How to Change WiFi Name on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

You opened your iPhone, stared at your Wi-Fi list, and thought, “Why is my network named LINKSYS-7B3F like it’s a secret agent?” Or maybe
your hotspot name is your full legal name, which is… adorable, but also a little like wearing a name tag to the internet.

Here’s the truth: an iPhone can’t “rename” your home Wi-Fi network by itself because the Wi-Fi name (also called the SSID) is controlled
by your router or internet gatewaynot your phone. But you can use your iPhone to change it by logging into your router (or using your provider’s app).
And if what you really mean is your iPhone Personal Hotspot name, that’s even easier.

First: What “Wi-Fi Name” Are You Trying to Change?

“Wi-Fi name” can mean two different things, and mixing them up is how otherwise peaceful people end up angrily power-cycling a router at 2 a.m.

• Your home/office Wi-Fi network name (SSID): This is what everyone sees in the list of available networks. It lives in your router’s settings.
  (You can change it using an iPhone, but you change it on the router.)
• Your iPhone hotspot name: This is the Wi-Fi network your iPhone broadcasts when Personal Hotspot is on. This name comes from your iPhone’s
  device name.

Option A: Change Your iPhone Hotspot Name (Fast and Painless)

If your goal is to rename the Wi-Fi network your iPhone shares (Personal Hotspot), you’ll change your iPhone’s device name.
That device name becomes the hotspot name people see.

Steps to rename your iPhone (and hotspot name)

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General > About.
3. Tap Name.
4. Type your new name (example: “Riley’s Hotspot” or “Definitely Not Free WiFi”).
5. Tap Done.

Quick checks if the new hotspot name doesn’t show up

• Toggle Personal Hotspot off and back on (Settings > Personal Hotspot).
• On the other device, turn Wi-Fi off/on or “forget” the hotspot and reconnect.
• Give it 10–30 secondssome devices cache network lists like they’re hoarding for winter.

Option B: Change Your Home Wi-Fi Network Name (SSID) Using Your iPhone

This is the one most people mean: renaming the Wi-Fi network your router broadcasts. You’ll do it one of three ways:
a provider app, a router manufacturer app, or the router’s web admin page in Safari.

Before you start: a 60-second checklist

• Be connected to the Wi-Fi network you want to rename (not cellular, not a neighbor’s Wi-Fitempting, but no).
• Have the router admin login (username/password) or your ISP’s app login.
• Decide if you’re changing only the name or name + password.
  If your current password is weak or widely shared, changing both is usually smarter.
• Expect a brief disconnect. After you save changes, you’ll reconnect your devices using the new Wi-Fi name (and password if you changed it).

Method 1: Change Wi-Fi Name in an ISP or Mesh Router App

Many modern setups (especially ISP gateways and mesh Wi-Fi systems) want you to use an app. This is often the easiest path because the app “finds”
the router for you and doesn’t make you type mysterious IP addresses.

AT&T (Smart Home Manager or Gateway UI)

AT&T typically lets you change the network name (SSID) and password in Smart Home Manager, or by signing into the gateway settings.
The flow usually looks like: open the manager, go to Network, edit the Wi-Fi name, save, then reconnect devices.

Verizon (My Verizon or manual router login)

Verizon supports changing your Wi-Fi name (SSID) and password through My Verizon for certain routers. They also describe a manual option:
open a browser and go to the router address (commonly 192.168.1.1), sign in, then update the Wi-Fi name and save.

Google Nest WiFi / Google WiFi (Google Home app)

In the Google Home app, you can rename your Wi-Fi network from Wi-Fi settings. Keep the name cleanGoogle notes that extra spaces at the beginning or end
can cause issues.

eero (eero app)

In the eero app, you can change your Wi-Fi name (SSID) and password in Settings. Changes save automatically, and you’ll reconnect devices afterward.

Method 2: Change Wi-Fi Name by Logging Into Your Router in Safari

If you don’t have an ISP app (or you prefer doing things “the old-fashioned way,” like a digital mechanic), you can use Safari to log into your router’s admin page.
This works on an iPhone as long as you’re connected to that router’s Wi-Fi.

