Where your hotspot password lives

Your hotspot password is stored in your phone's settings, not in a separate app or email. The exact location depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, and whether you set up the hotspot yourself or inherited it from someone else. The password is usually a string of letters and numbers that you created when you first turned on the hotspot feature — or one that was generated automatically if you never changed the default.

If you have never set up a hotspot before, your phone may have created a default password automatically. This default is usually printed nowhere else, so your phone's settings are the only place to find it. If you forgot a password you created yourself, you cannot reset it without turning the hotspot off and back on, which will generate a new one.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, and look for the Wi-Fi password listed under the hotspot name.
  • On Android, open Settings, find Hotspot or Tethering, tap the hotspot name, and select Edit to see the password field.
  • If you cannot find the password field, your phone may not have a hotspot feature turned on yet, or you may be looking in the wrong settings menu.
  • Turning off the hotspot and turning it back on will generate a new password if you want to change it without remembering the old one.

Finding the password on iPhone

Open the Settings app and scroll down until you see Personal Hotspot. Tap it. At the top of the screen, you will see your hotspot name (also called the SSID) and directly below it, a line that says Wi-Fi Password followed by a string of characters. That string is your password. You can tap the password to copy it, or write it down to share with someone else.

If you do not see Personal Hotspot in your Settings menu, scroll down further — it is usually near the bottom, below Bluetooth and before VPN. If it is not there at all, your phone plan may not include hotspot, or your carrier may have disabled it. Contact your carrier to check.

If Personal Hotspot is there but appears grayed out or says "Off," tap it to turn it on. Once it is on, the Wi-Fi password will appear below the hotspot name.

Finding the password on Android

Open Settings and look for a menu called Hotspot, Tethering, or Mobile Hotspot. The exact name varies by phone brand — Samsung phones often call it "Mobile Hotspot," while Google Pixels may call it "Hotspot." Tap whichever one you find. You should see your hotspot name listed, usually with a toggle switch next to it.

If the hotspot is turned off, tap the toggle to turn it on. Once it is on, tap the hotspot name itself (not the toggle). A menu will open showing the hotspot details. Look for a field labeled Password or Wi-Fi Password. That is your password. Some Android phones show this information on the first screen; others require you to tap Edit or a pencil icon to see the password field.

If you see only the hotspot name and no password field, try tapping the three dots or menu icon in the corner of the screen. Some Android versions hide the password behind an additional menu.

What to do if you cannot find the password

If you have looked in the correct settings menu and the password field is straightforward not there, your hotspot may not be turned on. Go back to the hotspot or tethering menu and make sure the toggle is switched to On. The password only appears once the hotspot is active.

If the hotspot is on but you still do not see a password, try turning it off and back on again. This forces your phone to refresh the hotspot settings and may reveal the password field. Wait about 10 seconds after turning it off before turning it back on.

If you have tried both steps and still cannot see the password, and you need to connect a device right away, you can generate a new password by turning off the hotspot, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it back on. Your phone will create a new default password automatically. You can then find this new password using the same steps above.

Changing your hotspot password

If you want to change your password to something easier to remember, go back to the password field in your hotspot settings. On iPhone, you cannot edit the password directly from the Personal Hotspot screen — you must turn off the hotspot, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on to generate a new one. On Android, tap the password field, delete the current password, type a new one, and tap Save or OK.

Your new password takes effect when ready. Any devices currently connected to your hotspot will stay connected, but new devices will need the new password to join.

Sharing your password with others

Once you have found your password, you can share it by reading it aloud, texting it, or writing it down. On iPhone, you can also hold your phone near someone else's iPhone or iPad, and iOS will offer to share the Wi-Fi password automatically — they do not need to type it in. This works only between Apple devices.

For Android phones, there is no automatic sharing feature, so you will need to tell the person the password directly. Make sure they know which hotspot name to look for, since the name and password are separate pieces of information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my hotspot password if someone else set it up?

Yes, if you own the phone, you can see it in the same settings menu. The password is stored on the device itself, not tied to a person. If you do not own the phone, you will need the owner to show you the password or change it for you.

What if I forgot my password and cannot find it in settings?

Turn off the hotspot, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Your phone will generate a new password automatically. You can then find this new password in the same settings location. The old password will no longer work.

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

No. Your hotspot password is separate from your home Wi-Fi password. They are stored in different places and can be completely different. Your hotspot password is only for connecting to your phone's internet.

Why does my hotspot password have so many random characters?

Your phone generates a default password with random characters to make it harder for strangers to guess. You can change it to something simpler on Android, but iPhone does not allow you to customize the password — you can only generate a new random one by restarting the hotspot.

Can someone see my hotspot password if they are connected to it?

No. Connected devices cannot see the password. They would need access to your phone's settings to view it, just as you do.