Change Device Name that appears on LAN

Xerses · November 30th, 2011, 08:23 AM

I have searched Google and many forums, but have not found a non-root way to do this so I figured I would ask...

When you connect to your WiFi network with your phone, the router assigns an IP address. In the DHCP table of the router you can see the device name (ID), MAC address and IP address that has been assigned, among other things.

The device name in the DHCP table is android_xxxxxxxxxxxxx and is just stupid. Is there an easy way to change the LAN device name in the phone without rooting?

I would think that it would be an easy thing to do since it is a common change made in computers (name a PC as its function ie Accounting, Sales, Johns_PC, etc)

poonwahj · January 18th, 2012, 08:09 PM

Hey dude, I was searching for this as well. Apparently, if you want to rename the DEVICE NAME for your Samsung Galaxy phone, you can connect your phone up to your computer VIA USB. In your file Explorer, you can right click on the phone (Under my computer, ya?) and click rename. Then name it whatever you like.

I found it strange that this would work, but on the LAN and in Winamp, and even on the phone the name is changed. When you change the name this way, you should see the phone sync while it's changes itself to reflect whatever name you chose. Hope this helps.

Xerses · January 19th, 2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poonwahj

Hey dude, I was searching for this as well. Apparently, if you want to rename the DEVICE NAME for your Samsung Galaxy phone, you can connect your phone up to your computer VIA USB. In your file Explorer, you can right click on the phone (Under my computer, ya?) and click rename. Then name it whatever you like.

I found it strange that this would work, but on the LAN and in Winamp, and even on the phone the name is changed. When you change the name this way, you should see the phone sync while it's changes itself to reflect whatever name you chose. Hope this helps.

Interesting, I did not think that would affect anything. I will see if I can get it to work and post back.

dierna · February 1st, 2012, 03:10 PM

It didn't work for me.

Xerses · February 1st, 2012, 04:37 PM

I forgot to post back. You can't change the device network name this way. When I connected USB and looked at what Windows sees, I saw that it would not work.

The storage becomes available to Windows, but the "drive" names will not change the network name.

toiday · February 19th, 2012, 11:41 AM

When you change the device name the way @poonwahj described, it would only change the name of your SD flash card. Given @poonwahj was using the Samsung Galaxy, this device has internal storage (16GB for Vibrant). Your PC will see the internal memory and SD flash card (if you have one installed). Change the name of the internal storage may ultimately change the name of the phone itself. This is only my guess since I don't have a Galaxy myself to test this theory. Therefore, if this even works for Galaxy devices, it may not work for other Android devices.

I do want Google to make user setup device name, something you do during initial setup, and be able to change at a later time. I often log in to my router to see who connects to my wifi and I would be very helpful to see the device name with something other than android_mac_adr.

technogeekery · March 21st, 2012, 06:34 PM

I'm also after the solution to this if anyone knows. Thanks

Mhakala · August 24th, 2012, 01:31 PM

I find the same thing. it is very annoying to log onto my Router to see who is connected and see Android-xxxxxxx next to the ip address given to my phone and have to look at mac addresses to figure out who is connected to my router. is there a way to change this?