Step 1: Find your router’s address (the “Router” field)

1. Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the ⓘ (info) icon next to your connected network.
3. Look for Router. That number (often something like 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1) is what you’ll type in Safari.

Step 2: Sign into the router admin page

1. Open Safari.
2. Type the router address from the Wi-Fi info screen into the address bar.
3. Sign in using the router admin username/password.

Important: Your Wi-Fi password is usually not the same as your router admin password. Many routers have admin login details on a sticker,
or they were set during installation.

Step 3: Find Wireless settings and rename the SSID

Look for menu labels like Wireless, Wi-Fi, Network, or SSID. Then:

1. Find Network Name (SSID) (sometimes “Wi-Fi Name”).
2. Enter your new Wi-Fi name.
3. (Optional but recommended) Update the Wi-Fi password too.
4. Tap Save / Apply. Your router may reboot.

Examples for popular router brands

• NETGEAR: NETGEAR commonly directs you to a login like routerlogin.net, then you go to Wireless, edit the SSID name field, update the
  password (Network Key), and Apply. If your phone disconnects after saving, you reconnect using the new name/password.
• Linksys: Linksys emphasizes that changing Wi-Fi settings disconnects devices, then you reconnect them using the new SSID/password. In their
  interface, you typically log in, go to Configuration > Wi-Fi, and enter the new Network Name (SSID) for the bands, then Save.

After You Change the Wi-Fi Name: Reconnect Without Losing Your Weekend

Renaming your SSID is basically telling every device in your home, “Hi, we’re a new network now.” Some devices accept this calmly. Others act like you just moved
their cheese.

Reconnect your iPhone

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap your new Wi-Fi name.
3. Enter the password (if prompted).

If your iPhone keeps trying the old network

You may need to “forget” the old saved Wi-Fi entry so your iPhone stops clinging to the past.

1. Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the ⓘ next to the old network name (if visible).
3. Tap Forget This Network, then rejoin using the new network name.

Don’t forget the “quiet” devices

The biggest time sink isn’t your phone or laptopit’s the stuff that doesn’t have a keyboard:

• Smart TVs and streaming sticks
• Printers
• Smart speakers and smart displays
• Doorbells, cameras, and thermostats
• Robot vacuums (they absolutely have opinions)

Many of these devices require you to open their app and run a “Change Wi-Fi” or “Re-connect to network” step.
If you have dozens of smart devices, consider keeping the same password during the rename to reduce re-setup pain.

How to Pick a Better Wi-Fi Name (SSID): Fun, Practical, and Not a Security Risk

Your Wi-Fi name is public to anyone nearby. That doesn’t mean you can’t be funnyit just means you shouldn’t be
helpful to strangers in the wrong ways.

Good naming rules

• Make it unique (avoid default names like “linksys,” “netgear,” or “wireless”).
• Skip personal info (no full names, addresses, apartment numbers, or “RileyInUnit12B”).
• Keep bands consistent when possible. Using one SSID for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz can improve reliability on many devices and helps them roam
  more smoothly between bands and access points.
• Avoid hidden SSIDs. Hiding the network name doesn’t truly secure it and can create privacy/connection headaches.

Security tip you’ll thank yourself for later

If you’re already in the router settings, take the extra minute to ensure your security mode is strong. Modern recommendations favor WPA3 Personal
(or a WPA2/WPA3 transitional option for compatibility). Avoid outdated modes like WEP or TKIP.

Troubleshooting: When the Router Page Won’t Load (or Life Gets Weird)

Problem: The router login page won’t open in Safari

• Confirm you’re on the correct Wi-Fi (not cellular). Try toggling Airplane Mode on/off.
• Use the router address from Settings > Wi-Fi > ⓘ rather than guessing.
• Turn off VPN temporarily (some VPNs block local network access).
• Try http:// if https:// doesn’t load (some router panels are old-school).
• Restart the router and try again.

Problem: You changed the name, but the old name still appears

• Wait a minute and refresh the Wi-Fi listbroadcast changes aren’t always instant on every device.
• Restart the router (or let it finish rebooting fully).
• On your iPhone, forget the old network and rejoin the new one.
• If you have multiple access points/mesh nodes, make sure they all synced the change.

