Where to find your hotspot password right now

Your hotspot password is stored in your phone's settings, not written down anywhere else. The exact location depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but in both cases you can view it without restarting anything or calling your carrier.

The password you need is the one you created when you first turned on your hotspot, or the one your phone generated automatically if you never changed it. This is different from your phone's lock screen password — it only protects the wireless connection itself.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, and look for the Wi-Fi password shown on that screen.
  • On Android, open Settings, find Hotspot or Tethering, tap the gear icon next to your hotspot name, and the password appears in the security settings.
  • If you do not remember creating a password, your phone likely generated one automatically — check your settings to see what it is.
  • You can change your hotspot password anytime from the same settings screen, which is useful if you want something easier to remember or if someone else has been using it.

Finding your password on iPhone

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Personal Hotspot. Tap it. On the next screen, you will see a line that says Wi-Fi Password with a string of characters next to it — that is your hotspot password.

If you do not see Personal Hotspot in your Settings menu, your phone plan may not support hotspot, or you may need to contact your carrier to turn it on. Some carriers require you to add a hotspot feature to your plan before the option appears.

Write down the password or take a screenshot before you close Settings, because you will need it to give to anyone who wants to connect to your hotspot.

Finding your password on Android

Open Settings and look for Hotspot or Tethering — the exact name varies by phone manufacturer. Tap it. You should see your hotspot name (also called SSID) listed, usually with a toggle switch next to it showing whether the hotspot is on or off.

Look for a gear icon or settings icon next to your hotspot name and tap it. A menu will open showing security settings. The password field will display your current hotspot password in plain text or behind a show/hide toggle. Tap the toggle or eye icon if you need to see it.

If you see only a password field with dots or asterisks and no way to reveal it, try tapping directly on the password field itself — some Android versions show the password when you select it.

What to do if you forgot your password

You do not need to remember it — you can see it anytime by going back to your hotspot settings using the steps above. Write it down or take a screenshot so you have it handy when someone asks to connect.

If you want to change it to something easier to remember, you can do that from the same settings screen. On iPhone, tap Edit next to the Wi-Fi password. On Android, tap the password field and type a new one. Your new password takes effect when ready, but anyone already connected will stay connected until they disconnect and reconnect.

Changing your hotspot password

Change your password if you want something easier to remember, if you think someone has been using your hotspot without permission, or if you want to disconnect someone who is currently connected.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot, tap Edit next to Wi-Fi Password, type your new password, and tap Done. On Android, go to Settings > Hotspot, tap the settings icon next to your hotspot name, tap the password field, clear it, type your new password, and tap Save.

Your new password must be at least 8 characters long on most phones. Use a mix of numbers and letters if you want it to be harder to guess, but keep it straightforward enough that you can say it out loud to someone without spelling it out letter by letter.

Why you might not see a password option

Some carriers turn off the hotspot feature by default or require you to add it to your plan before it works. If you open your hotspot settings and see no password field, or if Personal Hotspot or Hotspot does not appear in your Settings menu at all, contact your carrier to ask whether hotspot is turned on for your account.

A few older phones or very limited plans do not support hotspot at all. Your carrier can tell you whether your phone and plan combination allows it. If hotspot is not supported, you will not be able to share your phone's internet connection with other devices.

Sharing your password safely

When you give your password to someone, they can connect to your hotspot and use your phone's data. Make sure you trust them, because they will be able to see how much data you are using and may slow down your connection if they are downloading large files.

If you share your password with a guest and later want to disconnect them, change your hotspot password. Anyone using the old password will be kicked off and will not be able to reconnect unless you give them the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who is connected to my hotspot?

Most phones do not show a list of connected devices in the hotspot settings. If you want to know who is using your hotspot, you can change the password, which will disconnect everyone. If someone reconnects with the new password, you know they have it.

What if my hotspot password has special characters I cannot type?

You can change it to something simpler. Go to your hotspot settings, edit the password field, and replace it with a password using only letters and numbers. Make it at least 8 characters long so it is still find.

Does my hotspot password expire or need to be reset?

No. Your hotspot password stays the same until you change it yourself. You do not need to reset it or update it on any schedule.

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

No. Your hotspot password only protects the wireless connection. Your lock screen password protects your phone itself. They are completely separate and you can change one without affecting the other.