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Level 1

41 points

Incorrect iPhone name shown on PC

Hi,

I have 2 iPhone 4, both are using one Apple universal docker to connect to PC, phone has its own name, and diaplay properly on PC wherever the device name is used, ie, under My Computer, Portable Devices. iPhone 4 are shown as A's iPhone or B's iPhone, as a Digital Camera.

I encountered this issue after installed iTunes 10.5 or upgraded to iOS 5, I am not sure which one caused the problem. The issue is, when I put B phone to docker or even connect to PC directly, the device name is always A's name. But after entering the device, the content (camera photo) is B's content. When using iTunes, phone's name diaplys correctly too. Only the device name on PC is wrong.

I connected B phone to another USB port which is never used by iPhone before, Win7 detected and tried to download/install and finally, B phone is shown as Apple Portable Device, no Phone Name, not as Digital Camera. Again in iTunes, both phones are shown correctly with their own name.

Not a big issue but a little bit confused, how to correct device name when B (or maybe C) connect to PC?

Thanks

iPhone 4, iOS 5, iTunes 10.5

Posted on Oct 22, 2011 8:22 AM

Best reply

tomfromwindermere

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Oct 23, 2011 6:39 PM

After searching google and finding no solutions or suggestions on how to fix this, I decided to give it a try myself and fixed it. I had the same problem, my friend's iPhone name was showing up under "Computer" / "Portible Devices" on Vista. In iTunes it was the correct name of the iPhone. I also noticed that under the Autoplay settings on Windows my friend's name was listed there as well under "Devices" along with my iPhone name and my iPad name.

It seemed to me that it had nothing to do with the iPhone and more to do with the Windows regsistry so I searched the Windows Registry for "friends name" and the first thing I found was a registry key for the "Devices" in "Autoplay" with my friends name. I promptly deleted the key and reconnected my iPhone. Well, his name showed right up again! I then went back to the registry and did a search for "friend's name" again and got the same registry key and deleted it. Only this time I searched again and found another strange folder with my friend's name on one of the registry keys. I was unsure about deleting it so instead I renamed it to "Tom's iPhone". I contined to search for more keys with my friend's name and found 2 or 3 more. I renamed every key that had his name on it to my name. I closed the registry, plugged in my phone and my name appeared like it used to! I hope this helps anyone with the same problem!

Thanks for your post because when you mentioned switching USB ports it got me thinking about the computer as the culprit and led me to the registry.

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41 replies

Oct 27, 2011 7:58 PM in response to Wharhed

Justin,

Thanks for taking the time to list the exact paths to the modifications/renames that I suggested. Once I fixed it I was too burnt out to go back and see what they actually were. I didn't even remember how many I modified- but two sounds correct, not counting the unwanted "autorun" key that I removed.

Also, to be clear, the only key that I personally recommended deleting is the "unwanted user/device" key listed under the autoplay/autorun folder of the registry. Again, not sure of the exact path but the folder is clearly labeled if you do a search for the unwanted username in the registy. Deleting this key will remove the unwanted user's device that shows up under the Autoplay settings of the Control Panel. This is the setting that allows you to "Choose what happens when you insert each type of media or device". Like some other people, it just bugged me that my friends name and device was listed in there! I'm just super anal about stuff like that. Removing this key will do absoulutely no harm to your computer. I speak from experience as I've done it twice! That being said, if it doesn't bother you, then leave it be!

Actually, I just went back and checked to be sure. Below is the path to one of the three folders where my friend's name/device was listed along with two other folders containing my iPhone and my iPad. Once I deleted the entire folder containing the key with his name, it no longer showed up in the Autoplay Settings of the Control Panel.

