idevicename

Display the current device name

$ idevicename

$ idevicename [new_name]

idevicename [-u UDID]
idevicename [-h | --help]
idevicename [-v | --version]

-u, --udid UDID
    Specifies the 40-character unique device identifier (UDID) of the iOS device to connect to. If omitted, idevicename will attempt to connect to the first available device.

-h, --help
    Prints a brief usage message and exits.

-v, --version
    Prints the version information of the idevicename utility and exits.

The idevicename command is a command-line utility part of the libimobiledevice suite, an open-source project designed to communicate with Apple iOS devices.

Its primary function is to retrieve the user-assigned name of a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. This name is what appears in iTunes, Finder, or in the device's own settings under 'About'.

This utility is particularly useful for scripting and automation tasks where device identification by its user-friendly name is required, rather than its unique device identifier (UDID). It relies on the usbmuxd daemon for establishing a connection to the device via USB.

It provides a quick and straightforward way to identify a device without requiring graphical interfaces or proprietary Apple software.

For idevicename to function correctly, the following conditions must be met:
1. The iOS device must be physically connected to the computer via a USB cable.
2. The device must be unlocked and the "Trust This Computer" prompt (if applicable) must have been accepted.
3. The usbmuxd daemon must be running and accessible, as it mediates the USB communication with the device.
4. The command only works with Apple iOS/iPadOS/tvOS devices; it does not support macOS devices.
5. If multiple devices are connected and no UDID is specified with the -u option, the command will typically operate on the first device discovered, which may not always be predictable.

To retrieve the name of a single connected device, simply execute idevicename without any arguments. The name will be printed to standard output.

If you have multiple devices connected and know the UDID of the specific device you want to query, use the -u option: idevicename -u YOUR_DEVICE_UDID.

Common error messages include 'No device found', 'Device not paired', or 'Service not found'. These usually indicate that the device is not connected, not unlocked, not trusted by the computer, or that the usbmuxd daemon is not running or properly configured. Ensure the device is connected, unlocked, and that you've accepted the 'Trust This Computer' prompt.

The idevicename command is an integral part of the libimobiledevice project. This open-source initiative began around 2007-2008 with the goal of providing a free and cross-platform alternative to Apple's proprietary tools for interacting with iOS devices. Its development was driven by the need for Linux and other non-macOS users to manage their iOS devices without relying on virtualization or dual-boot setups for iTunes/Finder.

The project, and thus idevicename, has been continuously updated to support new iOS versions, device models, and communication protocols as Apple evolves them, ensuring ongoing compatibility for device management tasks on Linux and other Unix-like systems.

ideviceinfo(1), idevicesyslog(1), idevicescreenshot(1), ideviceinstaller(1), usbmuxd(8)