Change your hotspot password through your phone's settings, not through a browser

Your phone's hotspot password lives in your device settings, not online. On Android, open Settings, tap Network & Internet (or Wireless & Networks on older versions), then Hotspot and Tethering or Mobile Hotspot. Tap the gear icon or Configure next to your hotspot name. Change the password field and save. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap General, then Personal Hotspot, and change the Wi-Fi Password field.

The new password takes effect when ready. Any device currently connected will stay connected until you manually disconnect it or it times out. New devices trying to join will need the new password. Write down the new password somewhere you can find it — you cannot retrieve it later by logging into an account, because there is no account. The password is stored only on your phone.

If you cannot find these settings, search your phone's settings app for "hotspot" or "tethering" — the exact menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version. Samsung phones, for example, call it Mobile Hotspot under Connections. Google Pixel phones put it under Network & Internet. Both work the same way once you find the menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your hotspot password in your phone's settings app, not through a website or app — there is no online account to log into.
  • On Android, the setting is usually under Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering, though the exact path varies by phone brand.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Personal Hotspot and change the Wi-Fi password field.
  • The new password takes effect right away, but devices already connected will stay connected until you manually remove them or they disconnect.
  • Your hotspot password is stored only on your phone — you cannot recover it from an account if you forget it, so keep a copy somewhere safe.

Why you should change your hotspot password regularly

A hotspot password that stays the same for months or years means anyone who saw it once — a guest, a coworker, someone at a coffee shop — can reconnect whenever they are in range. Each person on your hotspot uses your phone's data plan, so an old password can drain your monthly allowance without you noticing until the bill arrives or your speeds drop.

Changing the password every few months, or whenever someone leaves your household or job, closes off old access. It also protects against someone guessing a weak password. A password like "password123" or your name plus numbers is straightforward to crack, especially if someone has time and a laptop. A random mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols is much harder.

How to create a strong hotspot password

A strong hotspot password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid words from the dictionary — even with numbers added, "Sunshine2024!" is easier to guess than "7mK#xQ2$vL9p". Avoid your name, your phone number, or your birthday. Avoid repeating characters like "aaaa" or "1111".

If you cannot remember a random password, use a passphrase instead: take four random words and string them together with a number or symbol between them, like "Coffee-Bicycle-Mountain-Lamp7". This is harder to guess than a dictionary word plus numbers, and easier to remember than a truly random string.

Your phone's hotspot settings usually show a button to generate a random password for you. On Android, this is often labeled Generate or a refresh icon next to the password field. On iPhone, you can tap the password field and let your phone suggest one. Using the phone's suggestion is usually the easiest route if you do not mind copying the password to a find place.

Removing devices that are already connected to your hotspot

If you want to disconnect someone when ready without changing the password, most phones let you see which devices are connected and remove them one at a time. On Android, open Settings > Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot and look for a Connected Devices or Device Manager section. Tap the device you want to remove and select Disconnect or Remove.

On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Personal Hotspot and look for a list of connected devices. Tap the device and select Forget This Device or swipe to remove it. The device will disconnect when ready but can reconnect if it still has your old password.

Removing individual devices is useful if one person is using too much data or if a device is no longer yours. If you want to make sure nobody can reconnect, changing the password is faster and more complete — it locks out everyone at once, even devices that are not currently connected.

What to do if you forgot your hotspot password

If you cannot remember your current hotspot password and need to change it, go back to your phone's hotspot settings and create a new one. You do not need to know the old password to set a new one — just open the settings, find the password field, and type a new password. Save the change and you are done.

The only time you need to know your old password is if someone else is asking for it to connect to your hotspot. In that case, you can either give them the new password or reset your phone's network settings entirely (which erases all saved Wi-Fi networks and hotspot settings). Resetting is rarely necessary — just changing the password in the hotspot menu is enough.

Hotspot password versus Wi-Fi network name

Your hotspot has two separate settings: the network name (also called SSID) and the password. The network name is what people see when they look for Wi-Fi networks on their phone or laptop — it might be "iPhone 14" or "Galaxy S24 Hotspot" by default. The password is what they type in to connect.

You can change either one independently. Changing the network name does not change the password, and changing the password does not change the network name. If you want to hide your hotspot from the Wi-Fi list entirely, look for a setting called Broadcast SSID or Visibility and turn it off — but this only hides the name, not the hotspot itself, and does not add security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my hotspot password disconnect people who are already using it?

No. People already connected will stay connected until they manually disconnect or their device loses signal. The new password only applies to devices trying to connect for the first time. If you want to force someone off when ready, you can remove them from the connected devices list in your hotspot settings.

Can I change my hotspot password from my computer?

No. Your hotspot password is stored on your phone and can only be changed through your phone's settings app. You cannot change it through a website, a computer app, or your carrier's website. You must use the phone itself.

What happens if I change my hotspot password while someone is using it?

They will stay connected until they disconnect or their connection drops. Once they disconnect, they will not be able to reconnect without the new password. They will see an error message saying the password is incorrect if they try to use the old one.

Is my hotspot password the same as my phone's lock screen password?

No. Your hotspot password is completely separate from your phone's lock screen password, your Apple ID password, your Google account password, or any other password on your phone. Changing one does not affect the others.

How often should I change my hotspot password?

Change it whenever someone who had access no longer needs it — when a guest leaves, when an employee quits, or when you suspect someone has used it without permission. Beyond that, changing it every few months is reasonable if your hotspot is in a public place or if many people have had the password over time.