How to Change your WiFi Name on an iPhone: Hotspot & Router

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Quick steps to rename your personal hotspot or WiFi router

Co-authored by Chiara Corsaro and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: October 13, 2025 Fact Checked

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Changing Your Hotspot Name

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Changing Your Router Name

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Video

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Tips

Whether you’re worried about security or just tired of the generic name of your iPhone’s WiFi hotspot, it’s easy to change the name in your phone’s settings. You can also change the name of your home WiFi network, also known as your SSID, from your phone. In this article, we’ll take you through the easiest ways to customize your WiFi name using an iPhone.

Changing Your WiFi Name on an iPhone

Open your iPhone's Settings.
Tap General.
Tap About.
Tap Name.
Enter a new WiFi name.
Tap the checkmark to save the new name.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Changing the Name of Your Personal Hotspot

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To change the name of your phone’s personal WiFi hotspot, you’ll need to change the name of your phone. To get started, tap the Settings icon on your home screen.^{[1]
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It's in the second group of settings.

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You should see it at the top of the list of options. Tap it to open a screen listing various data about your phone, including its name.^{[2]
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This opens a new screen displaying your iPhone’s current name. When you use your iPhone as a personal hotspot, this is the name that other people can see when browsing for and connecting to it.^{[3]
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Enter a new name, then tap the checkmark. To clear your phone’s current name, tap the gray X next to the current name. Then, type the new name using the keyboard at the bottom of the screen. When you're finished, tap the blue checkmark at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard.
- When you initially set up your phone, it will usually have a generic name like “Mary’s iPhone” or just “iPhone.” Choose something distinctive that you can easily recognize.
- It may take a moment for the new name to show up in the list of WiFi networks on your other devices. You might also see the old name temporarily, but you won’t be able to connect to it.
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Secure your Hotspot with a password. If you don’t want just anyone to be able to hop on your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot, you can set a password for it. To do this:^{[4]
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- Open the Settings app
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- Tap General
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- Tap Cellular or Mobile.
- Tap Personal Hotspot.
- Tap Wi-Fi Password.
- Enter a new password of your choice.
  - Your password must be at least 8 characters long and use standard ASCII characters. These include any of the letters or numbers on the English keyboard, plus some punctuation.
- If you’d rather not make your hotspot visible to others who aren’t signed into your iCloud account, switch off Allow Others to Join in your cellular settings. You can locate this setting just above Wi-Fi Password when you open the Personal Hotspot menu.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Updating Your WiFi Router’s Name from Your Phone

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If you have administrative access to your Wi-Fi router, you can use this method to change its name. You won’t be able to directly rename your WiFi network from your iPhone, but you can find your router's IP address in your settings.
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Tap Wi-Fi. This is close to the top of the Settings menu.
- If you aren't already connected to the Wi-Fi network, you will need to do that first. Tap the name of the network you want to join in the list of available networks, and log in with the current network password if you’re prompted to do so.^{[5]
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It's the lowercase "i" in a circle. This opens some details about your connection.
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Copy your router’s IP address. Scroll down to the "IPv4" section–at the bottom, you will see an entry for "Router," followed by an IP address. Your router’s IP address will typically look like a series of 4 numbers, 1-3 digits each, separated by periods. For instance, you may see a number like 10.0.0.1. Once you spot it, tap and hold it, then tap Copy.
Any browser on your phone should work for this. Paste or type the IP address directly into the address bar, then tap the Enter or Go key on the keyboard.^{[6]
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Enter the router user ID and password printed on the router. You will need to know the admin username and password for your router to use this method. It's usually printed on a sticker somewhere on the router. If you don’t know the user ID and password for your router, you can usually find it printed on a sticker on the side of the router.^{[7]
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- In many cases, the default username for the router will be “Admin”. However, look at the label on your router to be sure.
- If you have trouble finding the router's login information, see our guide to finding a router password.
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Change the WiFi network name. Depending on your internet service provider and the manufacturer of your router, you might see a variety of different things once you log in. If you don’t immediately see an option to change your WiFi network name, look for a link or tab called SSID, Wireless, Modify your Wi-Fi settings, or something similar. Click the link and follow the instructions to give your network a new name.^{[8]
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- While you’re at it, you might want to update your Wi-Fi password. It’s much easier for hackers to get into your network if you keep the default password settings for your network.^{[9]
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- Try to choose a network name that’s unique and doesn’t reveal any personal information. For instance, pick a combination of words that’s meaningful to you, the name of a favorite book or movie, or a silly pun (like “Tell my wifi love her”).^{[10]
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Use the AirPort Utility app if you have an AirPort router. If you use one of Apple’s AirPort Base Station routers, you can easily manage the name of your WiFi network using the AirPort Utility on your iPhone.^{[11]
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- Select your router (or base station) and tap Edit.
- Enter a password if prompted.
- Enter a new name for the network in the Base Station Name field.
- Tap Update to save your changes.