitable for experienced users who understand the structure of the Android file system.
You must use a file manager with access to the system root, for example Root Explorer or Solid Explorer. The path to the resource files is usually located in the /data/app/ or /system/priv-app/directory, depending on whether the game is system or user. Inside the game folder you need to find the file resources.arsc or folder res/values/strings.xml.
Exactly in the file strings.xml All text strings of the application are stored, including its name. Find the line named app_name and change its contents. After saving the file, you must change the access rights to it, returning the original values (usually 644), otherwise the application will not start.
⚠️ Attention: Direct editing of files in the folder
/data/or/system/may lead to “bricking” the device or cyclic reboot. Be sure to make a full backup of the partition before making changes.
After all the manipulations, you need to reboot the device so that the system rebuilds the resource cache. If the game does not start, check the logs via Logcat or restore the original file from a backup copy. This method ensures that the name will change in all system menus without exception.
☑️ Preparing to edit system files
Problems with online games and anti-cheat
It is worth mentioning separately the situation with popular online projects such as Brawl Stars, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact. These games use powerful anti-cheat systems. An attempt to modify an APK file, even just to change the name, can be regarded by the anti-cheat as an interference with the integrity of the client.
In such cases, changing the name via APK Editor almost guaranteed to lead to account blocking or the inability to connect to the server. The server checks the hash sum of the client files against the reference one, and any discrepancy causes an error. For online games, only the method of changing the shortcut through the launcher is considered safe.
If you decide to experiment with an online project, use a separate account that you don’t mind losing. Never use modified clients on your main profile, where there is valuable progress and purchases. Account security is always a priority over cosmetic changes to the interface.
⚠️ Attention: The terms of use of most online games prohibit modification of client files. Violation of these rules may result in a permanent account ban without the possibility of recovery.
In addition, some games load titles dynamically from the server at startup. In this case, even successful editing of the local file will not produce results, since at startup the application will request the current name from the server and overwrite the local data in RAM.
For online games with anti-cheat, the only safe method is to change only the shortcut on the desktop without interfering with the APK files.
Restoring the original name
If the experiment was unsuccessful or you are tired of the new name, the question arises of returning to the original state. In the case of launcher shortcuts, you can simply delete the created shortcut and restore the original one from the all applications menu. If you used Activity Launcher, simply delete the created shortcut through the shortcut settings or long press.
When editing an APK file, restoration is only possible by reinstalling the original version of the game. Download a clean installation file from the official store Google Play or a reliable archive. Remove the modified version and install a clean one. Progress will be restored automatically if the game supported synchronization.
For system files with root access, you need to restore the modified file strings.xml from the backup created before editing. If there is no backup, you will have to search for the original file on the Internet, corresponding to your version of firmware and application, and replace the current one with it.
- 🔄 Remove the custom shortcut and add a standard one from the menu.
- 📥 Reinstall the original version of the game from the store.
- 📂 Restore the strings.xml file from the backup copy (for Root).
Sometimes after deleting a modified game, “tails” remain in the system - entries in the registry of installed applications. You can clear them using registry cleaning utilities or by resetting the launcher settings to factory settings. This will return the application menu to its original form.
Before deleting the modified game, make sure that your progress is saved in the cloud. Go to the game settings and link your Google Play or Facebook account, if possible.
Remember that regularly creating restore points or backups via Titanium Backup (for Root) or built-in smartphone tools will save you from long searches for solutions in case of errors. Discipline in saving data is the key to stable operation of the system after any experiments.
Is it possible to change the name of the game without installing third-party applications?
Yes, this is only possible through the settings of the launcher itself, if it supports editing shortcuts. In the standard launcher of many phones (for example, Pixel Launcher) this function is often missing, so without installing additional ones. You won't be able to change the name using the software.
Will progress in the game disappear if you change the name through the APK Editor?
Yes, with a high probability. Since the modified APK has a different digital signature, the system considers it a new application. Old data may not be picked up if the game does not store saves separately from the main package in the shared Android/data folder.
Is it safe to use Activity Launcher for online games?
Yes, using Activity Launcher is safe for online games, since it does not modify the files of the game itself, but only creates a new shortcut link to it. Anti-cheat systems do not see interference in the integrity of the client.
Why did the game icon become white or standard after renaming?
This happens if a custom icon was not explicitly specified when creating a new shortcut, or if the system was unable to load the original icon from the modified APK. In the shortcut settings, manually select an image from the gallery.
Do you need root access to rename a game in the settings list?
Yes, to change the name in the “Settings” → “Applications” system menu without creating duplicate shortcuts, you will need root access and editing system resource files. Without superuser rights, you cannot change this field using regular means.