How to edit the names of Bluetooth devices.

For the sake of easy identification, is there a way to modify the names of bluetooth devices as they appear in the connected bluetooth device list?

For example, i'd like to rename my bluetooth mouse, bluetooth mouse... it appears in the menu as d8-34-23-76-12-56.
I'd like to rename my bluetooth keyboard, bluetooth keyboard... not c3-67-23-76-98-12.
And so it goes for several different devices I own. The names are so illogical that connecting to the right device is a process of elimination.


But it has to be possible to rename devices because I have a UE Wonderboom speaker... it connects as "Wonderboom"... seems pretty logical, huh?


I'm using El Capitan, 10.11.6. I've looked up Google, Youtube, for a solution, but the troubleshoots are all out of date. And i'm not seeing any modifiable device settings in the bluetooth menu.



Any tips?

Hi

This is actually quite straightforward, but not at all intuitive.

Go into Bluetooth (BT) Preferences by opening System Preferences > BT.

Now identify your BT device, then Right Click on it. From the Dropdown menu, choose "Rename". (The other options are Disconnect and Remove).

NB: The Right Click option requires that the Device is already paired. This will not work on BT Devices currently not paired.

Ian

Thanks for the reply.

Using my bluetooth mouse right now. The only right-click option I have at the System Preferences > BT menu screen is 'pair'... but the mouse is already paired. The bluetooth address is listed below the 'pair' option, but it is greyed out. 'Disconnect'' or 'remove' options are not visible.

Maybe it's because you are running El Capitan???

This is what I get - System Preferences > Bluetooth > Right Click on paired Mouse.



And I've found this Apple Support article which merely repeats what I posted: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205348

Sorry I 've not been much help.

Ian

IWT said:

Sorry I 've not been much help.

Ian

Click to expand...

Thank you for trying to help. What more can I ask

Yes... strange... at that same GUI i'm not getting those menu options.

Perhaps it is an El Capitan thing. I'd love to update to the latest version of OSX, but I typically run a few versions behind so not to trip up any third party software.

Hi again.

I've found some info on how you "used to be able" to rename the Mouse. Maybe one of these will work?

Here are some links anyway:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7360516?start=0&tstart=0

https://www.google.co.uk/search?cli...&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=R2h7WYi9LKTc8Ae1tYaoBg

Ian

Che_Guitarra said:

Perhaps it is an El Capitan thing. I'd love to update to the latest version of OSX, but I typically run a few versions behind so not to trip up any third party software.

Click to expand...

You should be able to follow Ian's directions even with El Capitan. I just tested it with my MacBook Pro that's still on El Capitan and you should get the rename option by right clicking.

Just thought i'd update this. Still having the renaming problem with this device. But i've since discovered the inability to rename is unique to this one particular device (a Microsoft 1850 wireless mouse). All other devices have the connect/rename/remove options.

Thanks for the update. Kinda glad to know we weren't imagining things.

Interesting, thanks to this post I thought I would change the name of my Bose Bluetooth headphones from the generic numbers and letters combination but even after pairing and connecting the name change will not stick. I type the new name, click Rename at the bottom of the dialogue box but the name remains unchanged. I am running Sierra 10.12.6.

Che_

In your post #8, I notice that both your pictures show the appliances as not connected.

Have you tried pairing/connecting them first and then see if the Right Click option works?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Right Click options only work for paired items, certainly in my case.

Ian

IWT said:

Che_

In your post #8, I notice that both your pictures show the appliances as not connected.

Have you tried pairing/connecting them first and then see if the Right Click option works?
Ian

Click to expand...

Yeah, I had tried that. No dice.

That screenshot was taken in arrears - once I had worked out what was going on. I also deleted all my devices to see if I could reset the problem, but again, no dice.

I'm thinking that some things can't be renamed despite the apparent option. I have tried removing my headphones and changing the name during the pairing process but it stubbornly remains CW-139.

C'est la vie.

Ian

I'm thinking that some things can't be renamed despite the apparent option. I have tried removing my headphones and changing the name during the pairing process but it stubbornly remains CW-139.

Click to expand...

It would take some searching and some trials (and a good current working backup) but I'd bet there's a related file with the unwanted name using EasyFind.app that could possibly be changed to include/replace with something more fitting with a text editor.

Proceed at your own risk…

PS: Does the renaming not work and stick due to SIP poking it's nose into and preventing the change. Maybe disable it for a bit and see if the name change sticks.




- Patrick
======

I might give that a try Patrick, it's really not an issue for me as I only have a couple of BlueTooth devices. Just puzzled when it seems like it should work. If for example I was unable to enter a new name or the option was not available but it does everything except change.

I have a feeling it has to do with the manufacturer and the abilities they program in to their devices. I had a portable bluetooth keyboard, that had a name that couldn't be changed also. Then I got my Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, and the ability was there.

ferrarr said:

I have a feeling it has to do with the manufacturer and the abilities they program in to their devices. I had a portable bluetooth keyboard, that had a name that couldn't be changed also. Then I got my Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, and the ability was there.

Click to expand...

And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Apple hasn't programmed any name-change to be blocked except for their own devices. They can do things like that it seems.

But there's often a way around things but it's getting harder with their recent OSs.

PS: Anyone recall or used ResEdit years ago???

Now one has to be a Terminal guru or smart programmer it seems.

PPS: I just spent part of this last weekend getting our new Canon PIXMA MX922 printer icon to display as something closer to what it looked like rather than the stupid one that the installer used. And I'm sure not a programmer.
Now we have a cool shiny black miniture icon of the real thing in our iMac Docks. Not some insipid grey generic image.

Here's a copy if anyone want's to or can use it: (I had to add the .jpg to allow uploading)

Doesn't work for some reason and no cross-out option for the text line above, just underline. Sorry!!






- Patrick
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And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Apple hasn't programmed any name-change to be blocked except for their own devices. They can do things like that it seems.

Click to expand...

Patrick, your paranoia is over-worked here. I have several non-Apple BT devices and all of them allow renaming. So Apple isn't blocking the naming, nor is SIP. I suspect it is in the device itself that the ability, or lack thereof, exists.

Patrick, your paranoia is over-worked here

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Jake and no paranoia here, but it seemed that something was being blocked somehow from some member's comments.

I don't own a single BT device and it does seem odd that some can and some can't be renamed and how could a BT device prevent it from being renamed for what appears to be an OS controlled thing???

You got any ideas as to why or why not???

I'm just curious…


EDIT:
PS: Is this a new problem that's come with Sierra or did the BT device renaming not always work with previous versions??






- Patrick
======