Every phone, tablet, smartwatch, TV, top Chromebook, and other Android-powered device has a model name assigned to it by the manufacturer. The name appears in a few places, including the desktop Play Store website, the super robust Google Assistant, and Google's Find My Device tool. Sometimes the model name is easily recognizable (for example, "Google Pixel 3" or "Nokia 7.2"). In other cases, it can be an incomprehensible string of characters and numbers, leading to inconvenience. Whether you use a desktop or an Android phone, changing your Android phone name is easy.

Some manufacturers are better than others when it comes to device names. Samsung is particularly bad, as most of its phones and tablets use names like "SM-A102U1" or "SM-G955F" instead of easily-recognizable product names. Chromebooks can also be difficult to identify in Google Play since they are usually referred to by the hardware platform name (such as "coral" or "hatch") instead of the laptop name.

Android devices running your Google ID

These names aren't very helpful.

Google makes it easy to rename your Android devices. Plus, your changes are synchronized across all of Google's services, so you don't have to set names in multiple places.

Why do you need to change your Android phone's name?

It's not necessary to change your Android phone's name. However, there's no harm in changing the name, and the trick adds convenience in some situations.

  • Your phone's name is easily identifiable on another person's Bluetooth menu. You can change your Android phone's name if you don't want others to know about your latest expensive purchase.
  • Your phone's unique name is easier to spot in a crowded place.
  • If your family members have similar phones, your personalized Android phone is easier to find and connect to.
  • It's fun to change your Android phone. You should get creative with it. There are no limits to how many times you can rename your Android phone.

How to rename your Android device on the web

If you're on a desktop browser, the easiest way to see your list of devices (and change their names) is from Google Play Settings. Google Play Store on the web recently received a much-needed makeover. It displays every Android device registered to your Google account.

Here's how to access it to rename your Android device:

  1. Visit Google Play Store on the web and sign in with your Google account details.
  2. Select your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
    Go to your Google account on web
  3. Open Library & devices.
    your Google account's linked devices
  4. Slide to the Devices menu and check all your connected devices to your Google account.
    select devices tab in Google
  5. Select the name box and rename your device.
    rename your Android phone on the web

How to rename your Android device on mobile

The Play Store website doesn't work well on phones, so it's probably easier to open the Find My Device web page if you're on a mobile device.

  1. Visit Find My Device on mobile.
  2. Check your connected devices at the top.
  3. Select a device you want to rename.
  4. Tap the name box beside your device to rename it.

Your list of devices displays at the top, and once you select the desired device, tap the name to change it.

The Find My Device app on the Play Store doesn't let you change device names. You can only do that on the website.

Change your Android phone's Wi-Fi Hotspot and Bluetooth name

The steps above only change your Android phone's name on the Play Store, Google Assistant, and Find My Device tool. Your phone's Bluetooth name isn't affected. Follow the steps below to change your phone's awkward Bluetooth name and make it easily identifiable on your friend's phone.

  1. Swipe up from the homescreen to open the app drawer menu.
  2. Open Settings with a familiar gear icon.
  3. Select Connected devices.
  4. Check how your phone is visible to other devices. Tap Connection preferences.
  5. Open Bluetooth and tap the Device name.
  6. Change the device name and tap Rename.

You can rename your Android phone from the About menu too. Here's how.

  1. Open Settings on your Android phone (refer to the steps above).
  2. Scroll to About phone.
  3. Tap Device name, rename it, and tap OK.

Change your Samsung Galaxy phone's name

Samsung uses a different Settings app on One UI (running based on Android) software. Go through the steps below to change your Samsung phone's name.

  1. Open Settings on your Samsung phone.
  2. Scroll down to About phone.
  3. Tap Edit below your device name.
  4. Rename your Samsung phone and tap Done.

The system shows the new name on other devices when your phone is available to connect using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, and other methods.

Make your Android device identifiable

You can get creative and assign a unique name to your Android phone. You can now ask Google Assistant to show the new device name. If you are new to Google's voice assistant, read our dedicated post to learn everything about it.