Where to Find the Hotspot Name Setting

Your iPhone's hotspot name — also called the SSID — appears when other devices search for Wi-Fi networks to join. You change it in the Settings app under Personal Hotspot, not in Wi-Fi settings. The name you set here is what people see when they look for your hotspot on their phones, tablets, or laptops.

Open Settings, then tap Personal Hotspot. If you don't see Personal Hotspot in your main Settings menu, scroll down — it usually sits below Bluetooth. On some iPhones, it may be nested under Cellular or Mobile Data instead. Once you find it, tap the field that shows your current hotspot name (often something like "John's iPhone" by default).

The name field will highlight and become editable. You can now delete the old name and type a new one. iPhone allows up to 32 characters, including spaces and most punctuation marks, though some special characters won't work.

Key Takeaways

  • The hotspot name setting is in Settings > Personal Hotspot, not in Wi-Fi settings, and it controls what other devices see when searching for your network.
  • You can use up to 32 characters for your hotspot name, including spaces, but avoid special characters like @ or # which may not display correctly.
  • After you change the name, devices already connected to your hotspot stay connected, but new devices will only see the updated name.
  • The name change takes effect when ready and does not require you to restart your iPhone or toggle hotspot off and on.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Renaming

Start by unlocking your iPhone and opening the Settings app — it's the gray icon with gears. Scroll down the main Settings menu and look for Personal Hotspot. Tap it to open the Personal Hotspot settings page.

At the top of the Personal Hotspot screen, you'll see a field showing your current hotspot name. Tap directly on that name field. The text will become selected and editable, with a cursor ready for you to type. Use the delete key to clear the old name completely, then type your new hotspot name.

As you type, you'll see the name update in real time. Once you're happy with the new name, tap the back arrow or Settings at the top left to save your changes. The new name is now active — you don't need to toggle hotspot off and on or restart your phone.

What Happens to Devices Already Connected

If you have devices already connected to your hotspot when you change the name, they will stay connected without interruption. The name change doesn't drop existing connections. Those devices will continue using your hotspot normally and won't need to reconnect.

However, any new device trying to join your hotspot will only see the updated name in its Wi-Fi list. If someone was looking for your old hotspot name, they won't find it — they'll need to search for the new name instead. This is useful if you're changing the name specifically to make it easier for certain people to find.

Choosing a Hotspot Name That Works Well

Pick a name that's straightforward for others to recognize and type if they need to enter it manually. Avoid names with numbers that look like letters (like using "0" instead of "O") because people connecting to your hotspot may get confused. Keep it short enough to read quickly on a small screen.

Don't include sensitive information like your full name, address, or phone number in the hotspot name — anyone nearby can see it. You can use spaces and most punctuation, but stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores if you want to be safe. Some older devices may have trouble with special characters, so simpler names connect more reliably across different phone models and brands.

Troubleshooting If the Name Won't Change

If you tap the name field and nothing happens, make sure Personal Hotspot is actually turned on. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open Control Center, then look for Personal Hotspot. If it's off, tap it to turn it on, then go back to Settings and try renaming again.

If the name field is grayed out or won't let you type, restart your iPhone. Hold down the side button and one of the volume buttons until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. Once your phone restarts, open Settings and try changing the name again.

If you're still having trouble, check that you're using iOS 13 or newer — very old iPhone models may not support hotspot renaming. You can see your iOS version in Settings > General > About. If your iOS is outdated, you may need to update it first.

How the Hotspot Name Differs From Your iPhone Name

Your iPhone has two separate names: the device name (what appears in Bluetooth settings and when you connect to a Mac) and the hotspot name (what appears in Wi-Fi lists). Changing one does not change the other. If you want to rename your iPhone itself, that's a different setting in Settings > General > About > Name.

The hotspot name is what matters when you're sharing internet with other devices. The device name is what matters when you're pairing with headphones, watches, or computers. You can set them to the same thing if you want, but they're independent — changing your hotspot name won't affect how your iPhone appears in Bluetooth menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emoji in my hotspot name?

Most iPhones allow emoji in the hotspot name field, and they will display correctly on most modern devices. However, some older phones, tablets, or laptops may not show emoji properly — they might appear as blank squares or question marks. If you're sharing your hotspot with people using older devices, stick to letters and numbers instead.

Does changing the hotspot name affect my password?

No. Your hotspot password stays the same when you change the name. The password is a separate setting that you can change independently in Personal Hotspot settings if you want to. Changing the name does not reset or alter the password that other devices need to enter to connect.

How often can I change my hotspot name?

You can change your hotspot name as many times as you want, whenever you want. There's no limit or cooldown period. The change takes effect when ready, so you could change it multiple times in a single day if needed.

Will changing the hotspot name disconnect my current devices?

No. Devices already connected to your hotspot will stay connected even after you change the name. They won't drop off or need to reconnect. Only new devices searching for your hotspot will see the updated name in their Wi-Fi list.

What if I forget what I named my hotspot?

Open Settings > Personal Hotspot and look at the name field at the top of the screen — that's your current hotspot name. You can also check by going to another device, opening its Wi-Fi settings, and looking for your iPhone's name in the available networks list.