How to Change the Name of Your Hotspot (On Any Device)

Your hotspot name — technically called the SSID (Service Set Identifier) — is the network label that appears when other devices scan for Wi-Fi. Changing it is one of the most common network customization tasks, and it works a little differently depending on whether you're on Android, iPhone, Windows, or a dedicated mobile hotspot device.

Here's a clear walkthrough of how it works across the main platforms, plus what to keep in mind before you make the change.

Why Your Hotspot Name Matters

The default name assigned to your hotspot is usually generated from your phone's model name, your carrier, or a generic label like "AndroidAP" or "iPhone." These defaults are functional but not ideal — they can make it harder to identify your network in crowded areas, and they sometimes reveal device information you'd rather keep private.

Renaming your hotspot lets you:

• Identify your network quickly among multiple available connections
• Avoid broadcasting your device model to nearby strangers
• Organize shared networks in households or small offices where multiple hotspots run simultaneously

The SSID is purely a display label — changing it has no effect on your connection speed, data limits, or signal strength.

How to Change Your Hotspot Name on Android 📱

The path varies slightly by manufacturer and Android version, but the general route is:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Network & Internet (or Connections on Samsung devices)
3. Select Hotspot & Tethering (sometimes labeled Mobile Hotspot)
4. Tap Mobile Hotspot to enter its settings
5. Look for Hotspot Name, Network Name, or SSID — tap it to edit
6. Type your new name and save

On some Android versions, you'll find the name field inside an Advanced or Configure option within the hotspot settings screen. If you don't see it immediately, look one level deeper.

Important: After saving, devices that were previously connected to your hotspot will no longer find it under the old name. They'll need to reconnect to the new SSID.

How to Change Your Hotspot Name on iPhone or iPad

Apple keeps this straightforward — but the hotspot name on iOS is actually tied directly to your device name, not a separate hotspot setting.

To change it:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap General
3. Select About
4. Tap Name at the top
5. Edit the name and tap Done

Your Personal Hotspot SSID will automatically update to match this device name. Keep in mind that renaming your iPhone also changes how it appears in AirDrop, iCloud, Find My, and other Apple services — so choose something you're comfortable with across all of those.

How to Change Your Hotspot Name on Windows 11 (or Windows 10)

Windows allows you to turn a laptop or desktop into a mobile hotspot, and renaming it is straightforward:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Click Mobile Hotspot
4. Click the Edit button (pencil icon) next to the network name
5. Enter your new Network Name and update or confirm the password
6. Click Save

The hotspot must be turned off briefly to apply the new name on some Windows versions, so don't be surprised if it cycles off and back on.

How to Change the Name on a Dedicated Mobile Hotspot Device 🔧

Standalone mobile hotspot devices (sometimes called MiFi units or portable Wi-Fi routers) from carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T are managed through a browser-based admin panel rather than a phone settings menu.

The typical process:

1. Connect a device to the hotspot's current Wi-Fi network
2. Open a browser and go to the admin URL — often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, though some devices use a custom address printed on the label
3. Log in with the admin username and password (usually on the device label or in its documentation)
4. Navigate to Wi-Fi Settings or Network Name (SSID)
5. Edit the name, save, and allow the device to restart if prompted

Some newer dedicated hotspot devices also have companion apps that let you manage settings from your phone without opening a browser.

Key Variables That Affect the Process

The steps above cover the most common scenarios, but your specific experience depends on several factors:

One factor worth noting: special characters (like emojis or symbols) in an SSID can occasionally cause connectivity issues for older devices trying to join. Standard letters, numbers, and hyphens are the safest choice.

What Happens to Connected Devices After You Rename

Any device that was saved to your old hotspot name will lose the automatic connection. The saved network profile on those devices still references the old SSID, which no longer exists. You — or whoever uses those devices — will need to manually find and reconnect to the new network name, then re-enter the password.

This is worth planning for if you're managing a hotspot used by multiple people or devices regularly.

Whether renaming is a quick two-tap change or requires digging into an admin panel depends entirely on which device and setup you're working with — and how your carrier has configured things on their end.