How to rename Bluetooth devices on Windows 10
When you pair and connect a Bluetooth device on Windows 10, it is given a name that is specified by the device manufacturer. This holds true for simple devices like headphones, and also for more sophisticated devices like smartphones. The name is there simply so that users can easily identify the device. Windows 10 doesn’t use the device name to communicate with it. Instead, it uses the MAC address which users cannot change. If you’re not happy with the name a device has, or you have several devices with similar names, you can rename Bluetooth devices to anything you want. Here’s how.
Rename Bluetooth devices
Turn on Bluetooth on your Windows 10 PC, and connect the Bluetooth device that you want to rename.
Open Control Panel and go to Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers. Select the Bluetooth device that you want to rename, right-click it, and select Properties from the context menu. On the Properties window, go to the Bluetooth tab. You will see the device’s default name next to its icon. This name can be edited. Click inside the name field and rename the device to whatever you like. Click Apply, and close the window.
Next, turn off the device that you just renamed. Do not simplify this by disconnecting the device and then reconnecting it. It is imperative that the device is turned off, and then back on again for the change to be applied, and remembered after a reboot.
Once you’ve turned the device off and then on again, return to the Control Panel, and under Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers you will see that the device name has been updated.
Normally, the device name should not change after this no matter what however, there might still be some exceptions. If your device’s driver has been updated, there is a small possibility that the device name is reset to the default one.
If you unpair a device, and then pair it again then it will be paired with its default name and you will have to rename it. Disconnecting and reconnecting will not change the name. If the device’s name doesn’t change after you turn it off and on again, you should try turning both Bluetooth and the device off, and on again. If the change doesn’t apply, you should also try a system restart.
Changing the name of a Bluetooth device is something that only applies to your system. If you pair and connect the same Bluetooth device to another Windows 10 PC or to a smartphone, it will connect with its default/manufacturer specified name.
Best instructions, very quick and easy!
This does not work anymore. After I reboot my laptop, the names goes back to the original.
Did not work. After selecting ‘APPLY’ – got the error ‘Renaming Device Failed’
Good Good, very helpful website.
Thank you! Perfectly simple and accurate information.
Thanks for this description.
It worked on my slightly obnoxious BT mac keyboard connected to a windows machine.
Useless. There is no “Bluetooth” tab on any of the bluetooth devices, only a “Connected device” tab that looks the same. But when I change the name there is always gives an error.
It actually changes the name for use on other devices too. Just did it with an Apple Magic mouse 2 because I had to remove the name automatically given it by the other person’s device. I even removed it then connected it to another device then reconnected it to the first PC and the name persisted.
Perfect – only took a minute and worked straight away. Thanks heaps for this!
I have two wireless headphones from the same manufacturer (one for work, one for home). The name change would not save until I unpaired one of the headphones first. When I return to the office I will re-pair and hopefully be able to rename the work headphones.
Thanks
John
I just installed 21H1. It doesn’t work [anymore?].
can i edit the serial number of this device
Holy crap! I have needed this info for YEARS! Thanks for publishing.
For me the edited name doesn´t survive a reboot. It reverts to the default name after a reboot.
Wow ! That was excellent ! Thank you 🙂
Thanks so much for this! I’d already figured it out as far as where to change the name, but I did that three times and it didn’t “stick”. It wasn’t until I came here that I realised I needed to switch the device off & on again. Worked beautifully!
It really worked in a minute! Not complicated at all. Thank you very much!
Very useful instructions, thank you.
Works like a charm! Thank you!
Thanks, this worked like a charm!
Note: If you do not have an “off” button (e.g. wireless earbuds), then after clicking Apply, just put them in their case for a second to let them go into low power mode, then take them back out.
Hi it is a very useful tutorial but it is not that important and I just searched for it for knowledge
this worked really well! thank you!
Great, been looking for a long time. thnks 😉
Very useful tip. Thank you very much!
This was very useful, efficient and easily comprehensible. Thank you.
This method does not work with ONN Bluetooth Earphones. Yes you can change the name as you described and after a restart the name change appears to be still there- until you turn Bluetooth back on and then it reverts to the manufacturers default. Very annoying.
This would not work on my Logitech MS Anywhere 2S mice. (It does on all of my headsets but not the MS Anywhere 2S.)
Thanks!