Where to find your hotspot password right now
Your hotspot password is stored in your phone's settings, not written down anywhere else. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and look for the Wi-Fi Password field — that's the password people need to connect. On Android, open Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering (or Mobile Hotspot, depending on your phone brand), tap the hotspot name, and you'll see the password listed there.
If you've never set a custom password, your phone generated one automatically when you first turned on the hotspot. That default password is usually a random string of letters and numbers. You can change it to something easier to remember, but the current password is always visible in those same settings screens.
Windows and Mac computers that share internet also store hotspot passwords in settings. On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot, and the password appears under "Share my internet connection." On Mac, open System Settings > General > Sharing, select Internet Sharing, and the Wi-Fi password is shown in the Wi-Fi Options button.
Key Takeaways
- Your hotspot password is always visible in your phone's Settings app under Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Mobile Hotspot (Android).
- If you don't remember setting a password, your phone created a default one automatically — check settings to see what it is.
- You can change your hotspot password anytime in the same settings screen, and the new password takes effect when ready.
- Windows and Mac computers show their hotspot password in Network Settings or System Settings under the Internet Sharing section.
- If you change your password, anyone already connected will lose access and will need the new password to reconnect.
Why you can't see the password on a connected device
If you're trying to find the password on a device that's already connected to the hotspot — like a laptop or tablet — you won't find it in that device's settings. Connected devices don't store the password; they only remember that they've connected before. The password lives only on the device that's creating the hotspot.
This is a security feature. If every device that connected to your hotspot could display the password, anyone using your laptop could see it and share it with others. Instead, you have to go back to the phone or computer that's actually broadcasting the hotspot to see what the password is.
Changing your hotspot password
If you want a password that's easier to remember than the random one your phone created, you can change it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot, tap the Wi-Fi Password field, delete the current password, and type a new one. It takes effect when ready — anyone trying to connect after that will need the new password.
On Android, the steps vary slightly by manufacturer. Usually you tap Settings > Mobile Hotspot or Hotspot and Tethering, then tap the hotspot name or a settings icon, and look for a password field. Some Android phones let you change it directly; others require you to turn the hotspot off and back on for the change to take effect.
Keep in mind that changing the password will disconnect anyone currently using your hotspot. They'll see the connection drop and won't be able to reconnect until you give them the new password.
What to do if you forgot what password you set
If you set a custom password and can't remember it, the easiest fix is to create a new one. Go back to your hotspot settings and change the password to something you'll remember this time. You don't need to contact your phone company or reset anything — just pick a new password in settings and you're done.
If you want to go back to a random password (in case you think someone else knows your custom one), you can usually reset it by turning the hotspot off and back on. Some phones will generate a new random password when you do this; others keep the same one. Check your settings after restarting to see what password is now active.
Hotspot passwords on different phone brands
iPhone (iOS 14 and newer): Settings > Personal Hotspot > Wi-Fi Password. The password is always visible and can be changed by tapping the field.
Samsung Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot > tap the hotspot name > Password field.
Google Pixel: Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > Wi-Fi Hotspot > tap the gear icon > Password.
OnePlus: Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > Wi-Fi Hotspot > tap the settings icon > Password.
If your phone brand isn't listed, search your settings for "hotspot" or "tethering" — the password field is usually within one or two taps of that search result.
Sharing your password safely
When you give someone your hotspot password, you're giving them access to your phone's internet connection. They can use your data, see that they're connected to your hotspot, and potentially access other devices on the same network depending on your phone's settings.
If you're sharing with someone temporarily — a guest, a repair person, someone at a coffee shop — consider changing your password afterward. This prevents them from reconnecting later without asking. If you're sharing with family or roommates who will use it regularly, a password you all know is fine, but change it if someone moves out or you want to revoke access.
Troubleshooting when the password isn't working
If someone has the correct password but still can't connect, the problem is usually not the password itself. First, make sure the hotspot is actually turned on — go to your settings and confirm it shows as active. Then ask them to forget the network on their device and try connecting again. On most phones, this means going to Wi-Fi settings, finding your hotspot name, and selecting "Forget."
If the hotspot is on and they still can't connect after forgetting and retrying, restart your phone. This often fixes temporary connection issues. If restarting doesn't work, turn the hotspot off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This forces your phone to broadcast the hotspot fresh, which can clear up connection problems.
If you've changed the password recently and someone is still using the old one, they'll get an error message saying the password is incorrect. Make sure they have the new password — check your hotspot settings one more time to confirm what it currently is, because it's straightforward to mistype a long random string.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my hotspot password on a device that's connected to it?
No. Only the device creating the hotspot stores the password. A connected device remembers it connected before, but doesn't display the actual password. You have to check the phone or computer that's broadcasting the hotspot.
What happens if I change my hotspot password?
Anyone currently connected will be disconnected when ready. They'll need the new password to reconnect. Devices that were previously connected will still remember the old password and may try to use it, so you'll need to tell them the new one or have them forget the network and reconnect manually.
Is my hotspot password the same as my phone's lock screen password?
No. Your hotspot password is separate and only controls who can connect to your internet sharing. Your phone's lock screen password protects your entire phone. You can change one without affecting the other.
Can I set a hotspot password with no numbers or special characters?
Most phones allow you to set any password you want, but Wi-Fi passwords work best with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. A password with only letters may work, but some devices have trouble connecting to it. Check your phone's hotspot settings to see what characters it accepts.
What if my phone won't let me change the hotspot password?
Make sure the hotspot is turned off before trying to change the password on some Android phones — they won't let you edit it while it's active. On iPhone, the password field should always be editable. If it's grayed out, try turning the hotspot off and back on, then try again.