Friedrich Wilhelm was the eldest son of Prince Philipp of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1616–1671) from his marriage to Marie Sidonie (1635–1686), the daughter of Margrave Herman Fortunatus of Baden-Rodemachern.

In the imperial army, Friedrich Wilhelm was Field Marshal and the owner of a regiment of cuirassiers bearing his name.

With permission from the Emperor, Friedrich Wilhelm reached an agreement with the Elector of Brandenburg about the Burgraviate of Nuremberg and became one of the first recipients of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle.

He first married on 22 January 1687 in Vienna to Maria Leopoldina (1666–1709), the daughter of Count Georg Ludwig of Sinzendorf.

Emperor Karl VI had elevated her to "Countess of Homburg" and this marriage was not considered morganatic.