Problem: Everything disconnected and now you’re living in a no-Wi-Fi dystopia

This is normal right after you rename an SSID or change the password. Reconnect one device first (your iPhone), then work outward:
laptop, TV, smart devices, printers. If you changed both name and password, every device needs the new credentials.

FAQ (Because Wi-Fi Has Main-Character Energy)

Can I change my Wi-Fi name directly on my iPhone without touching the router?

Not for a home Wi-Fi network. The SSID is set on the router/gateway. However, you can change your iPhone hotspot name by changing your iPhone’s device name.

Does changing the Wi-Fi name also change the password?

Not automatically. You can change the SSID without changing the password, but you’ll still need to reconnect devices to the new network name.
Since you’re already editing settings, many people update both for better security.

Should I use separate Wi-Fi names for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz?

Sometimes separate names help with troubleshooting (like forcing a smart plug onto 2.4 GHz), but one unified name often improves day-to-day reliability.
If you keep one name, your router handles band steering and roaming more smoothly for most households.

Conclusion

Changing the Wi-Fi name “on iPhone” really means changing it with your iPhone: either by renaming your iPhone (for Personal Hotspot) or by logging into
your router/provider app to update your SSID. Once you know which “Wi-Fi name” you’re targeting, the steps are straightforward: change it, save it, reconnect your
devices, and enjoy never seeing NETGEAR86 again.

Real-World Experiences: What Usually Happens After You Rename Wi-Fi (and How to Handle It)

In real homes (and real group chats), renaming a Wi-Fi network rarely ends with a triumphant “Done” and a gentle fade to black. It’s more like dominoessmall,
predictable dominoesbut still dominoes. Here are the most common “experiences” people run into, plus how to respond like the calm, capable Wi-Fi wizard you are
becoming.

1) The streaming TV suddenly acts like it’s never met you. Your phone reconnects fast, but the living room TV stares back like, “New Wi-Fi? I
don’t know her.” This is normal because TVs and streaming sticks store the old network profile. The fix is usually inside the device’s Network settings:
select the new Wi-Fi name and re-enter the password. If the TV UI is painfully slow, restarting the TV after the router rename often helps it refresh the Wi-Fi list.

2) Smart home devices become… not smart. Smart bulbs, plugs, vacuums, and doorbells are famous for being loyal to one Wi-Fi network and then
refusing to learn a new one without a dramatic ritual. Typically, you’ll open the device’s app and look for “Change Wi-Fi,” “Reconfigure network,” or “Reconnect.”
Some devices require putting them in pairing mode again (yes, the blinking light is the device screaming for attention). If you have a lot of smart devices, one
strategy is to rename the network but keep the same password during the transition so fewer devices need a full re-setup.

3) Someone in the house can’t connect and blames your phone. A classic. The usual culprit is that their device auto-joins the old Wi-Fi profile
and never tries the new one. Tell them to open Wi-Fi settings, tap the new network name, and enter the password carefully. If it still fails, have them “forget”
the old network and retry. Also: double-check caps and spacing. Wi-Fi names are case-sensitive, and an accidental trailing space can be surprisingly powerful chaos.

4) “Why do I see two networks now?” After a rename, some people temporarily see both the old and new SSID. This can happen during router reboot,
when extenders broadcast a previous config, or when a mesh node hasn’t synced yet. The fix is to wait a minute, restart the router/extender, and confirm all nodes
are using the same SSID. If you have an extender from years ago (the one that lives behind a bookshelf), it may need a manual update or a reboot to match the new name.

5) The best experience: everything reconnects automatically (yes, it happens). This usually happens when people reuse a previous SSID and password,
or when they change only a small detail and their devices quickly rejoin. If your goal is minimal disruption, that’s the pro move: pick the name you actually want to
keep long-term, set strong security once, and then stop touching it unless you have a reason (like a security upgrade or a compromised password).

Bottom line: renaming Wi-Fi is less about the rename itself and more about the reconnect wave afterward. If you plan for that wavestarting with your iPhone,
then the essentials, then the smart gadgetsyou’ll be back online quickly, with a network name you’re not embarrassed to read out loud.