How to Change Your AirDrop Name on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
AirDrop makessharing files between any Apple deviceseamless. However, while using AirDrop, sometimes you might see multiple devices with the same name and this can put you in a tricky situation where you might have a hard time determining which device to send your files to. In this article, we will share how to change the AirDrop name on iPhone, iPad, and MacBook in a few simple steps.
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Things to Consider
1.Before you move forward, make sure your Apple device is AirDrop compatible. You should have an iPhone 5 or later and iPad (4th Gen) or later and both running at least running iOS 7 (starting in 2019, Apple began using iPadOS 13 for its iPad lineup). On the other hand, your MacBook should be running at least OS X 10.7 Lion (now macOS).
To check iOS and iPadOS versions on your iPhone and iPad, navigate toSettings>General>About.
For Mac:System Settings>General>About.
2.When you and the receiver both have each other’s contact saved on their Apple device, you will see the name of the contact on AirDrop. However, if the contact isn’t saved, the name of your iPhone will be visible instead.
How to Change AirDrop Name on iPhone
Changing your iPhone’s AirDrop name is a pretty straightforward task. Here’s how to do it:
1.Open theSettingsapp on your iPhone and then move to theGeneralsection.
2.Then go to theAboutpage and tap theNameoption.
3.Now enter yourdesired namein the text field.
That’s it. Now you’ll see the newly named AirDrop profile on the AirDrop screen.
How to Change AirDrop Name on iPad
Changing your iPad’s AirDrop name is also similar to iPhone and just takes about the same amount of time. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1.Open theSettingsapp on our iPad.
2.Then navigate to theGeneralsection and select theAboutoption.
3.Next, tap on theName.
4.Nowenter the namethat you wish to display on the AirDrop screen.
After completing the renaming process, the AirDrop screen will display your new AirDrop name.
How to Change AirDrop Name on MacBook
The steps to change your MacBook’s AirDrop name are also similar to that of the iPhone and iPad. Within a few clicks, you will be able to achieve that. Here’s how:
1.Click on theApple logolocated in the top left corner and selectSystem Settings.
2.Next, move to theGeneralsection and then choose theAboutsetting.
3.Now click on theName fieldand enter yourdesired namefor the AirDrop profile.
Now you’ll be able to see your new AirDrop name on other users’ Apple devices.
Can’t See Apple Devices on AirDrop Screen
If you don’t see your Apple device, then ensure your AirDrop is not turned off.
iPhone or iPad users can simply open theControl Centerand firmly press thenetwork icon(top left corner). Now tap on theAirDropIcon and choose theContacts OnlyorEveryoneoption accordingly.
Mac Users can go toSystem Settings>General>AirDrop & Handoff. From there you can either go with theContacts OnlyorEveryoneoption.
If your AirDrop is already enabled and yet, it is not showing your device name, you should restart your Apple device and see if it works. Even after that issue still persists, you can then check out our comprehensive guide on what to do whenAirDrop stops working.
- What to do if the device isn’t displaying the new AirDrop name?
It hardly takes a second to update your new AirDrop name. But in case your device isn’t displaying the new AirDrop name, then you can try restarting your Apple device. That would do the trick.
- Can you use AirDrop without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
No, AirDrop doesn’t use your cellular network, but it requires Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to create connections between two devices to transfer files.
- How many times can you change your AirDrop name?
There is no such limitation on changing the AirDrop name.
- Will changing the name of the iPhone also change its Bluetooth name?
Changing the iPhone name not just changes the AirDrop name but also Bluetooth and Personal Hotspot name.
Change AirDrop Name for Better Device Identification
Having a lot of Apple products nearby can make it confusing when you need to transfer or receive files from other Apple devices. So it is important to have a unique AirDrop name to make it easier to find your device.
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Rahul is your go-to guide for fixing Windows, Steam, Android, Samsung TV, and Google Chrome. An engineering college dropout who followed his passion for tech, he brings 3 years of troubleshooting experience and 2+ years of running his own tech blog to the table. When he’s not solving your tech problems, you’ll find him unwinding with the latest anime or K-drama.
