Map Custom Bluetooth Device Names in Windows 11 Settings

Method 1Rename Your Bluetooth Device Using the Settings App

The Settings app is the first place to look, but treat it as a quick check rather than a sure thing. Windows 11 Settings may not offer a rename option for Bluetooth devices at all, depending on the device, its driver and your build. If it does not, move on to the Control Panel method, which is the reliable route.

The idea is to open Bluetooth & devices, find your accessory and open its properties to look for a name field. The device must be paired with this PC. It helps if it is also switched on and connected.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar🖥️ and select Settings. You can also press the Win+I.

The Settings window should now be open, with a list of categories down the left side.

2. Select Bluetooth🔷 & devices from the menu on the left. Your connected devices appear on the right.
3. Look for your accessory in the list. If you do not see it right away, click View more devices or Devices to expand the full list of paired hardware.
4. If the accessory is still missing, make sure Bluetooth🔷 is turned on and the device is switched on and in range.
5. Click the accessory you want to change to open its properties page. On some builds you may need to use the More options (three dots) button on the device entry instead.
6. Look for a rename option on that page. Windows 11 Settings generally does not offer renaming for Bluetooth🔷 devices. If you see no rename option, the manufacturer’s driver does not allow renaming from this menu, or your build does not offer it for that device. Use the Control Panel🎛️ method below instead.
7. If a name box does appear, type your new name into it and save your changes.

That’s it. If your device offered a rename option, the new name should now show in the device list. If not, nothing has changed and you can continue with the Control Panel method.

To undo the change, repeat the steps and type the original name back in. If the old name returns after you remove and re-pair the device, that is normal. Pairing again may reset the label to the default, so you will need to rename it again.

Method 2Use the Classic Control Panel for Older Accessories

The classic Control Panel is the most dependable way to rename a Bluetooth device in Windows 11. It works for older accessories and for devices that do not offer a rename option in the modern Settings app. You open Devices and Printers, right-click the accessory and edit the name on its Bluetooth tab.

1. Click the Start button, type Control Panel🎛️ into the search🔍 box, and press Enter.

The Control Panel window should open. If you see a long list of small icons instead of categories, switch View by in the top right corner to Category so the headings match the steps below.

2. Under the Hardware and Sound heading, click View devices and printers.
3. Find your wireless accessory in the list of connected items. Some devices appear under a heading other than Devices, so scroll down if you do not see it.
4. Right-click the accessory icon and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
5. Click the Bluetooth🔷 tab at the top of the properties window. Not every device has this tab. If yours does not, the driver does not expose a name field here.
6. Click inside the text box at the top that shows the current device name.
7. Type your new custom name, then click Apply and OK to save your changes.

That’s it. Your accessory should now appear under the new name in Devices and Printers, and usually in Settings and other Windows lists as well.

If the old name still shows in other places, close and reopen the window. If it still does not update, turn Bluetooth off and on again, or restart the Bluetooth Support service from the Services app. To undo the change, reopen the same tab and type the original name back in.

Method 3Rename Bluetooth Devices Using Device Manager (Advanced)

Device Manager is the place to go when you need to confirm exactly which device you are dealing with, especially if you have several that look alike. Windows usually blocks direct renaming here because the name comes from the driver. Use this section to identify the right device, then rename it with the Control Panel method.

1. Right-click the Start button on your taskbar🖥️ and select Device Manager from the quick link menu.

The Device Manager window should open with a list of hardware categories.

2. Click the arrow next to Bluetooth🔷 to expand the list of wireless hardware. Depending on the accessory, you may also need to expand Audio inputs and outputs or Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click your device and select Properties.
4. Go to the Details tab at the top of the window.
5. Click the drop-down menu under Property and select Bluetooth🔷 Device Address or Hardware Ids. The value shown lets you confirm you have the right item, which helps when two devices share the same model name. You can only read these values here, not edit them.
6. Click OK to close the window.

That’s it. You now know which physical device matches which entry, so you can rename the correct one. Nothing has been changed by these steps, so there is nothing to undo.

Method 4Persistent Renaming via the Windows Registry

Editing the Windows Registry is the last resort. Use it only if the other methods fail, for example when a label keeps resetting to its factory default after a restart. It carries the most risk, because a wrong change in the Registry can cause problems with Windows or your hardware. For most people, the Control Panel method above is the safer choice.

On Windows 11 (Build 22000 or later), you must be signed into an administrator account. Standard user accounts do not have permission to change the system keys that store device information. Expect a User Account Control prompt when you open the Registry Editor, and click Yes to continue.

Before you change anything, take a backup. In the Registry Editor, select the key you are about to edit, choose File then Export, and save the file somewhere safe. If something goes wrong, double-click that file to restore the key. Creating a restore point first is also a good idea.

1. Press the Win+R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type regedit into the box and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

This tutorial does not give a single key path or value name, because where Windows stores a device’s name depends on the hardware, the driver and the Windows build. Editing the wrong value can break the pairing or affect a different device. If you are not certain which key belongs to your accessory, stop here and use the Control Panel method instead.

If you continue, first confirm the device’s Bluetooth address in Device Manager, as described in the previous section. Then check that the key you are editing matches that device before you change anything.

3. In the Registry Editor window, use the left-hand sidebar to move through the folders. Look for the records of your connected device under the Bluetooth🔷 and device configuration keys. Check the entries on the right to make sure they match your accessory before you edit them.
4. Right-click the value that holds your device’s display name and select Modify.
5. Type your custom name into the Value data field.
6. Click OK to save your changes, then close the Registry Editor and restart your🔄 computer so the new name takes full effect.

That’s it. After the restart, your accessory should show the custom name you entered.

If the name does not change, or the device behaves oddly after the restart, restore the key from the backup file you exported earlier.

Summary

You now have three ways to rename your Bluetooth accessories: the Settings app, the classic Control Panel and the Windows Registry. Control Panel, through Devices and Printers, is the most dependable, because Settings may not offer renaming for your device. Device Manager helps you identify the right device, and the Registry is best kept for stubborn cases where you are sure of the correct value.