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3

My Android device is the Nexus One. But this should apply to all current Android devices.

How do I change the name of my Android device?

When I connect to my wireless router's client tables, my android devices is listed for example as: android_1234567890abedfc. I'd like to give it a more readable name.

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It's also possible to configure the hostname via the DHCP server. But I haven't checked if android uses this configuration option. It's anyways just a cosmetic option. – Flow♦ Nov 30 '11 at 16:34

5 Answers

up vote 0 down vote

Go to Google Play Store. Search for "hostname", and download hostname changer app.

Must be rooted.

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up vote 1 down vote

I found a way to do this on my rooted Nexus 7 with ICS (4.2.2). The setting is saved persistently and works throughout reboots.
Source: http://nileshgr.com/2012/10/13/how-to-change-wifi-host-name-of-your-android-device

  1. Note that the device must be rooted to use adb
  2. Run adb pull /system/build.prop
  3. Edit the build.prop file and append net.hostname=NewHostname
  4. Run adb push build.prop /sdcard/build.prop (or /mnt/sdcard, if it fails)
  5. Run adb shell and execute the following commands:
    $ su
    # mount -o remount,rw /system
    # cp /sdcard/build.prop /system/build.prop (or /mnt/sdcard if you used that previously)
    # mount -o remount,ro /system
    # exit
  6. Reboot the device
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up vote 7 down vote

To change the hostname (device name) you have to use the terminal (as root):

For Eclair (2.1): echo MYNAME > /proc/sys/kernel/hostname

For Froyo (2.2): (works also on most 2.3) setprop net.hostname MYNAME

Then restart your wi-fi. To see the change, type uname -a

some devices needs reboot for work!

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Does this work on jelly bean? – jrg Sep 1 '12 at 3:43
up vote 2 down vote

I have not ran stock in a long time but in Application Settings > Development you will see the option 'Device hostname'.

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on what versions of Android? When I look at development options on my Droid 3 (Android 2.3.4), I don't have that option. – Michael Kohne Mar 19 '12 at 15:24
up vote 0 down vote

You need to edit your hosts file, /system/etc/hosts. Edit the HOSTNAME=xxx line

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This is working on nonrooted devices ? – Cristi Sep 13 '10 at 19:48
Any idea doing it without rooting the device first? – keyboardsurfer Sep 13 '10 at 20:04
I see 127.0.0.1 localhost – sunpech Sep 14 '10 at 0:49
4  
-1: This is for setting up a local alias, not for actually renaming the device. No other devices, such as the router in question, can see or use this name. – Matthew Read♦ Nov 29 '11 at 17:31
I second Matthew Read; and btw, editing the hosts file require root privileges – Power-Inside Dec 1 '11 at 13:48

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