How To Change Your Airdrop Name On Iphone 7

AirDrop is a feature on Apple devices that allows a sender to send data to another Apple device quickly. As long as the recipient's device is in range of the sender's AirDrop will work properly. Used for sending pictures, screenshots, and other forms of information like documents, this feature makes transfers quick and easy.

With the use of Bluetooth LE technology, AirDrop can broadcast, discover, negotiate connections, and point-to-point Wi-Fi to transfer your data. This enables all of your photos, videos, contacts, etc. to be easily passed off to another storage area through a fast and secure connection.

For more help with AirDrop, check out our other articles.

When using AirDrop to pass off data between iPhones and iPads, you may notice an abundance of other Apple IDs to select from, overcrowding your own. This can become an issue when every device around you has the same default name like "iPhone" or "iPad."

Change The AirDrop Name On Your Apple iPhone or iPad

AirDrop can be incredibly handy for sharing files between your Apple devices, but that's only if you can differentiate yours from the many that may share the same WiFi space around you. To ensure that all of the files you want to transfer are going to the correct device, you'll need to change the name.

You can change your devices' name in the Settings of your iPhone (Settings>General>About) but you'll quickly notice that your AirDrop name is unchanged. This is because your AirDrop feature works with your contacts. So, you'll need to update your contact card instead. Here's how:

Open the Dialing app on your iPhone. Tap on Contacts at the bottom.
Tap on the contact card at the top.
In the upper right corner, tap Edit.
Type the name that you want to others to see when the AirDrop you files. Then, click Done in the upper right.

Now, when others attempt to AirDrop something to you, they'll see the new name you've created. You can even add a profile picture to your Contact Card by tapping on Add Photo.

Note: It may take a while for your device to appear in other's AirDrop selection after making these changes. If your name doesn't appear, go to Settings>General>Reset and reset your Network Settings. Your phone will restart and appear in the sender's AirDrop list.

To change the name of your iPod classic, iPod nano, or iPod shuffle:

You'll have to connect your iPod device, regardless of version, to your computer.
Launch iTunes from your computer.
Locate and click on your device.
You should now see the name of your device located at the top of the left sidebar. Click on it.
Type in the new name for your device, which will be used for your AirDrop, and then press Enter (Return).
- Your device and iTunes will be automatically synced up, so the new name you chose for your iPod will now be displayed on your iPod.

AirDrop For Your Mac

If you'd like to send a document from a smaller Apple product to your iMac or Macbook, you can with AirDrop.

If you've ever attempted to transfer data between mobile devices in close proximity to your Mac, you may have noticed one device with the display name "Unknown." This was likely your Mac.

Before you attempt to AirDrop data to and from your Mac, you'll first want to provide it with a proper name. This will allow you to easily recognize it on your local network when you go in for the transfer. The steps to set or change the name of a Mac are just as quick and easy as they are on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod.

To change the name of your Mac to something more suitable:

While on your Mac, click on the Apple icon in the upper left-hand corner. Then, click on System Preferences.
Next, click on Sharing .
Type the name you want to use for your computer, into the "Computer Name" box that's been provided for you.
To finish, after typing in the name just close the window.

Now, you'll easily be able to wirelessly send documents, photos, videos, websites, map locations, and more to any nearby iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or other Mac using AirDrop.

That is, of course, so long as you know how to use AirDrop from your Mac. Allow me to provide you with a quick reminder.

The first option is to share content from the Finder. To do this:

Open up the Finder and click on Go > AirDrop . It can be found on the menu bar.
- AirDrop can also be found in the sidebar of a Finder window.
- You'll get to see all of the nearby AirDrop users right there in the AirDrop window.
Drag a single or multiple documents, photos, or other files over to the intended recipient in the window. Then just drop them directly into it.

The second option would be to use the Share feature:

Open the photo, document, or file that you want to send.
Click Share within your app (this looks like a small box with an arrow pointing up).
From the Share menu, choose AirDrop from among the multiple options available.
Locate and select a recipient from the AirDrop sheet.
- You'll need to wait for the other device to Accept before the file can be sent.
Once the file (or files) has been sent, click Done .

Similarly, whenever someone else on the same local network attempts to AirDrop off some content, it will be up to you to decline or accept their request. This request will pop up as a notification as well as inside the AirDrop window.

Clicking "Accept" will give you the option to save to downloads or add to a specific folder such as Photos. All data that you receive to your Mac is automatically saved to your Downloads folder.

Unable To See Other Devices

You now know how to change your device's name so that it's not lost among the other devices when attempting an AirDrop. You even know how to do so on your Mac. But what happens when a device doesn't show up in the AirDrop window?

If you're attempting to AirDrop content from one device, but the recipient device's name is nowhere to be found, what you should do first is ensure both devices have WiFi and Bluetooth turned on. You'll also want to have both devices be within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other.

This is usually all that needs to be done, but there are times where the basics won't fix the problem. We'll need to tinker with the device's settings.

Troubleshooting tips for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

Head to Control Center to check your AirDrop settings. If you have AirDrop set to receive content from "Contacts Only", both the send and receive devices need to be signed in to iCloud. Also, the email address or phone number associated with the sender's Apple ID must be in the Contacts app of your iOS device.
If the AirDrop option for the device doesn't come up you may need to change from "Contacts Only" to "Everyone" in order to be discoverable.
Turn off Personal Hotspot when attempting to use AirDrop. You can turn it off by going into Settings > Cellular of the recipient's iOS device.

Fixing the problem on Mac:

Make sure that AirDrop is turned on by going into Finder and clicking Go > AirDrop from the menu bar.
Check the "Allow me to be discovered by" setting at the bottom of the AirDrop window.
Earlier Macs (2012 or earlier) should click "Don't see who you're looking for?" in the AirDrop window or sharing sheet of the sharing Mac. Follow this up by clicking on "Search for an Older Mac."
If the receiving Mac is using OS X Mavericks or earlier, make sure that an AirDrop window is open on that Mac: choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder.
Make sure that "Block all incoming connections" is turned off in Security & Privacy preferences of the receiving Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you can see, changing the name of your device is pretty straightforward. But, if you have more questions, keep reading.

My devices' name didn't update. What's wrong?

If you update your devices' name using the instructions above, but it doesn't show immediately, turn your phone off then back on again. Assuming you verified that the name change did go through using the methods above, this will fix the issue.