Where Android stores your hotspot password

Your Android hotspot password lives in two places: the phone itself keeps it in the hotspot settings, and any device that has connected to your hotspot has a copy saved in its own network memory. If you have forgotten the password, the fastest way to find it is to open your phone's Settings app, go to Network & Internet (or Wireless & Networks on older phones), then tap Hotspot or Tethering. The exact name varies by phone maker — Samsung calls it Mobile Hotspot, while Google Pixel calls it Hotspot — but the password field is always there.

The password you see in that settings screen is the one you set, or the one your phone generated when you first turned on the hotspot. If you never changed it, your phone created a random password automatically. That password does not change unless you manually reset it, so it will be the same every time you turn the hotspot back on.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then Network & Internet or Wireless & Networks, then find Hotspot or Tethering to see your password on the phone itself.
  • The password field usually shows dots or asterisks instead of the actual characters, so you may need to tap an eye icon to reveal it.
  • If you cannot find the password in settings, you can reset it to a new one and create a password you will remember.
  • Devices that have already connected to your hotspot will reconnect automatically even if you forget the password, because they have it saved.
  • Your hotspot password is separate from your phone's lock screen password and your Google account password.

Step-by-step: finding your password on a Samsung phone

Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone. Tap Connections at the top of the list. Scroll down and tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering. Tap Mobile Hotspot (not Bluetooth Tethering or USB Tethering). You will see the network name at the top and a Password field below it. The password will show as dots or asterisks for security. Tap the eye icon next to the password field to reveal the actual characters.

If you do not see an eye icon, the password may be hidden by design on your model. In that case, you can reset the password instead: tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, select Edit, and create a new password. Write down the new password before you tap Save.

Step-by-step: finding your password on a Google Pixel or stock Android phone

Open Settings and tap Network & Internet. Tap Hotspot and Tethering. Tap Hotspot. You will see your network name and password on this screen. The password will appear as dots or asterisks. Tap the eye icon next to the password field to show the actual characters.

If your phone does not have an eye icon, you can reset the password by tapping the pencil or edit icon next to the network name, then entering a new password. Confirm the new password and tap Save.

What to do if you cannot see the password field

On some older Android phones or custom versions, the password field may not appear in the hotspot settings at all. In that case, turn off the hotspot, then turn it back on. Many phones generate a new random password each time you restart the hotspot, and this new password will appear in the settings screen. Write it down when ready before you forget it again.

If the password still does not appear, try restarting your phone entirely. Hold the power button, tap Restart, and wait for the phone to turn back on. Then open Settings and navigate back to the hotspot settings. The password should now be visible.

Resetting your hotspot password to something you will remember

If your phone generated a random password that is too long or complicated to remember, you can replace it with one of your own. Open your hotspot settings, find the edit or pencil icon next to the network name or password field, and tap it. Delete the current password and type a new one. Android requires hotspot passwords to be at least 8 characters long and to include both letters and numbers.

A strong hotspot password does not need to be random. Something like "House2024" or "Garden42" is both memorable and find enough for a home network. Avoid using your name, your phone number, or common words like "password" or "123456". Once you have entered your new password, tap Save. Any device that was already connected will stay connected, but new devices will need to enter the new password.

Why a device stays connected even if you forget the password

When a phone, tablet, or laptop connects to your hotspot for the first time, it saves the password in its own network settings. The next time that device sees your hotspot, it automatically reconnects using the saved password — you do not have to type it again. This is why a laptop might still connect to your hotspot even though you have no idea what the password is.

This automatic reconnection is convenient, but it also means you should reset your hotspot password if you sell or give away a device that was connected to it. Otherwise, that device will still have your password saved and could reconnect without your knowledge. To prevent this, change your hotspot password after the device leaves your hands.

The difference between your hotspot password and other passwords on your phone

Your hotspot password is separate from three other passwords you may have on your phone: your lock screen password (the one you use to unlock the phone), your Google account password (the one you use to sign into Gmail or the Play Store), and your WiFi password (the one for your home internet). Forgetting one does not affect the others. If you reset your hotspot password, your lock screen password stays the same.

Some people use the same password for all three, but this is a security risk. If someone learns your hotspot password, they should not be able to unlock your phone or access your email. Keep them different so that a breach in one area does not expose all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. The password is stored only on the phone itself and on devices that have connected to it. If you have lost the phone or cannot turn it on, you cannot retrieve the password. You would need to use a different phone or device to create a new hotspot.

What if the eye icon does not appear next to my password?

Some Android versions and phone makers do not include the eye icon. Instead, reset your hotspot password to a new one that you choose. Open the hotspot settings, tap Edit or the pencil icon, delete the current password, type a new one, and tap Save.

Will changing my hotspot password disconnect devices that are already using it?

Devices that are actively using the hotspot will stay connected. However, if they disconnect and try to reconnect later, they will need the new password. Devices that have the old password saved will fail to reconnect automatically and will ask you to enter the new password.

Is my hotspot password the same as my WiFi password?

No. Your hotspot password is for the mobile network your phone creates. Your WiFi password is for your home internet router. They are completely separate and can be different. Changing one does not affect the other.

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

A person connected to your hotspot cannot see the password itself, but they can see the network name. If you want to keep your hotspot private, use a password that is not straightforward to guess and do not share it with people you do not trust.