Where to find and change your iPad's name

Your iPad's name is the label it shows when you connect to Wi-Fi networks, pair with Bluetooth devices, or appear in iCloud. You change it in the Settings app under General, in a section called About. The name can be up to 32 characters and can include letters, numbers, and spaces — but not special characters like @ or #.

Open Settings on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap About. At the very top, you'll see a field labeled Name with your current iPad name in it. Tap that field, delete the old name, type the new one, and tap Done in the keyboard. The change takes effect when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPad's name lives in Settings > General > About at the top of the screen, and you can edit it directly by tapping the field.
  • The name can be up to 32 characters long and appear to other devices when you connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so choose something you'll recognize.
  • Changes take effect right away — you don't need to restart your iPad or confirm the change anywhere else.
  • If you've forgotten what your iPad is currently named, the About screen shows it in the Name field even if you don't tap it.

Why your iPad has a name and what it's used for

Every iPad needs an identifier so other devices and networks can tell it apart. When you join a Wi-Fi network, your iPad announces itself by name. When you pair a Bluetooth speaker or keyboard, that device sees your iPad's name. If you use iCloud or AirDrop to share files between your devices, the name is how your Mac or iPhone knows which device you're sending to.

The name also appears in your Apple ID account settings and in Family Sharing if you've set that up. If you have multiple iPads, giving each one a distinct name — like "Kitchen iPad" or "Sarah's iPad" — makes it much easier to manage them later.

Choosing a name that won't cause problems

Avoid names with special characters like @, #, !, or &. These can cause issues when your iPad connects to certain networks or syncs with older devices. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. A name like "Living Room iPad" or "iPad-2024" works reliably across all situations.

If you're on a shared network — at work, school, or in an apartment building — your iPad's name is visible to other people on that network. Choose something that doesn't reveal personal information you'd rather keep private. "iPad" or "My Device" is safer than a name that includes your full name or location.

What happens if you change your iPad's name

Changing the name does not affect any of your data, photos, apps, or settings. It's purely a label. Your iPad will still have the same iCloud account, the same apps, and the same files. You won't lose anything, and you won't need to sign back into anything.

If you're currently connected to a Bluetooth device — like a speaker or keyboard — it will still be paired after you change the name. However, if someone else's device was looking for your iPad by its old name, they'll need to search for it again using the new name. This is rarely a problem in practice unless you're actively sharing files with someone at that moment.

If you can't find the Name field

Make sure you're looking at the About screen, not a different part of General. The Name field is always at the very top of the About page. If you see other information like Model, Serial Number, or Software Version below it, you're in the right place — just scroll up if needed.

If the Name field appears grayed out or won't let you tap it, your iPad may be managed by a school or workplace. Organizations can lock down device settings to prevent changes. In that case, contact your IT department or administrator — they control whether you can change the name. On a personal iPad with your own Apple ID, the field should always be editable.

Renaming a shared or family iPad

If your iPad is part of Family Sharing, you can still change its name from the About screen. The name change only affects how the device identifies itself on networks and to other devices — it doesn't change who can use the iPad or what parental controls are in place.

If a child's account is on the iPad, the device name is still controlled by whoever has admin access to the device itself, not by the child's account. So if you're the account holder, you can rename it at any time. The child will see the new name when they connect to Bluetooth devices or networks, but they can't change it themselves unless you give them device-level admin access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my iPad's name to something with emoji or special characters?

No. iPad names accept only letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. Emoji and special characters like @, #, or ! will cause connection problems with some networks and devices. Stick to standard keyboard characters.

Will changing my iPad's name affect my iCloud or Apple ID?

No. Your Apple ID and iCloud account are separate from your device name. Changing the name does not sign you out, lose your data, or change any account settings. Your iPad will still sync with iCloud and show up in your account under the new name.

What if I change the name and then forget what I changed it to?

Go back to Settings > General > About. The Name field at the top shows your current iPad name. You can see it without editing anything. If you want to change it again, just tap the field and type a new name.

Do I need to restart my iPad after changing its name?

No. The change takes effect when ready. You don't need to restart, sign out, or do anything else. If you're currently connected to a Bluetooth device, it may take a few seconds to recognize the new name, but that's all.

Can my iPad's name be seen by other people on my Wi-Fi network?

Yes. Your device name is visible to anyone on the same Wi-Fi network. For privacy, avoid using your full name or personal details in the device name. Something generic like "iPad" or "Tablet" is safer on shared networks.