Change your hotspot name in Settings on your iPhone

Your iPhone's hotspot broadcasts under a name — technically called the SSID — that other devices see when they search for networks to join. By default, Apple names it something like "John's iPhone", but you can change it to anything you want. The name appears in the list of available networks on laptops, tablets, and other phones when they look for your hotspot.

The change takes effect when ready. Any device already connected stays connected; devices searching for your hotspot will see the new name the next time they scan for networks.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, then tap the field showing your current hotspot name to edit it directly.
  • Your hotspot name can be up to 32 characters and appear to any device within range, so choose something you recognize but are comfortable sharing.
  • The change takes effect right away without restarting your iPhone or disconnecting current users.
  • If you cannot find Personal Hotspot in Settings, your carrier may not support it or your plan may not include it.

Step-by-step: finding and renaming your hotspot

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Personal Hotspot. If you do not see it, your iPhone model or carrier plan may not support hotspot sharing — check with your carrier or scroll further down to see if it appears under a different section.

Once you are in Personal Hotspot, you will see a field at the top showing your current hotspot name. Tap directly on that name field. The text will become editable, and a keyboard will appear. Delete the current name and type the new one you want. Tap Done or press the return key to save. That is all — the change is live.

If Personal Hotspot is turned off, you may need to toggle it on first. Look for the switch next to "Personal Hotspot" and turn it on. Once it is on, you can edit the name the same way.

What name should you choose

Your hotspot name is visible to anyone within range of your iPhone, so pick something you recognize but do not mind others seeing. Many people use their name or a variation of it — "Sarah's iPhone" or "Sarah's Hotspot" — so they know which network is theirs in a crowded area like a coffee shop or airport.

You can use letters, numbers, and spaces. The name can be up to 32 characters long. Avoid names that might confuse you later or that you would not want displayed in a public place, since the name shows up in the available networks list on other people's devices.

When the name change does not appear on other devices

If you changed your hotspot name but other devices still see the old name, the device searching for networks may be caching the old list. Have the other device forget the network and search again. On a Mac, go to System Settings, click Wi-Fi, find your old hotspot name in the list, click the information icon next to it, and select "Forget This Network". On Windows, go to Settings, Network & Internet, Wi-Fi, Manage Known Networks, find the old name, and click "Forget".

After forgetting the network, have the device search for available networks again. Your new hotspot name should appear in the list within a few seconds.

Hotspot name limits and special characters

Your hotspot name must be between 1 and 32 characters. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Some special characters — like quotation marks or backslashes — may not work or may cause connection problems on certain devices, so stick to standard keyboard characters if you run into trouble.

If you try to save a name that is too long, iOS will not let you proceed. Delete characters until you are within the 32-character limit and try again.

Changing your hotspot name does not affect your password

Renaming your hotspot does not change the password that devices use to connect. Your hotspot password is separate from the name and stays the same unless you change it deliberately in the Personal Hotspot settings. If you want to change the password as well, you can do that in the same Personal Hotspot menu — look for a "Wi-Fi Password" field below the name.

Devices that were already connected to your old hotspot name will need to forget that network and reconnect using the new name and the same password.

Troubleshooting: Personal Hotspot not showing in Settings

If you cannot find Personal Hotspot in your Settings app, first check that your iPhone model supports it. All current iPhones support Personal Hotspot, but very old models may not. Next, confirm that your carrier plan includes hotspot data. Some plans limit or exclude hotspot use — contact your carrier to verify.

If your plan includes hotspot and your iPhone is current, try restarting your iPhone. Hold the power button until the slider appears, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo. After restart, open Settings and look for Personal Hotspot again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use special characters or emoji in my hotspot name?

Most standard punctuation works, but emoji and some special characters may not display correctly on all devices or may prevent connection. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation like hyphens and underscores for the most reliable results across different devices.

Does changing the hotspot name disconnect devices already using it?

No. Devices already connected stay connected. They will not see the new name in their network list, but they remain online. If they disconnect and search for networks again, they will need to look for the new name to reconnect.

What if I forgot what I named my hotspot?

Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, and look at the name field at the top. That is your current hotspot name. You can also check on any device connected to your hotspot — it will show the network name it is using.

Can I change my hotspot name on a Mac or Windows computer?

No. The hotspot name is controlled only from your iPhone. You must use your iPhone's Settings app to change it. Computers can only connect to the hotspot, not manage its settings.

How often can I change my 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.