To change the device name used by AirDrop on your iPhone, open Settings > General > About > Name, remove the old text, and enter a new name. To change who can send you files, open Settings > General > AirDrop or the AirDrop control in Control Center and choose the receiving option you need.
These are separate settings. A clearer device name helps identify your phone; it does not grant anyone permission to send to it. For where else that label is used, see how to change your iPhone name and Bluetooth name. Your contact information is also separate from the device name, so a recognized contact can appear under a person's name in the sharing interface.
Choose a useful name before changing it
Use a name that lets you distinguish your phone from other nearby devices. “Matt's iPhone 13” is easier to identify than several devices all called “iPhone.” If you prefer less personal information, a simple name such as “Blue iPhone” can serve the same purpose.
Avoid including a phone number, address, or password in the device name. It is a label, and it is used in several places. Apple lists iCloud, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, and your computer as uses of the iPhone's name.
Write down the old name if you may want to restore it. Renaming the phone does not require changing your Apple Account or signing out of it.
Change the iPhone device name
- Open Settings on the iPhone you want to rename. Check that you have the correct device if you use more than one phone.
- Tap General, then About. This opens the information page for that iPhone.
- Tap Name. The existing device name appears in an editable field.
- Clear the old text and enter the new name. Check the spelling and make it distinct enough to recognize in a nearby-device list.
- Return to About and inspect Name. Confirm that the new text is shown there before troubleshooting another device's view of it.
To undo the change, return to the same field and enter the previous name. This route applies to iPhone 13 as well as other supported iPhones; the hardware model does not create a separate AirDrop-name field.
Renaming your Personal Hotspot is related because it uses the device name. Its password remains a separate setting. If that is your actual goal, see our guide to changing the Personal Hotspot password.
Choose who can send to you
For a quick change on an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the upper-right corner to open Control Center. On an iPhone with a Home button, open Control Center with its usual upward swipe from the bottom edge.
- Touch and hold the connectivity group containing wireless controls. On the current layout, Apple describes this as the top-left group.
- Tap AirDrop to open its receiving choices.
- Choose the option for this situation. Use Contacts Only for expected contacts, Everyone for 10 Minutes for a short transfer with someone else, or Receiving Off when you do not want incoming transfers.
- Ask the sender to reopen their sharing choices. Check that they can identify you and select the correct recipient before they send a file.
The same receiving choices can be reached in Settings > General > AirDrop. Use Settings when you cannot find the Control Center control or want to review related AirDrop preferences.
| Receiving option | When it is useful | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving Off | You do not want incoming AirDrop files | Renaming the phone does not turn receiving back on |
| Contacts Only | Sharing with someone recognized in Contacts | The relevant Apple Account phone number or email must match the saved contact |
| Everyone for 10 Minutes | A brief transfer with someone outside your contacts | It is temporary; newer systems can also require an AirDrop code |
On iOS 16.2 and later, Everyone for 10 Minutes expires after ten minutes. Apple says it returns to Contacts Only when you are signed in to an Apple Account, or Receiving Off when you are not. Recheck it if a transfer that worked earlier is no longer available.
AirDrop codes on newer software
Apple's current instructions add another step when sharing with someone outside your contacts on supported newer systems. When both iPhones use iOS 26.2 or later, a noncontact transfer prompts the recipient to obtain an AirDrop code.
The recipient chooses Get AirDrop Code when prompted and gives that code to the sender, who enters it on their own device. The code belongs to this transfer flow; do not confuse it with the iPhone's unlock passcode or an Apple Account verification code.
Apple says the person is added to an Other Known list for 30 days, allowing further sharing without another code during that period. To end that recognition sooner, use the person's entry in Contacts' Other Known list and the Forget This Person option described in Apple's AirDrop guide.
Older phones and older software may show a different flow. Follow the actual prompt rather than assuming every transfer needs a code or that Everyone makes all future transfers unrestricted.
If AirDrop shows a person's name instead of the device name
Apple's sharing instructions show recognized people under People. That means a recipient list is not always a simple list of device-name strings. Check what screen you are looking at before repeatedly renaming the phone.
There are three useful distinctions:
- Device name: the label in Settings > General > About > Name.
- Your contact card: your personal details in Contacts > My Card.
- Someone else's saved contact for you: information on their device that can identify you as a person.
If your own contact information is wrong, open Contacts > My Card > Edit and correct it. Apple documents this in its contact-card guide. Review the change carefully because that card serves other uses, including name and photo sharing. It is also the card other people receive when you share your contact details from an iPhone.
Do not change your personal contact name solely to force an AirDrop nickname without checking the device-name setting first. Also do not assume editing your phone can overwrite the name another person chose for your saved contact on their phone.
Confirm the result with a small transfer
Ask a trusted person nearby to open the share menu for a harmless photo or document and choose AirDrop. Have them tell you which entry they see, then select it while you watch for the request on your phone. Accept only the item you are expecting.
This checks two things independently: whether the intended recipient can be identified and whether receiving is enabled for that sender. If the request reaches your phone, there is no need to change your name again just because their list uses a recognized contact label.
If you share between two devices signed in to the same Apple Account, Apple says the transfer is accepted automatically. Do not use the absence of an Accept prompt in that situation as proof that receiving settings failed.
Troubleshooting discovery and receiving
Your phone does not appear
Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and are nearby. Apple's guide specifies a range of about 30 feet or 10 meters. Disconnect Personal Hotspot if either device is using it. A VPN configuration that prevents local networking can interfere with discovery, so check its supported settings or ask the administrator rather than making random changes.
Check the recipient's receiving choice next. A phone set to Receiving Off will not become available simply because its name is unique. If you use Everyone for 10 Minutes, retry before that temporary window expires.
Contacts Only does not recognize the sender
Check the recipient's saved contact for the sender. Apple requires the sender's Apple Account email address or phone number to be included in that contact. A contact with only a name or an unrelated work address may not provide the required match.
For a single intended transfer, the temporary Everyone option can be easier than editing contacts immediately. Return to the receiving preference you want afterward.
The receiving control is unavailable
Check whether the phone is managed by work or school, or has restrictions set by a parent. If an administrator controls the feature, ask them about its permitted use. Do not remove management or reset the phone just to rename it or receive one file.
Discovery still fails after checking the basics
Restart the devices and try again with one small item. Apple's AirDrop support instructions provide the current contact and noncontact flows. Record the software versions and the step that fails if you need more help.
Frequently asked questions
Is AirDrop the same as NameDrop?
AirDrop shares files and other items. NameDrop is a related feature for sharing contact information by bringing supported devices together. If a contact-sharing screen appears, inspect that flow before assuming you are renaming the phone or receiving a file.
Does changing my iPhone name change who can send files?
No. Review receiving permissions separately. A recognizable device label does not replace Contacts Only, Everyone for 10 Minutes, or a required code.
Can AirDrop continue over cellular data?
Apple says a transfer that has already started can continue over the internet after you leave Wi-Fi or Bluetooth range. To avoid using cellular data for that continuation, review Settings > General > AirDrop > Use Cellular Data and turn it off. Data charges can apply when it is used.
How do I reverse the changes?
Enter the old device name in About > Name, then restore your preferred AirDrop receiving option. Treat those as two separate changes so you do not accidentally leave receiving more open than you intended.
Start with the device name, verify it in About, and then choose the receiving option appropriate for your next transfer. A small test with an expected sender is the clearest way to confirm the result.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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