Change Your Hotspot Name in Settings

To rename your iPhone's hotspot, open Settings, tap General, then About. At the top of the About screen, you will see Name — this is the name that appears when other devices search for your hotspot. Edit this field to whatever you want, then tap Done. Your hotspot will broadcast under the new name the next time you turn it on.

The name you enter here becomes both your device name and your hotspot name. There is no separate field for hotspot-only naming on iPhone. Whatever you type in the Name field in Settings > General > About is what will show up to other devices looking to connect.

You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation. Avoid special characters like @ or # — some devices have trouble connecting to hotspots with those symbols. Keep the name under 32 characters so it displays fully on all devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone's hotspot name is the same as your device name, found in Settings > General > About > Name.
  • Edit the name field directly and tap Done to save the change when ready.
  • The new name takes effect the next time you turn on Personal Hotspot.
  • Use only letters, numbers, spaces, and basic punctuation to avoid connection problems on other devices.
  • The name can be up to 32 characters long for full visibility across all device types.

When the Change Takes Effect

If your hotspot is already turned on when you change the name, other devices will not see the new name until you toggle Personal Hotspot off and back on. Turn off the hotspot in Settings > General > Personal Hotspot, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. The new name will broadcast when ready.

Devices that are already connected to your hotspot will stay connected even after you rename it. They do not need to reconnect. Only new devices searching for your hotspot will see the updated name.

Why Your Hotspot Name Matters

Your hotspot name is the identifier that appears in the Wi-Fi list on laptops, tablets, and other phones. A clear, recognizable name makes it straightforward for your own devices to find and connect to your iPhone. It also helps you identify your hotspot if you are in a place with many networks broadcasting at once.

If you share your hotspot with others, a descriptive name like "Sarah's iPhone" or "Guest Network" is more helpful than the default name. People will know which network belongs to you and which ones to avoid.

Resetting to the Default Name

If you want to go back to your iPhone's original name, go to Settings > General > About > Name and replace your custom name with the format Apple uses by default. The default is usually "[Your Name]'s iPhone" — for example, "Sarah's iPhone" or "John's iPhone Pro Max".

You cannot restore the exact original name if you have forgotten what it was, but you can create a new one in the same style. The important thing is that the name field in About controls what your hotspot broadcasts, so any change you make there will update your hotspot name.

Troubleshooting Connection Problems After Renaming

If a device cannot find your hotspot after you rename it, the most common cause is that the hotspot is still broadcasting under the old name. Toggle Personal Hotspot off and on again to force it to broadcast the new name. Wait 10 to 15 seconds between turning it off and back on.

If a device was previously connected to your hotspot under the old name, it may try to reconnect to the old name automatically. On that device, forget the old network and search for the new one. On most phones and laptops, you can do this by going to Wi-Fi settings, finding the old network name, and selecting "Forget This Network" or similar.

Changing Your Device Name on Mac or iPad

If you have a Mac or iPad and want to rename its hotspot, the process is similar. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > About and edit the Computer Name field. On iPad, go to Settings > General > About and tap Name. The change takes effect the next time you turn on Personal Hotspot on that device.

Each device has its own name and its own hotspot. Renaming one does not affect the others. If you use hotspots on multiple Apple devices, you can give each one a distinct name to keep them straight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a different name for my hotspot than my device name?

No. On iPhone, the hotspot name and the device name are the same. Whatever you enter in Settings > General > About > Name is what broadcasts as your hotspot. You cannot create a separate hotspot-only name.

Will renaming my hotspot disconnect devices that are already using it?

No. Devices that are currently connected will stay connected. Only devices that are searching for your hotspot will see the new name. Existing connections are not affected by the name change.

What characters should I avoid in my hotspot name?

Avoid special characters like @, #, %, and &. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and basic punctuation like hyphens or underscores. Some older devices have trouble connecting to networks with special characters in the name.

How long does it take for the new hotspot name to show up?

The name change is when ready in your iPhone's settings, but other devices will not see it until you turn your hotspot off and back on. That process takes less than a minute. After you toggle the hotspot, the new name should appear in Wi-Fi lists within 10 to 15 seconds.

Can I change my hotspot name without changing my device name?

No. Your iPhone does not have a separate hotspot name setting. The device name in Settings > General > About is the only name your hotspot can use. If you want a different hotspot name, you have to change your device name.