Change Your Hotspot Name in Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap General. Scroll down and select 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. Tap the name field, delete the current text, type your new name, and tap Done. Your hotspot will now broadcast under the new name the next time you turn it on.

The name you choose appears to anyone within range who is looking for available networks. It does not affect your phone's name in iCloud or your Apple ID — only the network name that shows up on other people's devices when they search for WiFi.

Key Takeaways

  • Your hotspot name is set in Settings > General > About, in the Name field at the top of the screen.
  • Changing the name takes less than a minute and takes effect the next time you turn on Personal Hotspot.
  • The hotspot name is visible to anyone nearby searching for networks, so choose something you recognize but do not mind others seeing.
  • If you do not see a Name field in About, your device may be running an older iOS version — update to iOS 16.1 or later for full control over the hotspot name.

What Happens When You Change the Name

Once you change the name and tap Done, the new name saves when ready. However, devices that are already connected to your hotspot will not see the name change until they disconnect and reconnect. If you want connected devices to pick up the new name right away, turn off Personal Hotspot, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.

Other devices will see your new hotspot name the moment they search for available networks after you have made the change. There is no delay or waiting period — the change is live as soon as you save it.

Choosing a Hotspot Name That Works for You

Pick a name that is straightforward for you to recognize when you are connecting a new device, especially if you are in a place with many networks nearby. Avoid names that are too similar to other common networks, because that makes it harder to spot yours in a crowded list. A name like "Sarah's iPhone" or "Home WiFi" is clear and practical.

Keep in mind that anyone within range can see your hotspot name, so do not include sensitive information like your full address or phone number. The name itself does not expose your data — it is just the label that shows up on other people's screens — but there is no reason to broadcast personal details.

If Your Hotspot Name Will Not Change

If you tap Done but the name does not seem to save, make sure you are in the correct location: Settings > General > About. The Name field should be at the very top of the About screen, above everything else. If you see a Name field but it will not let you edit it, your device may have restrictions turned on through Screen Time or Mobile Device Management.

If you are running iOS 16 or earlier, you may not have direct control over the hotspot name — it will be set to "[Your Name]'s iPhone" automatically. Update to iOS 16.1 or later through Settings > General > Software Update to unlock the ability to customize it. After the update, the Name field in About will become editable.

Hotspot Name vs. Device Name

Your iPhone has two separate names: the device name (what Siri calls your phone, what shows up in iCloud) and the hotspot name (what other devices see when they search for your network). Changing the hotspot name in Settings > General > About only affects the network name — it does not change your device name in iCloud or how Siri identifies your phone.

If you want to change your overall device name as well, go to Settings > General > About and look for an option to edit the device name directly, or use the Rename This iPhone option if it appears. On most recent iOS versions, the Name field controls both, so changing it once updates everything.

Resetting Your Hotspot Name to Default

If you want to go back to the default hotspot name, return to Settings > General > About and change the Name field back to "[Your Name]'s iPhone" — replace [Your Name] with your actual first name. Tap Done and the change takes effect when ready.

There is no automatic reset button, so you will need to type the default name manually if you want to restore it. Write it exactly as it was before, with the apostrophe and "iPhone" capitalized, so other devices recognize it as your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my hotspot name affect my WiFi password?

No. Your hotspot password stays the same when you change the name. Other devices will still need to enter the same password they used before — the name change is cosmetic only and does not alter security settings.

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

Most special characters work, but some devices may not display them correctly. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation like hyphens or underscores to make sure the name shows up clearly on all phones and tablets.

Will my hotspot name change on all my Apple devices?

No. Each device has its own hotspot name. If you have an iPad with Personal Hotspot turned on, it will have a separate name from your iPhone. You would need to change the name on each device individually through its own Settings > General > About screen.

What if I forgot what my current hotspot name is?

Go to Settings > General > About and look at the Name field — that is your current hotspot name. You can also turn on Personal Hotspot and look at the name that appears in the status bar at the top of your screen, or check what name shows up on another device when you search for available networks.