Where to find your hotspot password depends on your device type

Your hotspot password is stored in your phone's settings, not in a separate app or website. The exact steps change depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a computer sharing its connection. You do not need to contact your carrier or reset anything — the password is already there, and you can see it in under a minute.

The password you set up when you first turned on your hotspot is the one you need. If you cannot remember setting one, your phone created a default password automatically. Either way, the steps below will show you where it is.

Key Takeaways

  • On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, and look for the Wi-Fi password listed under the toggle switch.
  • On Android, go to Settings, find Hotspot or Tethering, tap the hotspot name, and select Show Password or View Password.
  • If you changed your hotspot password and forgot it, you can create a new one in the same settings menu without losing anything.
  • The password appears as dots or asterisks for security until you tap to reveal it — this is normal.
  • Your hotspot password is different from your phone's lock code and your carrier account password.

Finding the password on an iPhone

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Personal Hotspot. Tap it. You will see a toggle switch at the top — if it is off, turn it on first. Below that toggle, you will see a line that says Wi-Fi Password followed by a series of dots or asterisks.

Tap on the dots to reveal the actual password in plain text. Write it down or copy it to share with someone else. The password is case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter.

If you do not see Personal Hotspot in your Settings menu, your phone plan may not support it, or it may be listed under a different name depending on your iOS version. Scroll through the entire Settings list or use the search box at the top of Settings and type "hotspot" to find it.

Finding the password on Android

Open Settings and look for Hotspot, Tethering, or Mobile Hotspot — the exact name varies by manufacturer. Samsung phones often call it Mobile Hotspot under Connections. Google Pixel phones list it under Network and Internet. Tap whichever one you find.

You will see your hotspot name (also called SSID) listed. Tap on it or look for a settings icon next to it. A menu will appear with an option to Show Password, View Password, or Password. Tap that option and the password will appear in plain text.

Some Android phones require you to tap an eye icon to reveal the password instead of a separate button. If you see dots or asterisks and cannot find a reveal option, try tapping directly on the password field itself.

What to do if you forgot your password

You do not need to contact your carrier or reset your phone. Open the hotspot settings using the steps above, and look for an option to Change Password, Edit, or Rename Network. Tap it and create a new password. Your phone will ask you to confirm the new password before saving it.

Once you save a new password, anyone trying to connect using the old password will be disconnected and will need the new one. This does not affect your phone's other passwords or settings.

If you want to keep the same hotspot name but change only the password, most phones let you do that. Some phones require you to rename the network entirely if you want to change the password — in that case, you will need to tell anyone connected to it the new network name and password.

Why the password appears as dots or asterisks

Your phone hides the password behind dots or asterisks for security. If someone is looking over your shoulder, they cannot read it. This is the same reason password fields on websites hide what you type.

Tapping the reveal button or eye icon temporarily shows the actual characters so you can read it, copy it, or write it down. Once you close that menu, it hides again. This does not change the password itself — it is just a display setting.

Sharing your hotspot password with others

Once you have the password, you can share it by text, email, or by reading it aloud. The person connecting needs to open their Wi-Fi settings, find your hotspot name in the list of available networks, tap it, and enter the password exactly as it appears — including capital letters and numbers.

On iPhones, there is a faster way: if the person trying to connect is in your contacts and has an Apple device, you can tap Share Password when they try to connect, and their phone will receive it automatically without typing. This only works between Apple devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

If someone keeps entering the password incorrectly, have them check that Caps Lock is off and that they are not adding extra spaces. Passwords are case-sensitive and do not allow spaces at the beginning or end.

Resetting your hotspot if nothing works

If you cannot find the hotspot settings or the password option is missing, try turning your hotspot off and back on. Open the hotspot settings, toggle it off, wait five seconds, and toggle it back on. This often fixes display problems.

If the hotspot still does not appear in your settings menu, restart your phone entirely. Hold the power button, slide to power off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Then check the hotspot settings again.

If your phone does not support hotspot at all, you will not see the option in Settings. This usually means your carrier plan does not include tethering, or your phone is too old to support it. Contact your carrier to confirm whether hotspot is included in your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your hotspot password is separate from your phone's PIN or Face ID. You can have a straightforward hotspot password and a complex phone lock code, or vice versa. Changing one does not affect the other.

Can I see someone else's hotspot password if I am connected to it?

No. You can only see the password on the phone that created the hotspot. If you are connected to someone else's hotspot and need their password, you have to ask them to show it to you using the steps above.

What if my hotspot password has special characters I do not recognize?

Your phone may have generated a default password with numbers, letters, and symbols. You can change it to something simpler by opening hotspot settings and selecting Change Password. Create a new password using only letters and numbers if special characters are hard to type.

Does changing my hotspot password disconnect people already using it?

Yes. Anyone currently connected will lose the connection when ready when you save a new password. They will need to reconnect using the new password. Give them a heads-up before you change it.

Can I use the same password for my hotspot and my Wi-Fi router at home?

You can, but it is not recommended. Your hotspot and home Wi-Fi are separate networks, and using different passwords makes it easier to remember which one you are connecting to. It also keeps your home network more find if your hotspot password is shared with many people.