How To Change Wifi Hostname Of Your Android Device
How to set friendly network name of android computer?
I see names of computers in my router’s DHCP leasing list. My android galaxy tab is listed under an alphanumeric name. How do I set a friendly name that I like?
asked Apr 4 ’12 at 15:03
On Android 4. 4 and lower, you can change the hostname to a less cryptic name in the Developer Options under Settings. Under the “Debugging” section in the Developer Options you will see an option called “Device hostname” which should currently be set to this rather cryptic name. You can change it to any alpha numeric name you like.
If you are on Android 5. 0, that option is not there anymore. Though using the ADB shell still works. See bayuah’s answer. Root doesn’t seem to be required on my phone. From the answer linked above:
adb shell
getprop name
setprop name
wjandrea5686 silver badges19 bronze badges
answered Jan 22 ’13 at 15:45
timonskutimonsku6288 silver badges13 bronze badges
7
Open terminal. Enter the following:
su
Root access is required.
answered Jan 12 ’15 at 11:26
bayuahbayuah1811 silver badge5 bronze badges
Hostname is used to easily identify and remember hosts connected to a network. It’s set on boot, e. g. from /etc/hostname on Linux based systems. Hostname is also a part of DHCPREQUEST (standardized as code 12 by IETF) which a DHCP client (Android device in our case) makes to DHCP server (WiFi router) to get an IP address assigned. DHCP server stores the hostnames to offer services like DNS. See details in How to ping a local network host by hostname?.
Android – instead of using Linux kernel’s hostname service – used property name (since Android 2. 2) to set a unique host name for every device which was based on android_id. This hostname property was used for DHCP handshake (as added in Android 2. 2 and 4. 0). In Android 6 name continued to be used (1, 2, 3, 4) in new Java DHCP client when native dhcpcd was abandoned and later service was removed in Android 7. Since Android 8 – when android_id became unique to apps – name is no more set, so a null is sent in DHCPREQUEST. See Android 8 Privacy Changes and Security Enhancements:
name is now empty and the dhcp client no longer sends a hostname
So the WiFi routers show no host names for Android 8+, neither we can set / unset / change it.
However on rooted devices you can set name manually using setprop command or add in some init’s file to set on every boot. Or use a third party client like busybox udhcpc to send desired hostname and other options to router. See Connecting to WiFi via ADB Shell.
answered Nov 22 ’19 at 20:36
Irfan LatifIrfan Latif2213 silver badges9 bronze badges
In some Android phones, you may change in Wi-Fi Direct
Settings
WiFi
Top right menu > Advanced
Wi-Fi Direct
Top right option Rename device
Write your new device name and press OK
Turn off and on your Wi-Fi
If it has no effect, restart your phone.
Important: Not all Android phones have this option, and not all phones modify their hostname correctly, even after modifying the device name from that option.
answered Mar 2 ’18 at 10:51
Paulo CoghiPaulo Coghi9541 gold badge10 silver badges14 bronze badges
2
The name that is sent to the DHCP server is not the hostname as is commonly thought, it’s the VID (Vendor ID Code) which you cannot change. You could try changing the name at the router level if possible.
answered Apr 4 ’12 at 15:20
paradd0xparadd0x8, 6236 gold badges34 silver badges43 bronze badges
4
This solution is using the commands posted by @bayuah above, but not using adb nor su at all.
This is on a rooted device (Nougat AOSP 7. 1. 2).
Using JuiceSSH terminal, enter two commands:
answered Apr 7 ’18 at 22:25
On my Galaxy Edge S7 the device friendly name can be changed under “About phone” (near the bottom of the Settings menu):
Since I configured it to “Matthijs mobiel”, our local router gave me the hostname “”. Unfortunately it sounds like your router might be assigning a name based on MAC address rather than based on the device friendly name, in which case this probably won’t help (though you can try configuring a name that’s a valid hostname already, perhaps it will work).
answered Feb 19 at 22:43
MatthijsMatthijs2362 silver badges5 bronze badges
Simply download and install the app called “Change Hostname” from the Play Store and enjoy editing your android device hostname (android-xxxxxxxxxxx).
Root access is required though, sorry for the non-rooted users.
Regards.
answered Feb 8 ’13 at 2:35
Not the answer you’re looking for? Browse other questions tagged networking android or ask your own question.
How do I change my WiFi network name and password using the …
Was this article helpful?
Yes
No
| 13
people found this helpful in last 30 days
Note: The genie app is no longer receiving feature updates. If your product is supported by the Nighthawk or Orbi app, you will be prompted to download that app the next time that you open genie. If your product is not supported by the Nighthawk or Orbi app, you can continue using the genie app.
For more information:
How do I change my WiFi network name and password using the Nighthawk app?
How do I change my network name (SSID) and password of my Orbi WiFi System using the Orbi app?
To change your WiFi name or password using the genie mobile app:
Connect your mobile device to your router’s WiFi network.
Note: If you’re accessing your router remotely, skip this step.
Launch the genie app.
Enter your router’s admin password and tap the LOGIN button.
The dashboard displays.
Tap WiFi.
The WiFi page displays.
Enter your new WiFi name and password.
Tap the save icon in the upper-right corner.
Your settings are saved.
Last Updated:04/29/2019
|
Article ID: 000036947
Was this article helpful? Yes No
This article applies to:
Router Apps (1)
Genie
How to Find Your Model Number
Looking for more about your product?
Get information, documentation, videos and more for your specific product.
Need to Contact Support?
With NETGEAR’s round-the-clock premium support, help is just a phone call away.
Complimentary Support
NETGEAR provides complimentary technical support for NETGEAR products for 90 days from the original date of purchase.
