A mobile hotspot is a feature that shares a phone or computer's internet connection with another device. To use one, turn on the hotspot, then select its Wi-Fi network on the second device and enter the displayed password. Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs can also provide a mobile hotspot.

Mobile Hotspot Setup at a Glance

Device providing the hotspot Where to turn it on How the other device connects
iPhone Settings > Personal Hotspot Select the iPhone from the other device's Wi-Fi list
Android phone Quick Settings > Hotspot Select the phone's hotspot name and enter the password
Samsung Galaxy Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering Select the Galaxy phone from the Wi-Fi list
Windows PC Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot Select the PC's hotspot network and enter the password

How to Use a Mobile Hotspot on an iPhone

On an iPhone, turn on Personal Hotspot, then connect the second device to the iPhone's Wi-Fi network.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Personal Hotspot. If you do not see it, tap Cellular, then Set Up Personal Hotspot.
  3. Turn on Allow Others to Join.
  4. Check the Wi-Fi Password shown on the same screen.
  5. On the device you want to connect, open its Wi-Fi settings.
  6. Select your iPhone's name.
  7. Enter the Personal Hotspot password.

An iPhone Personal Hotspot shares the iPhone's cellular data connection. An iPhone cannot connect to Wi-Fi and then share that Wi-Fi connection with another device through Personal Hotspot. Availability and the number of connected devices depend on the carrier and iPhone model.

Connect a Laptop to an iPhone Hotspot with a Cable

You can connect an iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer with a USB cable. On Windows, Apple Devices or iTunes must be installed for USB hotspot connections. When prompted on the iPhone, tap Trust This Computer.

How to Use a Mobile Hotspot on Android

On Android, turn on Hotspot in Quick Settings, then connect the second device to the hotspot's Wi-Fi network.

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
  2. Tap Hotspot.
  3. On the other device, open the Wi-Fi settings.
  4. Select your Android phone's hotspot name.
  5. Enter the hotspot password and tap Connect.

To find or change the Android hotspot name and password, touch and hold the Hotspot button in Quick Settings. You can also open the hotspot settings through the phone's main Settings app.

Android phones can usually share mobile data through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB. Some phones can also share an existing Wi-Fi connection, depending on the manufacturer and software version.

How to Use a Mobile Hotspot on a Samsung Galaxy Phone

On a Samsung Galaxy phone, open Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, turn on Mobile Hotspot, and connect the second device using the displayed password.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Connections.
  3. Tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.
  4. Turn on Mobile Hotspot.
  5. On the second device, open Wi-Fi settings.
  6. Select the Galaxy phone's hotspot name.
  7. Enter the displayed password.

To change the network name, password, security settings or Wi-Fi band, tap Mobile Hotspot and open its information or configuration settings. The available options can vary by Galaxy model, software version and wireless carrier.

Which Samsung Hotspot Band Should You Use?

Use 2.4 GHz for better compatibility and range. Use 5 GHz when the connected device supports it and is close to the phone.

  • 2.4 GHz: Works with more older devices and usually reaches farther.
  • 5 GHz: Usually provides better performance at short range.

Use 2.4 GHz if the other device cannot see the hotspot. Use 5 GHz when you want better performance nearby.

How to Connect a Laptop or Tablet to a Mobile Hotspot

A laptop or tablet can connect through its Wi-Fi settings after the phone's hotspot is active.

  1. Open the second device's Wi-Fi settings.
  2. Look for the hotspot name.
  3. Select the hotspot.
  4. Enter the password shown on the phone.
  5. Select Connect.

The connected device should now use the phone's mobile data connection. Streaming video, downloading files, video calls and software updates can use mobile data quickly.

How to Use a Windows PC as a Mobile Hotspot

A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC can share a Wi-Fi, Ethernet or cellular connection.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Network & internet.
  3. Select Mobile hotspot.
  4. Under Share my internet connection from, choose the connection to share.
  5. Under Share over, select Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
  6. Select Edit to change the network name, password or network band.
  7. Turn on Mobile hotspot.
  8. Connect the other device through its Wi-Fi settings.

Windows also provides a Mobile hotspot quick setting that can turn the feature on or off. The receiving device connects by selecting the hotspot name and entering the password, or by scanning the available QR code.

How to Use USB Tethering

USB tethering shares a phone's internet connection with a computer through a cable. It can also keep the phone charging during a longer session.

Android

  1. Connect the Android phone to the computer with a USB cable.
  2. Open Quick Settings.
  3. Touch and hold Hotspot.
  4. Turn on USB tethering.

USB tethering is often useful when Wi-Fi hotspot connections are unreliable. Google notes that Android USB tethering does not work with Mac computers.

iPhone

  1. Connect the iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.
  2. Turn on Personal Hotspot.
  3. Approve the Trust This Computer prompt if it appears.
  4. Select the iPhone as the computer's network connection if necessary.

Why Your Mobile Hotspot May Not Work

A mobile hotspot may fail when mobile data is unavailable, hotspot use is restricted, the password is wrong or the two devices cannot maintain a connection. Try these fixes in order:

  1. Confirm that mobile data works on the phone. Turn off Wi-Fi and open a website.
  2. Check your carrier plan. Some carriers restrict hotspot use or charge additional fees.
  3. Turn the hotspot off and on again.
  4. Restart both devices.
  5. Check the password. Re-enter it carefully on the receiving device.
  6. Move the devices closer together. Apple recommends keeping Personal Hotspot devices within about 30 feet, or 10 meters, for normal wireless connections.
  7. Try 2.4 GHz instead of 5 GHz. This can help older devices detect a Samsung or Android hotspot.
  8. Use USB tethering. This can bypass wireless connection problems.
  9. Turn off a VPN temporarily. A VPN configuration can interfere with some local networking features on Apple devices.
  10. Enable compatibility mode on iPhone. On supported iPhones, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn on Maximize Compatibility. Apple warns that this may reduce performance.

How to Reduce Mobile Hotspot Battery and Data Use

  • Turn the hotspot off when you finish.
  • Keep the phone connected to a charger during long sessions.
  • Avoid high-resolution video streaming and large downloads.
  • Pause cloud backups and automatic software updates.
  • Set the connected computer's network as metered when available.
  • Use a hotspot timeout feature if your phone supports it.
  • Change the hotspot password if you have shared it with someone you no longer want connected.

Android recommends charging devices during tethering, turning off tethering when finished and enabling automatic hotspot shutdown when no devices are connected. Samsung also provides hotspot timeout and power-saving settings on supported Galaxy devices.

Is a Mobile Hotspot Safe to Use?

A mobile hotspot is generally safe when it uses a password and current Wi-Fi security. Keep the password private, use a strong password and turn off the hotspot when you no longer need it.

Avoid using an open, password-free hotspot. On Android, the hotspot security settings can be changed, but Google warns that removing the password allows devices to connect without authentication.