How to Change the Name of Android Xiaomi Device: The Complete Guide

Your smartphone ID is not just a set of characters that you see on the menu, but an important element to help distinguish your smartphone from others in a wireless environment. When you buy a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, it often gets a standard model name, such as the Redmi Note 12 or the M2101K7AG. This creates confusion if you have multiple devices of the same brand in the house or if you try to connect to an access point in a public place.

Changing your name is a simple but useful procedure that improves the user-friendliness of your device in the ecosystem, so you can instantly find your phone when paired with headphones, a car radio or when transferring files via Bluetooth, and you can also display a personalized name when you connect to your computer to transfer data, which eliminates the need to guess which cable is currently active.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can change your MIUI shell and the new HyperOS. We will look at not only the standard system settings, but also the nuances associated with display in Bluetooth networks and Wi-Fi access points. Understanding these differences will help you fully control how your smartphone is seen by other devices.

Why you need to change the standard name of the smartphone

The standard name given by the manufacturer often contains complex alphanumeric codes that tell no user. 13 The Pro can be displayed as"2210132G", It's completely uninformative"Phone_Alex" or"Work_Xiaomi", You know which gadget you’re connecting to, especially if you have a phone with a colleague or family member with similar characteristics.

Security is another important aspect. When you distribute the Internet over Wi-Fi, the network name (SSID) often duplicates the device name. If you leave the factory settings, attackers can easily identify your phone model and the vulnerabilities of a particular firmware version. Personalization hides the exact model by adding a layer of security through uncertainty to outside observers.

It's also a matter of aesthetics and personal comfort, and it's more enjoyable to have a "My Cool Phone" on the list of available devices than a faceless serial number. In a corporate environment where network administrators track connections, a unique name helps you quickly identify your device in router logs without having to verify it. MAC-address.

πŸ“Š What do you usually call your devices?
Standard model name
The owner's name (e.g. Ivan Phone)
Creative or funny name
Room number or office number.

Global renaming in system settings

The most effective and correct way to change a name is through system settings, which will automatically update the ID for most services, including Google account, PC-connected display, and some system notifications, which are more intuitive in modern Xiaomi shells.

First, you need to get into the settings menu. Open the Settings app (cog icon) on the home screen or in the notification curtain. Scroll down the list, because the item you want to see is usually in the About or About section. This is where all the technical information about your gadget is concentrated.

Inside the About Phone section, you'll see the "Device Name" line. When you click on it, you'll open the edit box. You can use letters, numbers, and some special characters. Once you type in the new name, be sure to click OK or a tick to save the changes. The system may require you to reboot the new name to apply to all services.

β˜‘οΈ Checking before renaming

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⚠️ Warning: Changing your name through system settings may not instantly update in the cache of Bluetooth devices that have already been paired with your phone before.

If, after changing the name in the system, the old connected devices (such as watches or headphones) continue to display the old name, you will need to re-pair. To do this, remove the device from the Bluetooth list on both gadgets and reconnect them, only then the cache will update and display the current name.

Setting up a name for Bluetooth connections

While the system name is often broadcast in Bluetooth, some versions of MIUI have separate visibility settings, which is for flexibility: you can have one name for the system, but another for the wireless connection, which is especially true if you use the phone as a headset in a hands-free car.

To check or change your visibility settings, go to Settings β†’ Bluetooth. In the upper right corner of the screen (or in the three-dot menu), find "Device Name" or "Visibility Settings." Here you can specify a name that other users will see when searching for new devices.

  • πŸ“± Make sure the β€œVisibility” switch is activated if you want the phone to be detected by others.
  • ✏️ In the editing field, type the desired name, avoiding emojis, as some older car systems may display them incorrectly.
  • πŸ”„ After saving, restart Bluetooth by turning off and turning on the slider in the menu.

It's important to understand that a Bluetooth name is what strangers see when they scan the airwaves. If you call a phone a "Police Camera" or a "Bomb Squad," it can cause unnecessary interest or panic on public transport. It's better to use neutral names that don't attract too much attention.

Why does the name in Bluetooth not change?
Sometimes the system caches the old name at the communication module level. Try clearing the cache of the Bluetooth application in the Applications section β†’ All applications β†’ Show system β†’ Bluetooth β†’ Memory β†’ Clear. This will reset the module settings without losing personal data.

Rename the Wi-Fi Access Point

When you give out the Internet from your phone, it creates a wireless network. The default name of that network is the network (SSID) often coincides with the name of the device model, for example,"Android_1234" or "Redmi Note" 10". Not only is it inconvenient for your friends who want to connect, it also gives out information about your device.

