Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face an incomprehensible system notification that says the device name is too long. This problem can occur at the most inopportune time: when trying to connect to a Bluetooth headset, when setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot, or even during the initial activation of the gadget. MIUI or HyperOS system has strict limits on the number of characters in the identifier, and violating this limit blocks the correct operation of wireless interfaces.
The main reason is that by default, many models use the full model name with region, memory and year of release, which can total the allowable limit of 15-20 characters for some protocols. For example, a name like Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G 256GB Black is guaranteed to cause an error when paired with old auto radios or some smartwatches. You need to manually reduce this line to an acceptable value to restore functionality.
In this article, we will look at where the name settings are hidden in different versions of the firmware, how to rename the device correctly, and what hidden limitations exist for different communication modules. We will look not only at standard settings, but also at the nuances of working with Bluetooth profiles and access points. Understanding these limitations will help to avoid synchronization errors in the future.
Reasons for the Error of Symbols Limitation
Wireless protocols like Bluetooth Classic and Wi-Fi standards were developed decades ago when saving traffic and data rates was a priority, which is why very few bytes are jammed in the headers of data packets containing the device name (Device Name). When you try to assign your Xiaomi a name consisting of 30-40 characters, including spaces and special signs, the communication controller simply cuts off the extra or, worse, refuses to broadcast the signal.
Often, users are unaware that the problem lies in an automatically generated name that includes the processor model, region code (CN, Global, EEA) and other technical details. Android security in conjunction with the shell from Xiaomi can block changes in network settings if the current name does not pass validation.
⚠️ Note: Using special characters such as emojis, quotation marks or punctuation marks in the device name often leads to encoding errors. Older devices may perceive a single emoji symbol as 4-6 a byte of information that instantly overwhelms the name buffer.
In addition, the error can occur not only because of the length, but also because of the format of the encoding. If the name contains characters from alphabets other than the Latin alphabet (for example, Cyrillic or hieroglyphs), some protocols may interpret them incorrectly.
How to change the name of the smartphone in the system settings
The easiest and most effective way to solve the problem is to change the system name of the device through the main settings menu, which determines how your phone is seen by other gadgets when searching via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct. In modern versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the path to this setting may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll to the bottom of the list. You need to find the About Phone section. This is where you find the basic information about the device, including the firmware version, model number, and of course the name. Click on the current name string to activate the editing field.
☑️ Algorithm of renaming
Once you type in a new name, the system will automatically check it for compliance, and if you type in a line that is too long, the input field may simply prevent you from entering more characters, or a pop-up error notification will appear, the optimal length is up to 10-12 characters, which ensures compatibility with almost any hardware.
It is important to note that changing the name in this section will affect all services at once, your phone will be called in a new way in the lists of available devices on TVs, cars and computers.
Setting up the name for Bluetooth and access points
Sometimes the system name of the phone and the name that is broadcast to specific protocols may differ or require a separate setup. This is especially true for a Wi-Fi hotspot, which by default often copies the phone name, but may have its limitations. If you give out the Internet and friends can't find your network, check the settings in the Wi-Fi hotspot section.
In the access point menu there is a separate field “Setting up the access point”, where you can specify the network name (SSID) There's also a limit on the number of characters, usually up to 32 characters, but for maximum compatibility with older laptops and tablets, it's better to limit yourself to 15 characters. SSID also not recommended.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Max. Length. | Permissible symbols |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Bluetooth | Latin, numbers. | 15 characters | A-Z, 0-9 |
| Wi-Fi Name (SSID) | No special symbols. | 32 characters | A-Z, 0-9, - |
| Name of device (System) | Short title | 20 characters | Anybody. |
| Wi-Fi password | Difficult mix. | 63 characters | All right. |
Special attention should be paid to the interface with automotive multimedia systems. Many old head units have a strict restriction on the use of the head unit. 8-10 If the name is longer, the tape may not show the device in the list at all or give a connection error. Xiaomi_01 mandatory.
Why is the name being dropped?
Compatibility problems with automotive systems
Car electronics are often years behind mobile technology.The Hands-Free Profile (HFP) and Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) protocols used for calls and music have strict specifications. If your Xiaomi broadcasts a long name, the car computer may not be able to read the data packet correctly and ignore the pairing request.
Owners of Redmi and Poco often complain that the phone is visible in the car, but when trying to connect, it gives an error “Incorrect”. PIN-code or failed to connect. 90 percent of the time, it's done by renaming the device. Take away the words "Phone," "Smart" from the name», «5G» And leave only the brand and the model.
It's also worth checking the history of the pairings in the car itself, if you have an old profile with a long name, you need to delete it from the memory of the tape recorder, and then re-search the devices from the phone. Conflict of old and new entries in the Bluetooth cache often prevents you from establishing a stable connection.
⚠️ Note: When deleting the pairing profile in the car, make sure you don't delete contacts or call history if they're synchronized with the head unit memory.
Hidden settings and reset network parameters
If the standard renaming doesn't work and the "name too long" error keeps popping up, you may have cache of old network settings left in the system, in which case the effective solution would be to reset your network settings, which will not delete your personal files, photos or apps, but return to factory values the parameters of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile network.
To reset, go to the Settings menu, select Connect and Sharing (or Advanced Settings in older versions of MIUI). At the bottom of the screen, find Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Networks and Bluetooth. Confirm the action by entering the unlock password.
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Before resetting your network settings, be sure to write down passwords from important Wi-Fi networks, as the phone will forget them and need to enter them again.
Once the phone is restarted, it will suggest reconfiguring the device name, and at this point, it's critical to type in a short name immediately, without using a long factory name, so that you don't have to re-enter the conflict, and if the problem persists even after the reset, it may be the specific application that manages the Bluetooth profiles.
In rare cases, cleaning the data from the system application Bluetooth helps. Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps, find the list Bluetooth (you may need to turn on system processes) and select Clear Data. Be careful: this action will delete all stored pairs of devices.
Frequent questions and technical nuances
Many people wonder if changing their name affects Google or Xiaomi Cloud services, and the answer is clear: the local name of the device seen on Bluetooth has nothing to do with your account. You can call the phone "Toaster" and it won't affect your photo sync or email.
Another important point is the Find My Device feature, which uses an Internet channel to locate, not a Bluetooth name, so changing the name won't hide the phone from security features, but it can make it less visible to outsiders when scanning the environment.
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The optimal device name should be unique in your surroundings, but short enough (up to 10 characters) and consist of only Latin letters for maximum compatibility.
If you use the Mi Home smart home, changing the phone name won’t affect the sensors and gadgets, as they are tied to an account, not a Bluetooth name.However, if you set up a direct connection (such as a Xiaomi remote via Bluetooth), name reduction can speed up the search process.