Change your hotspot name in Settings, under Personal Hotspot

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Personal Hotspot. At the top, you will see a field labeled Name — this is the name other devices see when they search for your hotspot. Tap that field, delete the current name, type the new one, and tap Done. The change takes effect when ready.

The default name is usually your iPhone model and your Apple ID name — for example, "Sarah's iPhone". You can replace it with anything up to 32 characters long. Use letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens. Avoid special characters like @ or &, which some devices cannot read.

If you do not see Personal Hotspot in Settings, your carrier may not support it, or you may not have a cellular plan that includes hotspot data. Check with your carrier first.

Key Takeaways

  • The hotspot name field is in Settings > General > Personal Hotspot, labeled Name.
  • You can use up to 32 characters, including letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens.
  • The new name appears to other devices when ready after you save it.
  • If Personal Hotspot does not appear in Settings, contact your carrier to confirm your plan includes hotspot.
  • Avoid special characters like @ or & because some devices will not connect to networks with those symbols in the name.

Why you might want to change the default name

The default hotspot name broadcasts your iPhone model and your name to anyone nearby searching for networks. Changing it to something generic — like "Guest Network" or "Office WiFi" — keeps your device type and identity private from strangers in coffee shops or airports.

A custom name also makes it easier to identify your hotspot if you have multiple devices or if someone else in your home is also running a hotspot. Instead of choosing between "iPhone" and "iPad", you can name them clearly: "iPhone Hotspot" and "iPad Hotspot".

What happens when you change the name

Any device already connected to your hotspot stays connected. Devices that were previously connected but are not currently using it will see the new name the next time they search for available networks. They will not automatically reconnect — you or the user of that device will need to select the new name and enter the password again.

If you change the name while someone is actively using your hotspot, they will lose connection for a few seconds while their device recognizes the new network name. They can then reconnect using the same password.

Choosing a name that works across devices

Some older devices and some public WiFi equipment have trouble with certain characters. Stick to letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, spaces, and hyphens. Avoid @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) = + [ ] { } ; : ' " < > , . ? / \ | ` ~.

Names that are too long may be cut off on some devices' network lists. Keeping your name under 20 characters ensures it displays fully on phones, tablets, and laptops from any manufacturer.

Resetting to the default name

If you want to go back to your iPhone's original hotspot name, open Settings > General > Personal Hotspot and tap the Name field. Delete your custom name and type your iPhone model name followed by your first name — for example, "iPhone 15 Pro Sarah". Tap Done.

You do not have to reset to the exact original name. You can use any name you want at any time. There is no penalty for changing it back and forth.

Troubleshooting: the name field is grayed out

If the Name field appears but you cannot tap it or type in it, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until you see "slide to power off", slide to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears.

If the field is still grayed out after a restart, or if Personal Hotspot does not appear in Settings at all, the issue is usually with your carrier or plan. Contact your carrier's customer service and confirm that your plan includes Personal Hotspot. Some carriers charge an extra fee or require a specific plan tier to use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the hotspot name change the password?

No. The password stays the same unless you change it separately in Personal Hotspot settings. Devices that were connected before the name change will need to forget the old network name and reconnect using the new name with the same password.

Can I use emoji in my hotspot name?

iPhone allows you to type emoji in the name field, and they will display on your phone. However, many older devices and some public networks cannot read emoji characters, so the name may appear garbled or fail to connect. Stick to standard letters and numbers for the widest compatibility.

How often can I change the hotspot name?

You can change it as many times as you want, whenever you want. There is no limit or cooldown period. Each change takes effect when ready on your iPhone, though devices searching for networks will see the new name on their next scan.

Will changing the name affect my hotspot speed or data usage?

No. The name is only what other devices see when they search for networks. It has no effect on how fast your hotspot runs or how much data it uses. Speed and data depend on your cellular signal strength and your carrier's network, not the hotspot name.

What if I forget what I named my hotspot?

Open Settings > General > Personal Hotspot and look at the Name field. That is your current hotspot name. You can also check on any device connected to your hotspot — it will show the network name in the WiFi settings.