Change your iPad's name through the Settings app in about two minutes

Your iPad has a name that appears when you connect it to other devices, share files, or use AirDrop. By default, Apple assigns it something like "John's iPad" or "iPad Pro", but you can change it to anything you want. The process takes place entirely in the Settings app and requires no restart.

The name you choose appears to other people and devices on the same Wi-Fi network, so pick something you'll recognize but are comfortable sharing. You cannot use special characters like asterisks or slashes, but letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens all work fine.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then About to find the Name field at the top of the screen.
  • Tap the current name, delete it, type your new name, and tap Done to save the change immediately.
  • Your new name appears right away on AirDrop, file sharing, and when connecting to other Apple devices.
  • The name change does not affect your Apple ID, iCloud account, or any of your data.

Open Settings and navigate to the About section

Tap the Settings app on your home screen — it looks like a gray gear icon. Scroll down the left sidebar until you see General and tap it. The General menu controls basic device information and system settings.

Once you're in General, scroll down and tap About. This screen shows your iPad's model, storage capacity, and other technical details. At the very top of the About screen, you'll see a field labeled Name with your current iPad name displayed.

Edit the name field and save your change

Tap directly on the name text at the top of the About screen. The field becomes editable and a keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen. The current name will be highlighted, so you can start typing immediately to replace it — or tap and hold to select all the text first if you want to be certain.

Type your new iPad name. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens. Avoid special characters like &, *, @, or / because the system will reject them. Keep the name under 30 characters for best results, though longer names usually work.

When you're done typing, tap the Done button in the keyboard. The name saves immediately — you don't need to restart your iPad or confirm the change anywhere else. Your new name is now active.

Where your new name appears

Your iPad's name shows up in several places once you've changed it. When you use AirDrop to send files to other Apple devices, your new name appears in the recipient list. If you share your iPad's screen or use Handoff to move work between devices, other people will see your new name.

The name also appears in your Wi-Fi network settings on other devices, and in the Bluetooth pairing list if you connect a wireless keyboard or mouse. If you use file sharing over a home network, the new name identifies your iPad to other computers on that network.

What the name change does not affect

Changing your iPad's name does not change your Apple ID, your iCloud account, or your email address. Your photos, apps, documents, and all other data remain exactly as they were. You won't lose any settings or need to sign back into anything.

The name change also does not affect how your iPad backs up to iCloud or how you sign into apps. If you've set up Family Sharing, your family members will still see you the same way — the device name is separate from your account name.

Rename your iPad back to the default if needed

If you want to return to Apple's default name, follow the same steps: Settings > General > About, tap the Name field, and type a new name. There's no "reset to default" button, so you'll need to type the name you want manually.

The default format is usually "[Your Name]'s iPad" or "[Your Name]'s iPad Pro", depending on your model. You can find your actual model name in the About screen under Model if you want to match Apple's original naming exactly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emoji or special characters in my iPad name?

No. The iPad name field accepts only letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens. If you try to type special characters like emoji, asterisks, or slashes, the system will not let you save the name. Stick to basic alphanumeric characters and you'll have no trouble.

Will changing my iPad name affect my backups or iCloud sync?

No. Your iPad name is separate from your Apple ID and iCloud account. Backups, photo sync, and all other iCloud features continue working exactly as before. The name is only used to identify your device on networks and when sharing with other people.

How long does it take for the new name to show up on other devices?

The name change takes effect immediately on your iPad. Other devices may take a few seconds to a minute to see the new name, especially if they're already connected. If a device doesn't show the new name right away, disconnect and reconnect it to your iPad or restart the other device.

Can I change my iPad name from a computer instead of on the iPad itself?

No. You must change the name directly on the iPad through Settings. You cannot change it from a Mac, Windows PC, or through iCloud.com. The Settings app on your iPad is the only place where this change can be made.

What happens if two iPads on the same network have the same name?

The system allows it, but it creates confusion when sharing files or using AirDrop. Both devices will appear with the same name in recipient lists, making it hard to know which one you're sending to. It's best to give each device a unique name if you own multiple iPads.