Why does email from my iPhone have the wrong name?

When sending mail from Apple iPhone 3GS my copy says from barber This is incorrect. How can I correct this? Thank you! Barbara

Dave's Answer:

This is a fairly easy problem to solve: but it's important to know that the name associated with your outbound mail is not related to your Address Book (uh, Contact) entry, but is specified in the email account settings you have created.

To check what settings you have on your Apple iPhone, Barbara, you need to go to the main screen of your phone and then tap on "Settings".

It looks like this once you've done that:

From here you want to drop down to "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" and tap it.

Now you'll see:

apple iphone 3g settings mail,contacts,calendar

Pick the account you're finding isn't configured properly and tap on it (if you have more than one, as I do). You'll then see:

As you can see, the first entry is "Name", and I bet it's not set to anything at all, or, worse, is set ot the wrong thing. Either way, just tap on it and you'll be able to correct the entry.

Problem solved.

Now, more questions about the iPhone? Check out the rest of my site, I have lots of iPhone help.

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Categorized: iPhone and Cell Phone Help (Article 9118, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: apple iphone 3gs, iphone email settings, mobile me
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Reader Comments To Date: 12

Liat Gat said, on July 2, 2010 9:56 AM:

Thank you! You totally answered my question! I bought you a chai.

cam said, on March 10, 2011 11:04 PM:

for some reason this information was so hard to find on the internet! everyone skips the step that says go to "Settings." It really makes all the difference when you tell people where to start.
THANK YOU!

Mike Farneville said, on July 25, 2011 6:37 PM:

geez thanks specially for the images or screen shots: it's easier to follow guides with pictures you know

Shrinivas said, on May 29, 2012 1:06 AM:

Thanks a lot Dave. I used default settings while configuring and it used to show my mail id as my name. Your solution is very helpful.

RC said, on November 28, 2012 12:28 PM:

Dave, I hope you are not a terrorist because I am sponsoring you with a Grande Chai. I don't even know what that is since I don't drink coffee but I could not for the life of me figure out how to change my name on my iPhone, so if chai is what you want... For some reason I must have though it was cute to write "Me" when I set up my phone's email for the first time and I had no idea my work emails showed up that way until someone told me after a year! Then I couldn't figure out how to change it. For your help kind sir, here is $4.50.

RC said, on November 28, 2012 12:34 PM:

Just found out chai is tea. I don't drink tea either. Mormons. What are you going to do?

Dave Taylor said, on November 28, 2012 3:02 PM:

Glad I could help, RC. And yes, chai is a spiced Indian tea...

Eloisa said, on January 16, 2013 3:12 PM:

Perfect answer even for my iPhone 5. Screen shots were VERY helpful.

Andrea said, on January 28, 2013 9:03 AM:

Perfect! You are officially saved in my favorites! Thanks again!

Katy said, on April 10, 2013 2:20 PM:

Thanks! Big help!

CAH said, on May 17, 2013 12:38 PM:

Saved my sanity. I almost reset all of my settings. this worked

Susan said, on May 19, 2013 9:42 AM:

Thank you so much! Very easy to follow. So sick of everybody thinking my husband was sending the emails!

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Why does email from my iPhone have the wrong name?

Reader Comments To Date: 12

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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