To change the name of the access point, go to Settings β†’ Connection and Sharing β†’ Wi-Fi Access Point. Here, click on "Setting up the Wi-Fi hotspot." In the window that opens, you will see the "SSID" or "Network Name" field. That's what you need to change.

Unlike the system name, you can use longer names and spaces. You can call the network"Free_WiFi_No_Password" (A joke, you better set a password, or"Connect_Here_Please". After the change, click Save. Please note that after the name change, all previously connected devices will lose communication with your access point and they will have to connect again by selecting a new network from the list.

ParameterStandard valueRecommended valueSafety impact
System nameRedmi Note 12Ivan_PhoneLow.
Bluetooth IDMI 12 ProAudio_Device_01Average.
Wi-Fi SSIDAndroidAPSecret_BaseHigh.
USB-regimeMI 12 ProMedia_PlayerLow.

⚠️ Warning: When you change the Wi-Fi hotspot name, current connections may break. Make sure you have access to a router or backup channel if you are setting up remotely.

Displaying a name when connecting to a computer

When connecting a smartphone to a computer through USB-file transfer cable, the device name appears in "My Computer" (Windows) or Finder (macOS), this name is usually taken from system settings, but sometimes it may depend on the mode of operation. USB.

If you have changed the name on the system, but the computer still sees the old name, try this. Turn off the cable, then on the phone go to Settings β†’ About phone β†’ Device Name and press OK without even changing the text to initiate the update.

In some cases, especially on older versions of Windows, the name can be cached in the registry. To fix this, open Device Manager on your PC, find your device under Portable Devices, right-click β†’ Properties β†’ General tab. However, most often it is enough to simply switch USB mode from Charge Only to File Transfer (MTP) in the phone notification curtain.

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Use the Latin for the device name if you plan to connect your phone frequently to public or corporate computers. Cyrillic characters may appear as cracosabras on some operating systems.

Nuances of work in the shells of MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi is actively implementing a new operating system, HyperOS, which replaces the usual MIUI. In the new shell, the menu structure has become more logical, but some items have shifted. If you do not find the right option, it probably moved.

In HyperOS, the path to the device name has become more unified with pure Android. Now it is most often located right at the top of the settings block, next to the Mi Account avatar, so that the user can quickly identify his device in the ecosystem of the smart home.

Regional features are also worth considering: In Chinese firmware versions (CN ROM), some items may be called differently or not on the global menu, requiring additional language packs or the use of third-party applications for deep customization.

  • 🌐 In the global firmware (Global/EU) settings are in the "About the phone" section".
  • πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ In Chinese versions (CN) Search for "Device Name" or search for settings.
  • πŸ”„ In HyperOS, the gear icon can lead directly to the expanded menu of device parameters.

If you use custom themes, they may hide some menu items visually, but the functionality remains the same. Go back to the standard theme if you can't find the right switch.

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HyperOS combines name settings for all Xiaomi services, so changing it in one place will automatically update it to Mi Home, Mi Cloud and other services of the company.

What to do if the name field is blocked?
If you can't change your name, you may have Enterprise Profile Restrictions (MDM) or Device Administrator Rights issued to an app that blocks the changes.
Can I use emoji in the name of the device?
Android technically allows for emojis, but that's bad practice. Many older devices, car systems and printers don't display them and will show a question mark or a void, and it's better to limit yourself to letters and numbers.
Will the name be reset after the system update?
In 99% of cases, user settings, including the device name, are saved after an air-to-air update (OTA), but when flashed through a computer with full Wipe All Data, the name will return to factory value.
Does the name of the device affect the speed of work?
No, the name is just a line of text in a configuration file. It doesn't affect processor performance, Internet speed, or battery power. You can call the phone whatever you want without worrying about the technical part.
How do you get your factory name back?
You have to do a full Hard Reset, and when you start it up, you'll have to reset the phone again, or you'll set the default value of the model, and you can't just change the text back to "Redmi Note..." manually, you can't just reset it.

To sum up, personalizing the device name is a small thing that greatly improves the smartphone experience, which helps you find your gadget faster on the list, protects you from random connections of other devices, and just makes the technology more β€œyour own.” Don’t neglect this simple setup, especially if you’re actively using wireless interfaces.

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When coming up with a name, avoid personal information such as a full address, phone number, or an exact model with a memory space (e.g., a full address, a phone number, or an exact memory model, Ivan_128GB), Not to attract the attention of potential thieves.