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-4121691802-2787245072-1371587419-1000\Software\Microsoft\Win dows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoplayHandlers\KnownDevices\WpdDeviceHandler_USB# VID_05AC&PID_1297&MI_00#0

...Tom

Oct 28, 2011 6:46 PM in response to tomfromwindermere

tom,

actually i don't quite understand you said that,

"Once I deleted the entire folder containing the key with his name, it no longer showed up in the Autoplay Settings of the Control Panel."

is it mean that when i plug in the usb, there won't be any autoplay?

or, just the friend's name?

acutally, i don't really familiar and understand about regedit.

last night i was trying to upgrage my father's iphone4 to os5, but end up my father's iphone name show up even when i plug in my iphone4.

i would like to maintain his detail (for his name to show up in future, and to show up his iphone name when i plug in his),

and in the same time i would like to solve this incorrect name problem.

can i delete the folder you mentioned to get these two outcomes?

thanks.

tomfromwindermere wrote:

Justin,

Thanks for taking the time to list the exact paths to the modifications/renames that I suggested. Once I fixed it I was too burnt out to go back and see what they actually were. I didn't even remember how many I modified- but two sounds correct, not counting the unwanted "autorun" key that I removed.

Also, to be clear, the only key that I personally recommended deleting is the "unwanted user/device" key listed under the autoplay/autorun folder of the registry. Again, not sure of the exact path but the folder is clearly labeled if you do a search for the unwanted username in the registy. Deleting this key will remove the unwanted user's device that shows up under the Autoplay settings of the Control Panel. This is the setting that allows you to "Choose what happens when you insert each type of media or device". Like some other people, it just bugged me that my friends name and device was listed in there! I'm just super anal about stuff like that. Removing this key will do absoulutely no harm to your computer. I speak from experience as I've done it twice! That being said, if it doesn't bother you, then leave it be!

Actually, I just went back and checked to be sure. Below is the path to one of the three folders where my friend's name/device was listed along with two other folders containing my iPhone and my iPad. Once I deleted the entire folder containing the key with his name, it no longer showed up in the Autoplay Settings of the Control Panel.

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-4121691802-2787245072-1371587419-1000\Software\Microsoft\Win dows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoplayHandlers\KnownDevices\WpdDeviceHandler_USB # VID_05AC&PID_1297&MI_00#0

...Tom

Oct 30, 2011 9:09 AM in response to bunnietan

Hey Bunnietan,

No, it doesn't mean that Autoplay won't work, it just means that in the autoplay settings you will no longer see whatever name you deleted from the registry. But I honestly wouldn't worry about what I was saying because you most likely won't see or be bothered by what I was referring to.

What you need to do if you don't want your father's name to show up under "Computer" when you plug in your iPhone is follow the modifications that I orginially suggested in the beginning of this thread, or better yet, see Justin's recent post which outlines the exact changes to make to the registry.

That being said, if you're not familiar with the registry you should use caution when making changes and also backup the registry before making any changes. This way you can always restore it if you should have any trouble with any modifications that you make. Or, just live with seeing your father's name, it's not the end of the world. And I'm sure, if you haven't noticed already, in iTunes it will display your name correctly when your iPhone is plugged in.

Good luck!

...Tom

lpadilla

Level 1

0 points

Oct 30, 2011 10:06 PM in response to s2s

getting hard to follow everyone haha, OK, so I renamed the registry and now both my iTunes and my PC read the name correctly! Problem is I still CANNOT back up my phone

Oct 30, 2011 10:18 PM in response to lpadilla

Ipadilla,

What happens when you try to back it up? Do you have it setup to back up to iCloud or your computer?

lpadilla

Level 1

0 points

Oct 31, 2011 10:28 PM in response to tomfromwindermere

when I try to sync it, the following occurs:

iTunes could not back up the iPhone becuase an unknown error occurred (14229).

iTunes could not back up the iPhone becuase an unknown error occurred (14230).

iTunes could not back up the iPhone becuase an unknown error occurred (18145)

When I do it, sometimes it will give me different errors. I just can't sync it!

