Your device’s default name is iPhone or iPad, and it’s the same as your AirDrop name. Every time someone wants to send files to your device, they have to select your AirDrop name on their screen from a list of potential nearby devices. This can be a problem especially when there are other Apple device users around you with the same default AirDrop name crowding out your own. You will now see the updated name when AirDropping files. Just keep in mind that when you change the name in your contact card, this will also be the name displayed if you share your contact card with a new acquaintance.
Apple’s system is really handy, but you might want to edit your name. If your AirDrop remains the same name after you have done all of the above, a restart of the device usually does the trick. Whether you want iPhone and Mac tips or the latest enterprise-specific Apple news, we’ve got you covered. Learn how to change your AirDrop name on iPhone, iPad and Mac, as well as what to do if your device is not displaying the new AirDrop name. Founded in 2012, this project provides science and technology news from authoritative sources on daily basis. The solution is to remove your email ID from your contact card.
Her Maui home is the epitome of an Apple ecosystem, full of compatible smart gear to boot. Olena’s favorite device is the Apple Watch Ultra because it can survive all her adventures and travels, and even her furbabies. Now you know how to change the AirDrop name displayed on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Finally, if you’re on a Mac, whether it’s a laptop or any other model, the steps are a little different, but you can follow them below. Open your Contacts app, and at the very top, tap your card.
- On your Mac and iPad your AirDrop name is the same as your device name, which you can see by going to general settings and tapping About.
- Your iPhone Airdrop name is the name on your contact card.
- In some instances, you may notice that the newly updated name doesn’t appear even after following all of the steps.
- Please note that the following methods are all device-specific and will not sync to other Apple devices via iCloud.
- Keep in mind that even if your Apple devices are linked to your Apple ID and iCloud, the device name doesn’t sync to other products and is specific to each one.
Your phone will restart, and the new AirDrop name should be updated. To change your AirDrop name, you need to change the name of your Apple device. First, ensure your Apple device is AirDrop-compatible. AirDrop is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 7 or later, and it’s supported by Macs and MacBooks released in 2012 or later that run at least OS X Yosemite.
Your new name will now be displayed when using AirDrop. Please note that the name change will also be reflected in other services and apps that use your Apple ID, such as iMessage and FaceTime. Because changing the name of your iPhone will not change your iPhone AirDrop name for people who have your contact saved. On your Mac and iPad your AirDrop name is the same as your device name, which you can see by going to general settings and tapping About. Your iPhone Airdrop name is the name on your contact card.
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If you completed these steps, you should now easily share files with your devices without having to guess where the file will go to. Apple makes it easy to transfer files across devices thanks to AirDrop. Although the feature is very convenient, it’s restricted to Apple devices. This means you can’t use AirDrop to share files if you don’t have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apple’s transfer system makes it easy to AirDrop files by allowing you to identify devices using their name.
Our experts obsessively test each tip, guide, and video we release to ensure you get all the hidden steps you won’t find anywhere else. It’s easy and only takes a few seconds but will differ slightly between your Apple devices. You can change your AirDrop name to something more personalized to help you easily distinguish between devices. Below, we’ll cover how to change your AirDrop name on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Google offers Android users an alternative called Nearby Share, which works in a similar way.
How to Change Your Name on Airdrop
To learn more about your Apple device features and handy shortcuts, like how to silence contacts, sign up for our free Tip of the Day Newsletter. AirDrop is an excellent, fast, and convenient way to transfer files from one Apple device to another. But when you send or receive a file, your AirDrop display name is shown on the other person’s screen. You may not want your actual name to be shown for professional or privacy reasons.
Like with iPhones and iPads, the default AirDrop name is your computer name, which means it’s used for all other networks, including Bluetooth, iCloud, and Find My. Changing your computer name is very easy and only requires a few clicks. At the top of the next screen is your Computer Name. Then type the Mac’s new name to also rename AirDrop. The steps to set or change your AirDrop name on Mac are just as quick and easy as they are on an iPhone or iPad. Click the Apple logo on the top left corner of the screen, and select System Preference.
In this case, it may be difficult for you to understand to which device the file will be sent. So how can you personalize the name of your device? If you are going to change the name of your iPhone or iPad, there are several ways to do it. Keep in mind that even if your Apple devices are linked to your Apple ID and iCloud, the device name doesn’t sync to other products and is specific to each one. The change you make will save, and boom – just like that, you’ve changed your AirDrop name (and your Mac’s name more widely). This will rename your iPad, and therefore also its AirDrop appearance, to whatever you prefer.
In some instances, you may notice that the newly updated name doesn’t appear even after following all of the steps. In that case, try doing the steps again to ensure you did it correctly. Your new name will now be displayed when using AirDrop on your Mac. Please note that the name change will also be reflected in other services and apps that use your Mac’s name, such as file sharing and network discovery. At iPhone Life, we use our 35 years of experience as a tech publisher to help millions of people master their Apple devices.
