You just bought the new Xiaomi Redmi Note. 13 Pro+ or POCO X6 Pro, but in the list of connected devices over Bluetooth, it appears as an inconvenient set of characters like MI_4a2b8c1d? Or do you want to personalize your phone name for easy identification in the local network? Rename your Xiaomi smartphone in several ways - from standard settings. MIUI beforehand ADB-commands and third-party utilities.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods for changing the name of a device, including the nuances for different firmware versions (from MIUI 12 to HyperOS), and explain why sometimes the changed name does not appear in some services.
Important: the device name is stored in multiple locations, so a combination of methods may be required to change the name completely, for example, changing the name through the MIUI settings does not always update it in Google Play Services - it requires a separate method.
1. Standard method: via MIUI/HyperOS settings
The easiest method is to use the built-in shell settings. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with a firmware version at least MIUI 10 (including HyperOS).The name installed here will appear in most system services, but not in all third-party applications.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
- 🔍 Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Device in HyperOS).
- 📝 Click on the Device Name (in some versions – Phone Name).
- ✏️ Enter a new name (maximum 32 characters, letters, numbers and hyphens supported).
- 💾 Save the changes with the OK button or tick in the upper right corner.
After restarting the device, the new name will appear in:
- 🔵 Bluetooth (when connected to other devices).
- 📶 Wi-Fi Direct and Mi Share (for file transfers).
- 🖥️ Local area network (if mDNS is enabled in developer settings).
⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T with HyperOS) after changing the name, you may need to reconnect the device to previously paired gadgets (earphones, fitness bracelets) – they may not recognize it automatically.
☑️ Successful renaming verification
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2. Change of name for Google services (Play Services, Find My Device)
If you changed the phone name through MIUI settings, but it stayed the same in Google Find My Device or Google Play Services, that's OK. Google uses a separate device ID that doesn't sync with the system name. To update it, you'll need to reset Google Play Services or use ADB.
Method 1: Resetting the Google Play Services cache
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Find Google Play Services and open its settings.
- 🧹 Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
Method 2: Change through ADB (requires unlocked debugging)
adb shell settings put global device_name "New name"Once you have completed this command, restart your device. The new name must be updated in Google services within 24 hours.
⚠️ Note: If you use Find My Device to search for your phone after changing your name through the ADB You may need to re-authorize your Google account on your device, otherwise the location function may not work properly.
3. Rename for local area network (mDNS/Bonjour)
If you want your phone to appear under a specific name on your local network (e.g., when connecting via SSH or via Samba), a standard name change to MIUI is not enough, requiring you to change the hostname of the device, a parameter used by mDNS protocols (e.g., Apple’s Bonjour).
Instructions for root access devices:
- 📱 Install Termux from F-Droid (Play Market version may not support su).
- 🔧 Enter the commands: su setprop net.hostname "new name" echo "new name" > /proc/sys/kernel/hostname
- 📝 To keep the changes after the reboot, add the net.hostname line.=filename /system/build.prop (Requires rights to write to the system partition).
For rootless devices, you can use ADB (but changes will reset after the reboot):
adb shell setprop net.hostname "new name"| Method | Root is required. | It persists after rebooting. | Where it's displayed |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI settings | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, Mi Share |
| ADB (device_name) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Google Services, Find My Device |
| ADB (hostname) | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | Local area network (before restart) |
| Change to build.prop | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | Local area network, SSH, Samba |
4. Use of third-party applications
If you don’t want to mess with ADB or build.prop, you can use third-party utilities that don’t always change the system name of the device, but allow you to set a pseudonym for specific services (such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct).
Top.-3 name-appendix:
- 🔧 Device Name Changer (from Play Market) – Changes the name for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct, but requires debugging enabled USB.
- 📱 MIUI Hidden Settings – reveals hidden settings MIUI, including extended device name parameters.
- 🖥️ Termux + BusyBox – for power users, allows you to change the hostname without root (but temporarily).
Examples of Device Name Changer:
- Download and install the app from the Play Market.
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the line with the version, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
- Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- In the app, select a new name and click Apply.
⚠️ Note: Some apps from the Play Market (e.g., "Rename My Device") may request unnecessary permissions (access to contacts, SMS). Check the reviews and reputation of the developer before installing. We recommend using only proven open source utilities.
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If after using a third-party application, the device name is reset, try disabling battery optimization for that application in the MIUI settings (Section Auto Start).
5. Features for different Xiaomi models
Not all Xiaomi smartphones handle the same name change. For example, flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, MIX Fold 3) with HyperOS may require additional customization, and on budget models (Redmi A2, POCO C65) some methods may not work due to firmware limitations.
On Qualcomm processor devices (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), the name for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct is changed separately from the system name, which is because Qualcomm chipsets use their own drivers for wireless modules. To synchronize names, after changing the MIUI settings, do:
adb shell am broadcast -a android.bluetooth.adapter.action.SET_NAME --es name "New name"Table of compatibility of methods for popular models:
| Model | MIUI/HyperOS | ADB (device_name) | ADB (hostname) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (root) | The name for Bluetooth is changed separately. |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (temporarily) | Supports mDNS without root |
| POCO F5 | ✅ | ❌ (error) | ✅ (temporarily) | Requires to disable MIUI Optimization |
| Xiaomi Pad 6 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (persistence) | It works without additional actions |
Why not? POCO F5 doesn't work ADB-team device_name?
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after a successful renaming, you may find that the old name continues to appear in some services.
Problem 1: The name hasn’t changed in Mi Home or Xiaomi Cloud.
- 🔄 Reconnect your device to your Xiaomi account: go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account and perform exit/entry.
- 📱 Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
- 🔧 If it doesn’t help, clear the Mi Home app cache in the settings.
Problem 2: The old name appears in Google Find My Device.
- 🔗 Make sure you change. device_name through ADB (see section 2).
- 🔄 Wait up to 24 hours – Google can cache data.
- 📧 Check that the device uses the same Google account as Find My Device.
Problem 3: The name is reset after the MIUI update.
- 🔧 This is because firmware updates can overwrite the build.prop file. If you change the hostname through it, you will have to repeat the procedure.
- 📝 For a permanent solution, install the Magisk module with a patch for build.prop.
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If the device name is not changed in any way, check if the device management policies (MDMs) from the employer or educational institution are installed on the phone.