Nov 6, 2011 11:06 AM in response to lpadilla

Ipadilla,

Sorry, not sure about that. Maybe try posting the problem on a new thread so it will get more attention. Good luck and let us know if you get it fixed. Again, did you try the wifi sync? And if so, did you try turning that off in the settings? ...Tom

Nov 10, 2011 6:41 AM in response to tomfromwindermere

tom,

i got what you mean this time.

thank you so much.

i think i'll just change the pc's name to general name, as you mentioned, both names still displaying correctly in itunes.🙂

tomfromwindermere wrote:

Hey Bunnietan,

No, it doesn't mean that Autoplay won't work, it just means that in the autoplay settings you will no longer see whatever name you deleted from the registry. But I honestly wouldn't worry about what I was saying because you most likely won't see or be bothered by what I was referring to.

What you need to do if you don't want your father's name to show up under "Computer" when you plug in your iPhone is follow the modifications that I orginially suggested in the beginning of this thread, or better yet, see Justin's recent post which outlines the exact changes to make to the registry.

That being said, if you're not familiar with the registry you should use caution when making changes and also backup the registry before making any changes. This way you can always restore it if you should have any trouble with any modifications that you make. Or, just live with seeing your father's name, it's not the end of the world. And I'm sure, if you haven't noticed already, in iTunes it will display your name correctly when your iPhone is plugged in.

Good luck!

...Tom

Nov 11, 2011 2:48 PM in response to s2s

HI I LITTERLY applied every step that all of you suggested but still im facing the same probleme and when i type the Bs iphone name in search it dont find any thing about that have that name so i tried from the control panel and i didnt fine any thing that have that iphone name and when i open the autoplay setting i found that i phones name is there and cant change it from there and im using windows 7 home premmium and really cant find that i phone name and i know its just a name but i am more like a very detail guy and its really killing me help me plz

Nov 23, 2011 7:28 AM in response to s2s

Hi ,

Just simpy restore system to one or two days before from day when you identified ifferent name. It worked.

Dec 12, 2011 1:53 AM in response to Wharhed

i have the problem of my autoplay box coming up with a different name than mine.

can you give me step by step instructions on how to change this on a windows running 64bit (yes i am dopey when it comes to thins)

Dec 23, 2011 12:25 AM in response to hellwithbell

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\VID_05AC&PID_1294&MI_00\0\Devic e Parameters

FriendlyName: change to name in iTunes under DEVICES

Label: change to name in iTunes under DEVICES

Once at Device Parameters, u can back that up by right click, export.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64

https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=iphone+autoplay+wrong+nam e&oq=iphone+autoplay+&aq=4&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=6112l21546l0l27784l18l18l 1l7l8l0l209l1496l2.6.2l10l0

Jan 19, 2012 10:36 AM in response to tomfromwindermere

tom,

hi i was wondering if you can help,

i have the same problem as you had but i'm not very technical....

what is the registry and how do you edit this? 🙂 thanks

Jan 21, 2012 9:59 PM in response to Wharhed

I understand exactly what to do, as I'm having the same issue, but I'm wondering how to tell in the registry which iPhone is which, as my husband and I both actively use the same pc, and I don't want to rename his. Any ideas?

Feb 6, 2012 7:25 AM in response to imemerald

Hi there,

I having same issue on my iPhone4/iTunes .Try it~ Is Works!!!

Originally Posted by Astorath

Type regedit into your search bar and bring up Registry editor. Go to the the very top with My Computer. Now go to Edit and Find. Type in the whole offending name that is bugging you, i.e. Soandso's iPhone and hit find. After it searches your registry and finds the first name select it and Edit the Name. I copy/pasted it for all the next steps. After you have found the first name don't stop there. Use F3 to find next Name in registry and So on and so fourth until you have replaced every offending name in your whole registry with the Name you want to show up i.e. Tom's iPhone or whatever? Repeat all of these steps if you have more than one name showing up in your devices? Worked 100% for me. Close regedit and reboot (very important for changes.) Plug your iPhone back in and enjoy all your names back to normal. Includes all names for Windows Explorer, Autoplay, and Import... You are welcome!

I found this on another website.

Check Out: yeahjacklim.blogspot.com

Incorrect iPhone name shown on PC