You can give an Echo speaker or another device in the Alexa app a clearer name, such as Kitchen Echo. A useful name makes the device easier to identify in the app and in voice commands. First select the exact device, then edit its name in the device settings.
Rename an Alexa device
- Open the Alexa app on your iPhone and sign in to the Amazon account that owns the device.
- Tap Devices.
- Select the device you want to rename. If you have many, use the device type or room grouping to find it.
- Open its settings and tap Edit Name.
- Enter a distinctive name and save the change.
Return to the Devices list to confirm the new label appears on the correct device. Menu placement can vary by device type and Alexa app version, but Amazon's current help uses Devices > select device > Edit Name. If two devices have similar names, verify the old name or room before changing anything.
Choose a name that works well
Use a short name you can recognize when looking at a list, especially if you have several speakers, plugs, or lights. A name such as Bedroom Echo is clearer than Echo 2. Avoid giving two devices identical or nearly identical names: that can make voice commands and troubleshooting confusing. You can also group devices by room; renaming one device does not automatically change its group or other devices. For synchronized playback after naming your speakers, see how to play the same music on multiple Echos.
If you cannot see Edit Name
Make sure you selected the individual device rather than a group or a device-type heading. Open the device details and look for its settings or edit control. Check that the Alexa app is up to date and that you are in the same Amazon account used to set up the device. Some third-party devices maintain a name in their manufacturer's app as well; the Alexa name and manufacturer name may not update one another. If a device is offline, reconnect it before troubleshooting the name change.
Confirm the change
After saving, return to the device list and search for the new name. Then try a command that refers to that device. If Alexa selects the wrong one, choose more distinct names and check whether a group has the same name. Renaming a device is reversible: repeat the steps and enter a different label.
Make the right device easy to identify
Before renaming, open Devices in Alexa and compare the type, room, and current name of the item. Many homes have similarly named plugs or speakers. Renaming the wrong device can make voice commands confusing even though the edit saves correctly. Choose a distinct, short name that describes the location or job, such as “Desk lamp” rather than “Lamp 2.” Avoid giving a device the exact same name as an Alexa group or another accessory.
Verify that Alexa saved the name
After choosing Edit Name and saving, return to the device list, find the item under its new name, and open it again. A voice command can help test whether Alexa recognizes it, but check the list first so you do not mistake a similarly named device for the one you changed. If the old name remains, ensure the app is connected, that you edited the intended account or home, and that the device is still registered there.
When the name comes from another service
Some smart-home accessories are discovered through a linked skill or manufacturer's app. The name shown by Alexa may come from that service, and a later sync can restore it. If Alexa does not offer Edit Name or the change will not stick, inspect the accessory in its manufacturer's app and check the linked skill's synchronization behavior. Do not remove and re-add a device as a first response; that can affect routines and group membership. Record the existing setup before a larger change.
Will renaming erase routines? A simple name edit should not intentionally remove the device, but routines that refer to a name can become confusing. Test important commands after the change.
Can two devices have the same name? Even when the app allows it, Alexa may not know which one you intend. Distinct names make troubleshooting easier.
Amazon's Alexa device-renaming instructions provide the core route. If the device is missing because it cannot connect, see how to connect Alexa to Wi-Fi. For another Alexa app setting, see how to manage Amazon Sidewalk.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.