But what to do if all your Apple devices show the same AirDrop name?
You should also ensure you are using the most recent version of the software. New versions of operating systems can sometimes cause compatibility issues. We hope that this article answered your question on how to change AirDrop name on your Apple device. As you noticed, the steps to complete this objective are slightly different depending on the type of your hardware. But Apple’s ecosystem is built upon the principle of convenience, so the changes to the AirDrop name are reflected on all services that use your iPhone, iPad, or Mac name. Wireless keyboards are great because they leave your desk tangle-free!
Giving your iPad a new AirDrop name is easy and only takes a few seconds. It’s important to note that changing your device name will also change your AirDrop name. Additionally, the steps to change your AirDrop name may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system you are using. Please note that the following methods are all device-specific and will not sync to other Apple devices via iCloud.
Why is it good to have an easy-recognizable name for your Apple device when using AirDrop?
Better yet, pair it with up to four Bluetooth devices to save time navigating between them. Enjoy simple luxuries at an affordable price with the Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard. If you’d like to share files across platforms and operating systems, consider investing in a reliable WiFi 6 mesh router, which offers a great connection across your house. AirDrop is designed for added simplicity, making it easy to send files from any Apple device to another without installing additional software. If the name is still not updated, try turning your device off and then turning it back on immediately after changing the name.
If you want to change your Mac’s name for AirDrop, you must change the default name in the System Preferences. At the top of the window, you will see a field of Computer Name. Hagop is a tech-savvy guy, who’s also into traveling, fitness, biking, food, and planes. He’s heptalingual and has lived in 5 different countries, but has decided to settle in Paris for the time being. You’ll want to make sure you’re using the newest version of MacOS, or you may encounter problems. You can learn how to update MacOS on the Apple website.
The added benefit is that the solution works on other operating systems, including Windows, and even on Macs if you’re willing to fiddle a bit. However, unlike Apple’s solution, you must install an extra application on your computer. MacBooks and all Mac computers running macOS also support AirDrop file sharing.
- If you’re on your iPhone and looking to change your AirDrop name, just follow the steps below and you should be able to do so easily.
- You will now see the updated name when AirDropping files.
- This can be a problem especially when there are other Apple device users around you with the same default AirDrop name crowding out your own.
- You’ll want to make sure you’re using the newest version of MacOS, or you may encounter problems.
If you follow the steps above for how to change AirDrop name on iPhone, once you reach step 4, you can simply tap your profile picture to edit it. IPads come with extensive computing power, turning them into small and versatile MacBooks. Since they work seamlessly with other Apple devices, they can also easily send and receive files over AirDrop.
Delete the old name, and type in whatever you’d like. Change your name on the Contacts app, and the AirDrop name of your iPhone will be changed automatically, too. In the last 10 years, she has been published in dozens of publications internationally and won an excellence award. Since joining iPhone Life in 2020, she has written how-to articles as well as complex guides about Apple products, software, and apps. Olena grew up using Macs and exploring all the latest tech.
The Mac method is very similar to the iPad method. You simply have to rename your Mac, which will instantly be reflected in AirDrop. Click the Apple logo at the top of the screen and click System Settings. To change your AirDrop name on an iPad, open the Settings app, and from the left panel, tap General. On the right panel, tap About, and at the top of the screen, you’ll see your iPad name.
However, depending on your preferences, you may want to customize your AirDrop name to make it easier for people to know which iPhone, iPad, or Mac they’re sending files to. AirDrop is a fast and convenient way to transfer files between Apple devices. It works seamlessly on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, allowing you to share files and receive virtually any type of document with almost no prior setup. If you’re on your iPhone and looking to change your AirDrop name, just follow the steps below and you should be able to do so easily.
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You can even add a profile picture that will be displayed alongside your AirDrop name by tapping on Add Photo. So before attempting to use AirDrop, it’s important to have an easily recognizable name. A unique name will make it easy to spot you from the plethora of other Apple IDs to choose from, which in turn can help avoid transferring files to an unintended party. AirDrop is a very useful and safe feature that enables instant exchange of files and data between Apple devices. It is fast and requires a few steps to set up, and perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t degrade the quality of any media that is sent.
Any name changes on AirDrop will also be reflected on other Apple services, such as network names and anything that uses your contact card details. Follow the above steps to change your AirDrop name to something unique to ensure all of the files you want to transfer go to the correct device. The method to change your AirDrop name on an iPad is slightly different but still easy – follow these steps. Now, when other Apple users try to send something to your device, they’ll see the new AirDrop name you’ve created.
Max is an avid gamer, but writes about whatever is newsworthy, and works across features, reviews, buyer’s guides and more for the site. He’s also contributed to Kotaku UK, The Sunday Times, the Press Association and MUNDIAL. When he’s not working, his time is divided worryingly evenly between football, culture and sleeping. Since your personal details in this contact card are what determines how your AirDrop option appears, this will knock-on and change the latter for you, too.
