How to Rename Your AirPods on iPhone, Mac, Android

Renaming your AirPods is usually a quick Bluetooth settings change once the AirPods are connected. The core steps are the same in 2026: open Bluetooth settings, select the AirPods, edit the name, and save.

#How to Rename AirPods on iPhone

This is the method most people will use. Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone before starting.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Bluetooth
2. Find your AirPods under My Devices and tap the i icon
3. Tap Name, type your new name, and tap Done

The name change takes effect immediately. Apple’s current AirPods renaming guide confirms that the new name updates across devices signed in to the same Apple Account. That includes current models such as AirPods Pro 3.

Apple’s current AirPods settings page states that you can rename AirPods from the Bluetooth details screen and includes AirPods Pro 3 among current models.

AirPods not showing up in Bluetooth settings? Check our guide on why AirPods won’t connect for pairing fixes.

#How to Rename AirPods on Mac

The Mac process is almost the same. Connect your AirPods first, then open System Settings from the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings
2. Click Bluetooth and find your AirPods in the device list
3. Click the i button, then click the name field and type your new name

On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, right-click your AirPods in System Preferences > Bluetooth and select Rename.

After you rename AirPods on a Mac, iCloud sync can carry the new label to linked iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch devices signed into the same Apple Account. If the name does not appear right away, keep the AirPods connected and give iCloud a little time to update.

#Renaming AirPods on Android

You can rename them on Android too. The catch is the name only sticks on that one Android phone.

1. Connect your AirPods via Bluetooth and open Settings > Connected devices
2. Tap the gear icon next to your AirPods, then the edit icon next to the name
3. Type your preferred name and tap Rename

The exact menu path varies by Android manufacturer. On Samsung phones running One UI 6, it’s Settings > Connections > Bluetooth > tap the gear icon. On Google Pixel, it’s Settings > Connected devices > tap your AirPods.

If you’re having connection issues, our AirPods connection failed guide covers fixes.

#How to Rename AirPods on Windows

Windows handles Bluetooth device renaming through the classic Control Panel. The newer Settings app on Windows 11 occasionally shows a rename option under Settings > Bluetooth & devices, but it’s inconsistent and sometimes grayed out, so the Control Panel path is the one you can rely on every time.

1. Open Control Panel and click Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers
2. Right-click your AirPods, select Properties, and edit the name in the Bluetooth tab
3. Click Apply to save

Avoid special characters like #, $, or & in the name. Some characters can cause display issues when connecting to other Bluetooth sources.

#Why Should You Rename Your AirPods?

The default name is “[Your Name]‘s AirPods,” which creates problems in a few scenarios.

If multiple people in your household own AirPods, the default names look almost identical in Bluetooth menus. Renaming each pair (like “Kitchen AirPods” or “Gym Pair”) makes it obvious which ones to connect to. This is especially helpful at family gatherings where 3 or 4 pairs of AirPods show up in the same Bluetooth scan.

Privacy is another reason. Your default AirPods name broadcasts your first name to every nearby Bluetooth device, and any device scanning for Bluetooth connections can see it. According to Apple’s guide to renaming your AirPods, changing it to something generic like “Headphones” keeps your identity private in public spaces.

If you own both AirPods that work on a plane and a pair you leave at home, naming them by location makes switching faster.

#Does Renaming Affect How AirPods Work?

Renaming is purely cosmetic. It doesn’t change audio quality, battery life, Bluetooth range, or noise cancellation. The name is just a label stored in the Bluetooth pairing profile and has zero impact on device performance.

An AirPods factory reset also restores the default name, but reset steps differ by model.

#Bottom Line

Open Bluetooth settings, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and change the name. Apple devices sync the name through iCloud; Android and Windows keep it local.

#Frequently Asked Questions