Where to find your hotspot password right now

Your hotspot password is stored in your phone's settings, not in an email or separate account. The exact location depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but both keep it in the Wi-Fi or hotspot settings menu — the same place where you turned the hotspot on.

If you set up the hotspot yourself, the password is there waiting. If someone else set it up, you may need to reset it to see the password in plain text, because phones hide passwords after they are created for security reasons.

Key Takeaways

  • Your hotspot password lives in your phone's settings under Wi-Fi or hotspot, not in email or a separate app.
  • iPhones show the password under Settings > Personal Hotspot, but only if you created the hotspot yourself.
  • Android phones vary by manufacturer, but Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot usually shows it.
  • If you cannot see the password, you can reset it to create a new one that you will then be able to view.
  • Resetting the password disconnects all devices currently using your hotspot and requires them to reconnect with the new password.

Finding the password on an iPhone

Open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot. If you see a Wi-Fi password listed there, that is your hotspot password — write it down or take a screenshot. This password appears only if you created the hotspot yourself on this phone.

If the Personal Hotspot section is empty or grayed out, your phone may not have a hotspot set up yet, or the setting is turned off. Tap the toggle next to Personal Hotspot to turn it on, and the password will appear below it.

If you still do not see a password field, your phone may be using a default password that was set during initial setup. In that case, you will need to reset the hotspot password (see the section below on resetting).

Finding the password on Android

The steps vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and others place the setting in slightly different locations — but the general path is the same. Open Settings, then look for Network & Internet, Connections, or Mobile Hotspot (the exact name varies).

Tap Hotspot or Mobile Hotspot Settings. You should see a field labeled Wi-Fi Password, Hotspot Password, or Network Password. The password displayed there is what other devices need to connect. If you do not see a password field, the hotspot may not be active yet — turn it on first, and the password will appear.

If you have a Samsung phone, go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot, then tap the settings icon (gear or three dots) to see the password. On Google Pixel phones, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > Wi-Fi Hotspot, then tap the gear icon next to the hotspot name.

What to do if you cannot see the password

If the password field is blank or missing, the simplest fix is to reset the hotspot password. This creates a new password that you will when ready be able to see. The trade-off is that all devices currently connected to your hotspot will be disconnected and will need to reconnect using the new password.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and toggle it off, then back on. A new password will be generated. On Android, look for a Reset or Change Password button in the hotspot settings menu — the exact label depends on your phone model. Tap it, confirm the action, and a new password will appear.

Write down or screenshot the new password when ready after resetting, because you will need to give it to anyone who wants to connect to your hotspot.

Why you might not remember setting a password

If someone else set up the hotspot on your phone, or if you set it up a long time ago, you may not remember creating a password at all. That is normal — the phone generates a password automatically when you first turn on the hotspot, and you only see it once unless you go back to settings to look for it.

The password does not expire or change on its own, so it will be the same password that was created the first time the hotspot was turned on. If you cannot find it in settings, resetting it is the fastest way forward.

Sharing your hotspot password safely

Once you have the password, you can share it with anyone who needs to connect. They will open their Wi-Fi settings, find your hotspot name (which is usually your phone's name), and enter the password you provide.

If you share the password with someone and later want to prevent them from connecting, you can reset the hotspot password. The old password will stop working, and only people who have the new password will be able to connect. This is useful if someone moves away, leaves your household, or you straightforward want to change who has access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my hotspot password to something I will remember?

Yes. On iPhone, you cannot edit the password directly, but you can reset it and the phone will generate a new one. On Android, many phones allow you to tap the password field and type a custom password. Check your phone's hotspot settings to see if an Edit or Change Password option appears.

What if I reset the password and now I cannot remember the new one?

Go back to your hotspot settings and look at the password field again. It will be displayed there. If you need to change it to something easier to remember, reset it again and the phone will generate another new password, or manually enter one if your phone allows it.

Does my hotspot password change automatically?

No. The password stays the same until you manually reset it or change it. It does not expire or update on its own, even if you turn the hotspot off and back on.

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

No. Once someone connects using the password, they cannot see the password itself — only you can see it in your phone's settings. If you want to disconnect them, reset the password and they will be kicked off.

What if my phone does not have a hotspot feature?

Most modern phones have hotspot built in, but some older phones or phones on certain carriers may not. Check your phone's settings under Network, Connections, or Tethering. If you cannot find a hotspot option, your phone may not support it, or it may be disabled by your carrier.