Where Samsung stores your hotspot password

Your Samsung phone stores the hotspot password in the Mobile Hotspot settings, not in a separate app or file. The password appears in plain text in one place: the hotspot setup screen itself. You can view it there without needing to dig through files or settings menus.

Samsung phones running Android 5.0 and newer all work the same way. Whether you have a Galaxy S series, Galaxy A series, or any other Samsung model, the password location is identical. The steps below work on phones currently running Android 12, 13, 14, and 15.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then Mobile Hotspot, and look for the password field — it displays in plain text on the hotspot setup screen.
  • If you have forgotten the password, you can change it to a new one from the same screen without losing your hotspot connection.
  • Some Samsung phones label the section "Mobile Hotspot" while others call it "Tethering and Portable Hotspot" — both lead to the same password.
  • The password is stored only on your phone; Samsung does not keep a copy, so if you lose your phone you cannot recover the old password from Samsung.

Step-by-step: Finding your current password

Start by opening Settings on your Samsung phone. Tap the gear icon on your home screen or swipe down from the top and tap the Settings icon.

Once Settings opens, scroll down and look for "Mobile Hotspot" or "Tethering and Portable Hotspot." The exact name varies by Android version and Samsung skin, but both options lead to the same place. Tap it.

You will see a toggle switch at the top labeled "Mobile Hotspot" or "Portable Hotspot." Below that, you will see a field labeled "Password" or "Network Password." The password appears in plain text — you can read it directly from this screen. Write it down or take a screenshot if you need to share it with someone.

If the password field shows dots or asterisks

On some Samsung phones, the password field masks the characters with dots or asterisks for security. If you see this, tap the eye icon next to the password field to reveal the actual characters. The eye icon appears on the right side of the password field.

If you do not see an eye icon, your phone may be using an older version of Android. In that case, the simplest option is to change the password to a new one you can see as you type it. This takes 30 seconds and does not affect your hotspot connection.

How to change your hotspot password

If you want to set a new password instead of viewing the old one, stay in the Mobile Hotspot settings. Tap the password field and clear it completely. Type a new password that is at least 8 characters long — Samsung requires this minimum.

Your new password can include letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using spaces, as some devices have trouble connecting to hotspots with spaces in the password. Once you type the new password, tap Save or Done. Your phone will explore the change when ready, but devices already connected will stay connected until they disconnect on their own.

Any new device trying to connect will need to use the new password. Devices that were already connected will not be kicked off, but when they reconnect later they will need the updated password.

Why you might not see the password field

If you open Mobile Hotspot settings and do not see a password field at all, your phone may have a different setup. Some Samsung phones let you choose between a password and a PIN, or between WPA2 and WPA3 security. Look for a "Security" or "Authentication" dropdown above the password field and make sure it is set to a password-based option rather than "Open" or "None."

If the password field is still missing, restart your phone and try again. A software glitch can sometimes hide the field temporarily. If it remains missing after a restart, the hotspot feature itself may need to be toggled off and back on — turn off Mobile Hotspot, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.

Sharing your password safely

Once you have the password, you can share it with anyone who needs to connect to your hotspot. Text it, email it, or read it aloud — the password itself is not sensitive information. What matters is that only people you trust have it, because anyone with the password can use your data plan.

If you suspect someone has connected to your hotspot without permission, change the password when ready using the steps above. You can also check which devices are currently connected by looking at the "Connected Devices" list in the Mobile Hotspot settings — this shows the names and MAC addresses of phones, tablets, and computers using your hotspot right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my hotspot password if I do not have access to my phone right now?

No. The password is stored only on your phone, not in your Samsung account or in the cloud. If your phone is lost, stolen, or broken, you cannot recover the old password. You would need to access the phone itself to view or change the password.

What if I changed my hotspot password and forgot the new one?

Go back to Mobile Hotspot settings and change it again to something you will remember. You can change your hotspot password as many times as you want. Each time you change it, devices that were already connected will stay connected, but new connections will need the updated password.

Is my hotspot password the same as my Wi-Fi password?

No. Your hotspot password is separate from any Wi-Fi network password you may have at home. They are stored in different places and can be completely different. Your hotspot password only controls who can connect to your phone's mobile data.

Can I use a hotspot password with special characters or spaces?

You can use special characters, but spaces sometimes cause connection problems on older devices. Stick to letters, numbers, and symbols like hyphens or underscores. Samsung requires at least 8 characters total, so a password like "MyHotspot-2024" works well.

What happens to my hotspot password if I factory reset my phone?

A factory reset erases everything on your phone, including your hotspot password. After the reset, Samsung generates a new random password automatically. You will find this new password in Mobile Hotspot settings the same way you would find any other password.