As you know by now, Jeff, the issue is moot, thanks to Andy. (This group is so helpful!) I soon realized on my own it was not related to the smartphone. Also, the next time I went into my passwords in Chrome, there they were again. I don't know why they sometimes temporarily disappear as long as it remains just that--temporary!
I guess I thought the dots represented my old password because I counted them, but now I am not so sure.
Sometimes I have to type in a password, sometimes not. 2SV, remember?! However, still don't quite understand it. I know it has to do with whether I've signed in or out, but I am not sure if that is always what's going on. Can't explain right now and am not concerned since I know I have 2SV and now those dots are gone from my previous password or whatever they (the dots) were.
I am just beginning to return to normalcy from my compulsive "gotta learn it all" binge. The smartphone is set up, for now, as much as it's going to be. But I don't have much time to play with it during the week unless I keep sacrificing sleep. I just hope that it's true what so many have told me--including you--that I'm gonna love it and wonder how I lived without it.