Where to find your hotspot password depends on your device type
The steps to view your hotspot password differ between iPhones, Android phones, Windows computers, and Mac computers. On most devices, the password is stored in settings rather than displayed by default — you may need to navigate through a menu or use a settings app to see it. If you have already connected a device to your hotspot, you can sometimes recover the password from that connected device instead of finding it on the hotspot source itself.
The fastest route is usually to check the device that is broadcasting the hotspot, since that is where the password was originally set. If you cannot find it there, your second option is to look at any device that has already connected successfully — those devices store the password in their network settings.
Key Takeaways
- On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, and look for the Wi-Fi password listed under that menu.
- On Android, the password location varies by manufacturer, but usually appears in Settings under Network or Hotspot settings.
- On Windows, you can view the hotspot password through Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot, or through network settings if you are connecting to someone else's hotspot.
- If you cannot find the password on the source device, check any phone or computer that has already connected to the hotspot — the password is stored there too.
- If you have forgotten the password and cannot retrieve it, you can create a new one by resetting the hotspot settings on the source device.
Finding the password on an iPhone
On an iPhone, the hotspot password appears in the Personal Hotspot settings. Open the Settings app, scroll down and tap Personal Hotspot, and look for the Wi-Fi password field. The password is displayed in plain text — you can read it directly or tap and hold to copy it to your clipboard.
If you do not see a Personal Hotspot option in Settings, your phone plan may not support hotspot, or you may need to contact your carrier to enable it. Some carriers require a separate plan tier or add-on before hotspot becomes available.
Finding the password on Android
Android devices vary by manufacturer, so the exact path depends on whether you have a Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, or another brand. On most Android phones, open Settings, look for a Network or Connections section, then find Hotspot or Tethering. Tap on the active hotspot name, and the password should appear on the screen.
On Samsung phones specifically, go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, then tap Mobile Hotspot. The password is shown under the network name. On Google Pixel phones, the path is Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > Wi-Fi Hotspot, and the password appears when you tap that option.
If you cannot locate the password in these menus, check your phone's user manual or search the manufacturer's support site for your specific model — the menu structure can shift between Android versions and device brands.
Finding the password on Windows
If your Windows computer is broadcasting a hotspot, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, and select Mobile hotspot from the left menu. The Wi-Fi password is displayed under the network name. You can select the password text and copy it.
If you are trying to view a password for a hotspot you are connecting to (rather than broadcasting from), the process is different. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi, find the network name in the list of available networks, click on it, and select Manage. Then click Show to display the saved password.
Finding the password on Mac
On a Mac, if you are broadcasting a hotspot from an iPhone or iPad connected via USB or Bluetooth, the password is not stored on the Mac itself — you need to check the iPhone or iPad settings instead. However, if you are trying to view a password for a Wi-Fi network you have already connected to, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions), click Network, select Wi-Fi, and click Advanced. Find the network name in the list, and the password may be visible or you can click Show Password to reveal it.
On some versions of macOS, you may need to use Keychain Access instead. Open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities, search for the network name, double-click it, and check the Show Password box. You may be prompted to enter your Mac login password to confirm.
Recovering a password from a connected device
If you cannot find the password on the device broadcasting the hotspot, any phone or computer that has already connected to that hotspot has the password stored in its network settings. This is often faster than hunting through the source device's menus.
On an iPhone or iPad connected to the hotspot, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, find the hotspot network name, tap the information icon (i) next to it, and the password is shown. On Android, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, long-press the network name, and select Show Password. On Windows, follow the steps in the Windows section above for viewing a saved network password. On Mac, use Keychain Access as described in the Mac section.
What to do if you cannot find or remember the password
If the password is not visible in any of these locations, or if you have forgotten it entirely, you can create a new password by resetting the hotspot settings. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset and select Reset Network Settings — this will erase all saved Wi-Fi networks and hotspot settings, and you can then set up a new hotspot with a new password. On Android, the process varies by manufacturer, but usually involves going to Hotspot settings and selecting an option to change or reset the password.
On Windows, open Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot, and look for an option to change the password or network name. On Mac, if you are using a connected iPhone as the hotspot source, reset the hotspot through the iPhone settings instead.
After resetting, any devices that were previously connected will no longer have access — they will need to reconnect using the new password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see someone else's hotspot password without their permission?
No. The password is only visible in the settings of the device broadcasting the hotspot or in the settings of a device that has already connected to it with permission. You cannot view a hotspot password remotely or from a device that has never connected to it.
Why does my device show a different password than what I set?
Some devices generate a random password automatically if you do not set one yourself. If you want to use a specific password, go to the hotspot settings and manually change it to something you choose. The new password takes effect when ready, and previously connected devices will need to reconnect.
Is the hotspot password the same as my Wi-Fi password at home?
No. Your hotspot password is separate from any home Wi-Fi network you have. Each network — your home Wi-Fi, your phone's hotspot, your computer's hotspot — has its own password. You can set them to the same thing if you want, but they are not linked.
What if the password field is blank or missing?
If the password field is empty, your hotspot may not be fully set up yet. Try turning the hotspot off and back on, or restart the device. If the Personal Hotspot or Hotspot option does not appear at all, your carrier may not have enabled hotspot on your plan, or your device may not support it.