Alex Ruben
How To Customize Your iPhone Hotspot Name Easily
Changing the name of your iPhone hotspot might seem like a small thing, but it actually can save some hassle. When your friends or devices are trying to connect, having a clear, personalized hotspot name makes life way easier — instead of guessing which ‘iPhone’ it is when you’ve got multiple devices around. Plus, it’s kinda fun to put a little flair in there with emojis or a funky label. But here’s the thing: the hotspot name isn’t set separately; it’s actually tied to your device’s name, so you’ll need to adjust that. Sometimes people get stuck because they’re looking for a specific settings toggle that isn’t actually where they think it is, so this step-by-step should clear that up.
How to Change Your iPhone Hotspot Name
Access the Device Name in Settings
Why it helps: Since the hotspot name is inherited from your device’s name, changing it here updates everything, including the Wi-Fi hotspot. This applies if you want a quick way to personalize your hotspot without messing with network passwords or reconfiguring other stuff. Expect the hotspot to display your new name immediately after you update it, though sometimes a quick restart helps ensure the change registers properly.
When it applies: When your hotspot still shows the old default or a generic name, and you want to switch it to something more memorable.
Steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Select About.
- Tap Name.
Here, you’ll see the current device name. Tap on it to type a new name, maybe throw in some emojis — whatever floats your boat.
Note: Changing the device name might seem a bit indirect, but it’s the only way to modify the hotspot name since iOS doesn’t have a separate setting for that.
Ensure Your Hotspot Reflects the New Name
Why it helps: Double-checking that the change took effect means less confusion when connecting later. Typically, once you update your device’s name, the hotspot will show the new name, but sometimes, especially on older iOS versions, it might not update immediately.
When it applies: After changing the device name, if your hotspot still shows the old label when you search for it on another device.
Steps:
- Go back to Settings.
- Tap Personal Hotspot.
Look at the top of the screen — your new device name should now appear as your hotspot’s name. If not, a quick restart of your iPhone (hold the power button, slide to power off, then turn it back on) often does the trick. Because of course, iOS has to make things just a little more complicated than necessary.
Extra Tips & Common Snags
Why it helps: Little tips can make the whole process smoother, especially if things don’t seem to change at first. If you’re not seeing the new name, maybe your device’s software is outdated — update to the latest iOS.
When it applies: When changes don’t show up right away, or you’re unsure if the new name actually saved.
Steps to try:
- Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version via Settings > General > Software Update.
- Make sure your device has a stable connection to Wi-Fi or cellular data during updates.
- If the hotspot name still stubbornly refuses to change, consider toggling Settings > Personal Hotspot off and on again, or doing a full restart.
Summary
- Navigate to Settings > General > About.
- Change the Name of your device.
- Verify by checking Settings > Personal Hotspot.
- Restart if necessary; sometimes iOS acts funny about immediate changes.
Wrap-up
In the end, it’s not super complicated — just a sneaky little indirect route via changing your device name. If you want a simple, personalized hotspot name, that’s how to do it. Not sure why Apple decided not to let us set it separately, but hey, it works. Just remember, on one setup it worked the first time, on another, maybe not, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a reboot or two.
Hopefully this shaves off a few minutes for someone trying to make their hotspot just a little more identifiable. Worked for me — hope it works for you too.