# update-symbol (/docs/tx/update-symbol)

Cosmetic call for the subnet owner (or root): changes the short ticker
shown for the subnet's alpha token in wallets, explorers, and CLIs.
Symbols are not arbitrary strings — the chain keeps a fixed catalog of
roughly 439 predefined symbols, and anything outside it is rejected
with `SymbolDoesNotExist`. A symbol already taken by another subnet
is rejected with `SymbolAlreadyInUse`. No economic effect — balances,
stake, and emissions are untouched.

| Signer    | Pallet          | Wraps                           |
| --------- | --------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `coldkey` | SubtensorModule | `SubtensorModule.update_symbol` |

## Parameters [#parameters]

| Parameter | Type    | Required | Description                                                                                       |
| --------- | ------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `netuid`  | integer | yes      | Subnet whose symbol to change; the signer must be its owner.                                      |
| `symbol`  | string  | yes      | New token symbol; must be one of the chain's predefined symbols and not in use by another subnet. |

Address parameters (`--hotkey`, `--coldkey`, `--dest`, ...) accept a raw ss58
address, an address-book or proxy-book name, or a local wallet/hotkey name.

## CLI [#cli]

Preview with `--dry-run` (shows fee, effects, and policy result without
submitting), then submit:

```bash
btcli tx update-symbol \
  --netuid <int> \
  --symbol <value> --dry-run
btcli tx update-symbol \
  --netuid <int> \
  --symbol <value> -w my_coldkey
```

## Python [#python]

```python
import bittensor as sub
from bittensor.wallet import Wallet

wallet = Wallet(name="my_coldkey", hotkey="my_hotkey")
intent = sub.UpdateSymbol(netuid=1, symbol="...")

async with sub.Client("finney") as client:
    plan = await client.plan(intent, wallet)   # fee, effects, policy — no submission
    result = await client.execute(intent, wallet)
    if not result.success:
        print(result.error.code, result.error.remediation)
```

Or build it by op name, as an agent would:

```python
await client.execute_tool("update_symbol", {...}, wallet)
```