Contact Support
NETGEAR Premium Support
GearHead Support for Home Users
GearHead Support is a technical support service for NETGEAR devices and all other connected devices in your home. Advanced remote support tools are used to fix issues on any of your devices. The service includes support for the following:
Desktop and Notebook PCs, Wired and Wireless Routers, Modems, Printers, Scanners, Fax Machines, USB devices and Sound Cards
Windows Operating Systems (2000, XP or Vista), MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Adobe Acrobat
Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware: McAfee, Norton, AVG, eTrust and BitDefender
Learn More
ProSUPPORT Services for Business Users
NETGEAR ProSUPPORT services are available to supplement your technical support and warranty entitlements. NETGEAR offers a variety of ProSUPPORT services that allow you to access NETGEAR’s expertise in a way that best meets your needs:
Product Installation
Professional Wireless Site Survey
Defective Drive Retention (DDR) Service
Learn More
How to Rename Any Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet – HowToGeek
It’s a good idea to give each of the devices you use a meaningful name. This is especially important on Windows 10, as Microsoft has removed the computer name option from the first-time setup process. Windows 10 PCs will just receive random, meaningless names by default.
On a network, this “hostname” identifies the device on your router’s status pages and when browsing shared files. Such names are also used in “find my device” interfaces and anywhere else the device needs to be identified.
Windows 10
Microsoft simplified the setup process in Windows 10. Windows will no longer ask you to enter a name for your PC when you set it up, which means that your Windows 10 PC probably has a meaningless, confusing name.
To provide a name, open the “Settings” app from the Start menu or Start screen, select the “System” category, and select “About” at the bottom of the list. Click or tap the “Rename PC” button and provide a new name for your PC. Your change will take effect after a reboot.
Windows 7, 8, and 8. 1
RELATED: Change Your Computer Name in Windows 7, 8, or 10
On previous versions of Windows — or even Windows 10 — you can open the Control Panel, click “System and Security”, and click “System”. Click the “Advanced system settings” link in the sidebar, click the “Computer Name” tab at the top of the System Properties window, and click the “Change” button to the right of “To rename this computer, click Change”. Type a new name into the “Computer name” box and click “OK” to rename your computer.
Mac
On a Mac, this option is in the System Preferences window. To access it, click the Apple menu on the menu bar at the top of your screen and select “System Preferences”. Click the “Sharing” icon in the system preferences window, and enter a new name for your Mac in the “Computer Name” field at the top of the window.
iPhone and iPad
This option is available on the “About” screen on Apple’s iOS, used on iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. To find it, open the “Settings” app from your home screen, tap the “General” category, and tap “About”.
Tap the “Name” field at the top of the About screen and you’ll be able to enter a new name.
Android
RELATED: What Exactly Is a MAC Address Used For?
For whatever reason, Google doesn’t offer this option on an Android device. If you’re setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot from your Android phone or tablet, you can change the name of that Wi-Fi hotspot in the hotspot settings — but that’s it.
There’s no way to change the device’s name so it’s identified by that particular name on your network. The only way you can do this is to root your Android device and search for an app that can change the “hostname”. You can still use the device’s MAC address to uniquely identify it, at least.
You can rename your Android device in Google Play to make it more distinct when installing apps via Google Play and tracking your lost device, however. Head to, or visit the Google Play Store website, click the gear icon, and select “Settings” to access this page. Click the “Edit” button and enter a new name for your device.
Chromebooks
RELATED: How to Enable Developer Mode on Your Chromebook
Like Android, Chrome OS is also made by Google. So it should be no surprise that Google hasn’t provided a way to change your Chromebook’s name, either. As with Android devices, you can use the MAC address to uniquely identify a Chromebook on your router’s settings page, if you need to.
Chrome OS is just Linux underneath it all, however. If you put your Chromebook into developer mode — for example, you have to do this to install a Linux desktop alongside Chrome OS — you’ll then have write access to the system configuration files and can change your Chromebook’s name.
Linux
RELATED: How to Change Your Hostname (Computer Name) on Ubuntu Linux
Different Linux distributions handle this in different ways. You can generally change your hostname just by running the “hostname” command as root, but it’ll be reset when you restart your PC. Different Linux distributions define the hostname in different configuration files. For example, on Ubuntu and other Debian-based Linux distributions, you’ll need to edit the /etc/hostname file.
If you’re using another Linux distribution, perform a web search for something like “change hostname on [name of Linux distribution]”.
Other devices will have hostnames, too. They may or may not provide a way to change their names, but you’ll often find this option on an “About” screen or somewhere else in their settings if they do.
Image Credit: miniyo73 on Flickr
READ NEXT
› How to Change Your Apple iPhone’s Name› How (and Why) to Rename Audio Devices in Windows 10› Here’s How Android Apps Work on Windows 11› 6 Awesome Spotify Features You Should Be Using› Why Do Streaming Sites Geo-Block Their Content? › You Should Use Samsung’s Bixby, But Only For Routines› What Are the Drawbacks of Switching to Linux? › Should You Buy a Robot Vacuum Cleaner? 5 Things to Consider
Frequently Asked Questions about how to change wifi hostname of your android device
To change your WiFi name or password using the genie mobile app:Connect your mobile device to your router’s WiFi network. … Launch the genie app.Enter your router’s admin password and tap the LOGIN button. … Tap WiFi. … Enter your new WiFi name and password.Tap the save icon in the upper-right corner.Apr 29, 2019
There’s no way to change the device’s name so it’s identified by that particular name on your network. The only way you can do this is to root your Android device and search for an app that can change the “hostname”. You can still use the device’s MAC address to uniquely identify it, at least.Dec 20, 2015
Android does not use hostnames, everything uses localhost. If you have a real requirement for a hostname you can use an alias in the /system/etc/hosts file after the localhost entry.Dec 10, 2012
