How to Change Your Hotspot Name and Password on iPhone

Whether you’re sharing mobile data with your laptop on the go or helping a friend connect to the internet, Personal Hotspot turns your iPhone into a Wi-Fi access point. By default, your hotspot’s Wi-Fi name (SSID) is the same as your device name, and its password is a random but often weak string of characters. 

Renaming your hotspot and choosing a strong password can prevent confusion in crowded places (coffee shops, airports), stop unauthorized users, and help you identify your device quickly on another gadget. Below is everything you need to know to customize both the name and the password of your iPhone hotspot.

Prerequisites

• An iPhone running iOS 14 or later (steps are the same in iOS 15/16/17/18). 

• A cellular plan that supports tethering or a hotspot. 

• Personal Hotspot is enabled in Settings. 

(To confirm the hotspot is available: Open Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot. If you see Allow Others to Join, toggle it on. If you don’t see that option, contact your carrier to enable tethering.)

Changing Your Hotspot’s Wi-Fi Name (SSID)

By default, your iPhone hotspot name is whatever you’ve named your device (e.g., Emma’s iPhone). To change it:

1. Open Settings > General.

2. Tap About > Name.

3. Enter a new name, for example, WiseCleaner Hotspot. Tap Done to finish.

Note: Other users in your area will be able to see your hotspot name, so it is a good idea not to include any personal information when you change your hotspot name.

Once you update the device name, the hotspot SSID immediately reflects that new name. On any laptop or tablet you scan for Wi-Fi networks, you’ll now see WiseCleaner Hotspot instead of the old name.

Setting a Custom Hotspot Password

A strong password is your first line of defense against freeloaders. iOS recommends a minimum of eight characters, mixing letters, numbers, and symbols. To change it:

1. Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot.

2. Tap WLAN Password. Delete the current text and enter your new password. Good practices: At least 10–12 characters long, a mix of uppercase, lowercase, digits, and one or two special characters (e.g., *, or #). Avoid common words, birthdays, or simple sequences like 1234.

3. Tap Done in the upper-right corner.

Any device that was previously connected will need the new password before it can join again.

Connecting Devices to Your Newly Named/Passworded Hotspot

1. On a Mac or Windows PC: Open Wi-Fi settings, select your iPhone’s new SSID, and enter the updated password.

2. On another iPhone or iPad: Settings > Wi-Fi, tap your new hotspot name, and enter the new password.

3. Connect to your hotspot via Bluetooth: To connect to your iPhone’s hotspot via Bluetooth, simply open the Bluetooth settings on your device. This is the same way you would connect a Bluetooth mouse or wireless headphones. Then click Connect to Network on your device. This might be different, depending on what device you are trying to connect.

Conclusion

Changing your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot name and password is quick, free, and significantly boosts both usability and security. In the simple steps of renaming your device, setting a custom password, and reconnecting your clients, you’ll ensure that your mobile network is unmistakable and off-limits to anyone you haven’t explicitly invited.