Change Your iPhone Hotspot Name in Three Steps

Your iPhone's hotspot broadcasts under a default name — usually "iPhone" followed by your name. You can change this to anything you want by going into Settings, tapping Personal Hotspot, and editing the name field. The new name appears when ready to devices searching for your hotspot, and you do not need to restart anything.

The process takes less than a minute and works on any iPhone model running iOS 13 or later. Once you change it, any device that was previously connected will still work, but it will see the new name the next time it searches for available networks.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, then tap the name field to edit your hotspot's broadcast name.
  • The new name takes effect when ready without restarting your phone or reconnecting devices.
  • Choose a name that is straightforward to recognize but does not broadcast personal information to strangers nearby.
  • If Personal Hotspot does not appear in Settings, contact your carrier — some plans do not include hotspot access.

Where to Find Personal Hotspot in Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Personal Hotspot. On some iPhones, it appears under a category called General; on others, it is its own line in the main Settings menu. If you do not see Personal Hotspot at all, your carrier may not have enabled it on your plan — contact them to confirm it is available.

Once you tap Personal Hotspot, you will see a toggle switch at the top (to turn the hotspot on or off) and below it, a field showing your current hotspot name. That name field is what you edit.

Editing the Hotspot Name

Tap directly on the name field — it usually shows something like "David's iPhone" or just "iPhone". A text box will open. Delete the current text and type the new name you want. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks.

When you are done typing, tap the back arrow or tap outside the text box to save. The change is when ready. Any device within range will now see your new hotspot name when it searches for available networks.

What Name Should You Choose

Pick something you will recognize easily when you are looking for your own hotspot on another device. Many people use their name, their initials, or a straightforward label like "Home WiFi" or "Work Network". Avoid names that broadcast sensitive information — do not use your full address, phone number, or passwords.

Keep the name reasonably short. Longer names are harder to spot in a crowded list of networks, and some devices may truncate very long names. A name between 5 and 20 characters usually works well.

Reconnecting Devices After You Change the Name

Devices that were already connected to your hotspot will stay connected even after you change the name. They do not need to reconnect or re-enter a password.

If a device was previously connected and you want it to connect again later, it will see the new hotspot name in its available networks list. You may need to "forget" the old network name from that device's settings first, then select the new name and enter your hotspot password again. This varies by device — check your device's WiFi settings if you run into trouble.

Changing the Hotspot Password at the Same Time

While you are in Personal Hotspot settings, you can also change your hotspot password. Look for a field labeled WiFi Password below the name field. Tap it to edit. Your password must be at least 8 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and symbols.

If you change the password, any device that was previously connected will lose access and will need to re-enter the new password the next time it connects. This is a good security step if you suspect someone has been using your hotspot without permission.

Troubleshooting: Personal Hotspot Does Not Appear

If you cannot find Personal Hotspot in Settings, the most common reason is that your carrier has not enabled it on your plan. Contact your carrier's customer service and ask them to turn on Personal Hotspot. Some carriers charge an extra monthly fee for this feature; others include it for free.

Another possibility is that you are using an older version of iOS. Personal Hotspot has been available since iOS 4.3, so this is rare, but if your iPhone is very old, check whether an iOS update is available. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to see if an update is waiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my hotspot name without turning the hotspot on?

Yes. You can edit the name and password in Personal Hotspot settings whether the hotspot is currently on or off. The name change takes effect the next time you turn the hotspot on, or when ready if it is already on.

Will changing the hotspot name disconnect devices that are currently using it?

No. Devices stay connected even after you change the name. They will see the new name only when they search for available networks again or when they reconnect later.

What characters can I use in the hotspot name?

You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Avoid very long names (over 32 characters) because some devices may not display them fully. Stick to standard keyboard characters for best compatibility.

Do I need to change my hotspot password when I change the name?

No, they are separate settings. You can change the name without touching the password, or change the password without changing the name. Change both only if you want to.

Can I change my hotspot name on a Mac or iPad instead of the iPhone?

No. The hotspot name is controlled only from the iPhone that is broadcasting it. You must use the iPhone's Settings app to change it. Other devices can only connect to the hotspot, not edit its settings.