Phone hotspot · Connect guide
How to use your phone as a hotspot
Sources checked · how we check
A hotspot shares your phone's mobile data with other devices. Turn it on in the phone's settings, then join it like any Wi-Fi network. Laptops can also connect by USB cable or Bluetooth.
01 · Before you start
Check these first
- Check your mobile plan includes hotspot or tethering. Some carriers limit it or charge extra.
- A hotspot shares your mobile data with up to 10 devices on Android; on iPhone the limit depends on your carrier and model.
- Keep the devices close together, with Wi-Fi turned on on the device that's joining.
Source: Google: share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
02 · Connect
Step by step, by device
Turn it on: iPhone
Settings → Personal Hotspot → Allow Others to Join
- Go to Settings → Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join.
- The first time, go to Settings → Cellular → Set Up Personal Hotspot and follow the instructions.
Setup, passwords and a missing Personal Hotspot option are covered in the iPhone hotspot guide.
Source: Apple: connect to the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone or iPad
Turn it on: Android
Swipe down → touch and hold Hotspot → Wi-Fi hotspot
- Swipe down from the top of the screen and touch and hold the Hotspot icon.
- Turn on Wi-Fi hotspot. Tap it to see or change the hotspot name and password.
Menu names vary by phone maker; Samsung calls it Mobile Hotspot. See the Android hotspot guide.
Source: Google: share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
Connect another phone, tablet, TV or console
Other device's Wi-Fi settings → hotspot name → password
- On the other device, open its Wi-Fi settings.
- Choose your phone's hotspot name and enter the hotspot password.
An Android hotspot can share with up to 10 devices at once.
Source: Google: share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
Connect a computer by USB
USB cable → USB tethering (Android) or Trust (iPhone)
- Android: connect the phone to the computer with a USB cable, swipe down, touch and hold Hotspot, and turn on USB tethering.
- iPhone: connect with a cable and tap Trust on the iPhone. A Windows PC needs Apple Devices or iTunes installed.
Source: Google: share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
Connect a computer by Bluetooth
Pair the devices → turn on Bluetooth tethering
- Pair the phone with the computer, and set the computer's network connection to use Bluetooth.
- Android: touch and hold Hotspot and turn on Bluetooth tethering.
Windows steps for joining a phone's Bluetooth network are in the laptop hotspot guide.
Source: Google: share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
If it still won't connect
If a device can't find the hotspot, check the hotspot is still switched on, move the devices closer, and re-enter the password. Connected devices disconnect automatically when they aren't using the hotspot, so reconnect if needed. If the hotspot option is missing, contact your carrier about adding hotspot to your plan.
Source: Apple iPhone User Guide: share your internet connection
Frequently asked questions
Does using my phone as a hotspot use data?
Yes. A hotspot shares your mobile data connection, so everything the connected devices do counts against your plan.
Can I share my phone's Wi-Fi connection as a hotspot?
Not on iPhone: Personal Hotspot only shares the cellular connection, not a Wi-Fi network the phone has joined.