A handy feature of a modern smartphone is the ability to turn it into a mobile hotspot, allowing you to share your phone’s Internet connection with other devices, such as laptops, tablets, or even other phones.
Whether you own one of the best Android phones or the best iPhone, this guide will walk you through the steps to set up and use your phone as a mobile hotspot.
What is a mobile hotspot?
A mobile hotspot turns your smartphone into a wireless access point, allowing other devices to connect to the internet using your phone’s data connection. This feature is especially useful when you’re traveling, working remotely, or when there’s no Wi-Fi available.
How to Set Up a Mobile Hotspot on Android
Setting up a mobile hotspot on an Android phone is simple. Here’s how:
- Start by opening the “Settings” app on your Android device.
- Tap “Network & Internet” (the name may vary slightly depending on your device, it’s sometimes called “Connections” or “Wireless & Networks”).
- Search for “Hotspot & Tethering” and tap on it. You’ll find several options there, including “Wi-Fi hotspot,” “USB tethering,” and “Bluetooth tethering.”
- Turn on the switch next to Wi-Fi Hotspot. You may also need to configure your hotspot by setting a name (SSID) and password for the connection.
- Tap “Wi-Fi Hotspot” to customize your hotspot settings. You can change the network name, set a secure password (making sure your hotspot is secured with a strong password to prevent unauthorized access), and choose your preferred security type (WPA3 is recommended for the best security).
- On the device you want to connect to, find your hotspot network in the Wi-Fi settings, select it and enter the password.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s important to monitor your data usage when using a mobile hotspot, as tethering can quickly consume a significant amount of data.
How to Set Up Mobile Hotspot on iPhone
For iPhone users, the process of setting up a mobile hotspot is just as simple. Follow these steps:
- Go to the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on “Mobile Service” and turn on “Mobile Data”. Then go back and tap on “Personal Hotspot”.
- Toggle the switch next to “Allow others to join” to enable Mobile Hotspot.
- By default, the network name will be your iPhone’s and a password will be generated automatically. You can tap “Wi-Fi Password” to change the password to something easier to remember.
- On the device you want to connect, find your iPhone’s network name in Wi-Fi settings, select it, and enter the password.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Using your iPhone as a hotspot can quickly drain your battery, so it’s a good idea to keep your phone plugged in. Also, be mindful of your data usage.
If you want to make sure you never run out of data to use, check out our list of the best mobile phone networks in the UK and the best Pay As You Go phone networks in the UK right now.
