Change Your Hotspot Name Through iPhone Settings

To change your iPhone hotspot name, open Settings, tap General, then About. At the top of the About screen, you'll see Name — this is the name that appears when other devices search for your hotspot. Tap it, delete the current name, type a new one, and tap Done. The new name takes effect immediately.

Your iPhone's hotspot name is the same as your device name. When you change one, you change the other. This means anyone who connects to your hotspot will see the new name you've chosen, and your device will also show that name in Bluetooth and AirDrop settings.

The name can be up to 32 characters long and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Avoid characters like quotation marks or backslashes, as some devices won't recognize them properly.

Key Takeaways

  • Your hotspot name is controlled through Settings > General > About > Name, not through the hotspot settings themselves.
  • Changing your device name automatically changes your hotspot name — they are the same thing on iPhone.
  • The new name appears immediately on other devices searching for your hotspot; no restart is required.
  • You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation, but keep it under 32 characters for compatibility with older devices.

Why Your Hotspot Name Matters

Other people see your hotspot name when they search for available networks to join. A clear, recognizable name makes it easier for your devices and guests to find and connect to your hotspot. A confusing or generic name like "iPhone" can make it hard to tell which network is yours if multiple iPhones are nearby.

Your hotspot name is also visible to anyone in range, so choose something you're comfortable with. Avoid including personal information like your full name or address. A simple identifier like "Sarah's iPhone" or "Home WiFi" works well.

What Happens When You Change the Name

Once you change your device name in Settings > General > About, the new name appears in the Personal Hotspot settings and on the networks list that other devices see. If you have Personal Hotspot already turned on, devices that are currently connected stay connected — they don't need to reconnect.

Devices that were previously connected to your old hotspot name will see the new name the next time they search for available networks. They may need to "forget" the old network name and reconnect to the new one, depending on their settings.

Turning On Personal Hotspot First

Before other devices can see your hotspot name, you need to turn on Personal Hotspot. Go to Settings, tap General, then Personal Hotspot, and toggle it On. Once it's on, your device name appears as an available network for nearby devices to join.

If you don't see the Personal Hotspot option, check that your cellular plan supports it — most plans do, but some older or limited plans may not. You can also turn on Personal Hotspot from Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) and tapping the Personal Hotspot icon.

Connecting Other Devices to Your Hotspot

Once your hotspot is on and you've set a name you like, other devices can connect to it. On another iPhone, iPad, or Mac, go to Settings or System Preferences, find your hotspot name in the WiFi list, tap or click it, and enter your iPhone's password. You can find your hotspot password in Settings > General > Personal Hotspot on your iPhone.

Android devices, Windows computers, and other devices follow the same basic process: look for your hotspot name in the available networks list, select it, and enter the password. The password is the same one shown in your iPhone's Personal Hotspot settings.

Troubleshooting a Name That Won't Change

If you change your device name but it doesn't appear as your hotspot name, restart your iPhone. Turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. After restart, check Settings > General > About to confirm the name changed, then turn Personal Hotspot back on.

If the name still doesn't update on other devices, have those devices forget the old network and search again. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > WiFi, tap the info icon next to your old hotspot name, and select Forget This Network. Then search for available networks again — your new hotspot name should appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Most special characters work, but emojis may not display correctly on all devices. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and basic punctuation like hyphens or underscores. Avoid quotation marks and backslashes, as they can cause connection problems on older devices.

Does changing my hotspot name affect my WiFi password?

No. Your hotspot password stays the same when you change the name. The password is separate from the device name. If you want to change your password, go to Settings > General > Personal Hotspot and look for the password option there.

Will devices already connected to my hotspot disconnect if I change the name?

No. Devices that are currently connected will stay connected. They won't see the name change until they disconnect and search for networks again. When they do, they'll see the new name and may need to reconnect if their settings require it.

What if my hotspot name doesn't show up on other devices?

Make sure Personal Hotspot is turned on in Settings > General > Personal Hotspot. Check that the other device's WiFi is on and in range. If it still doesn't appear, restart both your iPhone and the device trying to connect, then search again.