Bluetooth Device Rename

jh30uk · Jul 22, 2021

In Win 10 I could rename a Bluetooth device (you must do this while it is connected then disconnect/reconnect) only then it would remember the new name after a reboot.

In Win 11 the device name reverts on rebooting, anyone else tried this?

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 23, 2022

Just "upgraded" to Win 11 and was coming to find the answer to this very question!

glasskuter · Jun 23, 2022

Welcome to the forum @Alonzo Mosley. This procedure worked for me.
https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-11-rename-bluetooth-devices/

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 23, 2022

Thanks. I'd seen that piece, and tried exactly that.

All was Fonzie until I rebooted. Then it reverted to its normal.

Trouble is, I bought multiple speakers that show up the same, so I need to rename them to know which is which.

asturias7 · Jun 23, 2022

Alonzo Mosley said:
Thanks. I'd seen that piece, and tried exactly that.

All was Fonzie until I rebooted. Then it reverted to its normal.

Trouble is, I bought multiple speakers that show up the same, so I need to rename them to know which is which.

Try this and see if it works...

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If you’ve renamed a Bluetooth device, but it still appears with its old/stock name in the Settings app or the Action Center, follow these steps.

Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
Go to Bluetooth and devices.
Click the Disconnect button under the Bluetooth device that you renamed.
Allow the device to disconnect.
Once disconnected, connect the device again by clicking the Connect button.
The name will be updated.

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 23, 2022

Thanks, as per the OP, it's all good (i.e., the name changes) until the reboot, when it reverts.

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 27, 2022

glasskuter said:
Welcome to the forum @Alonzo Mosley. This procedure worked for me.
https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-11-rename-bluetooth-devices/

And, I just discovered in my newest build... When I go to Control Panel=>Hardware and Sound=>View Devices and Printers, it now brings me to the "User Settings" window... I can't figure out how to access the old "See all devices" window ala the old control panel. And in User Settings, from what I can tell, you can't rename!

Dru2 · Jun 28, 2022

Alonzo Mosley said:
I can't figure out how to access the old "See all devices" window ala the old control panel.

I can still access the old the old style "Devices and Printers" from Control Panel under the latest RTM version of Windows 11 as seen beneath my avatar. That said, I see you're running a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet, so Microsoft "may" have locked things down there.

Anyway, two ideas...

1) Instead of going to the "Category" panel and choosing "Hardware and Sound", try choosing "Large Icons" from the "View by" dropdown box (upper right) and then clicking Devices and Printers. See if that gets you where you want. If that doesn't work...

2) Install the Control Panel in your Context Menu using this tutorial (works for Win 11)...

Add Control Panel to Context Menu in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove Control Panel context menu in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Right click on the desktop and choose Control Panel; choose "All tasks (God mode)"; Scroll down to "Devices and Printers" and double click "Change default printer". This will (should) get you into the old-style Devices and Printers panel.

Let us know how it went. "If" that doesn't work, Microsoft "may" have locked things down on their tablets. Just a guess though.

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 28, 2022

Thanks. It's maddening!

I used to have God mode on my old machines... Didn't know you could add it as a context menu though!

But, sadly, nope. Other items (e.g., Power Options) bring up the "old" control panel... But even in God mode, "Change Bluetooth settings" swipes over to the newish "Settings" screen, which does not allow editing of BT device properties!

Dru2 · Jun 28, 2022

Alonzo Mosley said:
But even in God mode, "Change Bluetooth settings" swipes over to the newish "Settings" screen, which does not allow editing of BT device properties!

Not clear on what you want cause first you said....

Alonzo Mosley said:
I can't figure out how to access the old "See all devices" window ala the old control panel.

Which I provided a workaround for; now you're saying "Change Bluetooth settings". I'm confused. Especially since when I bring up "Change Bluetooth settings, this is what I get...

which has nothing to do with name changes. so....

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 28, 2022

You're right, I misspoke. It's not Change Bluetooth Settings, it's "View Devices and Printers" and that goes right to the new-fangled Settings window.

I had a slick video set up, but I couldn't crop it to hide my personal info...

Dru2 · Jun 28, 2022

I find it odd God Mode doesn't allow you access to the old settings. If this is true, I can only surmise this is because Microsoft locked things down on their tablets. That said, it would be nice to hear from those that do have a "Windows 11" Surface Pro tablet.

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 28, 2022

Yeah, it's the Surface Pro 8. You can't tell it to go into "Tablet" mode or "Laptop" mode - it just does, based on whether the keyboard is attached.

(And in Tablet mode, it does weird things - like insists on checkboxes in File Explorer).

BTW I'm in "Laptop" mode...

Edwin · Jun 28, 2022

I don't think you can rename a bluetooth device, per se...,
... you can rename a certain device that's using the bluetooth transport...

Dru2 · Jun 28, 2022

Edwin said:
I don't think you can rename a bluetooth device, per se...,
... you can rename a certain device that's using the bluetooth transport...

The problem as was stated is when you make whatever changes they revert back during a reboot...

jh30uk said:
In Win 11 the device name reverts on rebooting, anyone else tried this?

Alonzo Mosley said:
Thanks, as per the OP, it's all good (i.e., the name changes) until the reboot, when it reverts.

Edwin · Jun 28, 2022

Dru2 said:
The problem as was stated is when you make whatever changes they revert back during a reboot...

Okay.

Dru2 · Jun 28, 2022

Okay what? You agree / disagree? Solution? as I see your "Edifier Speakers" name is still there.

Edwin · Jun 28, 2022

Dru2 said:
Okay what?

Okay, as in, I'd like to help but, I don't have a clue!

Dru2 said:
You agree / disagree?

Neither.

Dru2 said:
Solution?

I don't have a solution, sorry.

Dru2 said:
as I see your "Edifier Speakers" name is still there.

Yeah, my renaming sticks!

Dru2 · Jun 28, 2022

Dude, for clarity as I'm not sure how you're taking my replies... I asked those questions in hopes you had a solution seeing your naming sticks. Tere's nothing nefarious on my part other than trying to get both people an answer.

Peace

Alonzo Mosley · Jun 29, 2022

Edwin said:
I don't think you can rename a bluetooth device, per se...,
... you can rename a certain device that's using the bluetooth transport...

View attachment 32528

Good idea - I tried that... But I see yours still show up with the assigned "AudioQuest Dragonfly". So I'd be renaming "Headphones" to whatever I wanted (in my example) and the "S26" would still show up, which would make it difficult to distinguish when I log on to THIS S26 as headphones (it's a speaker, but it shows as headphones, whatevs) and when I log on to an identical speaker at another location.

In Win10 and previous, I could rename the "AudioQuest Dragonfly" part under Bluetooth Properties and/or Manage Devices, and it would stick, and that way I'd know "Office Speakers" from "Home Speakers" to "Suitcase Speakers". (Hey, when you find a product you like, buy a lot of them...)

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