How to Use Your Phone as a Mobile Hotspot (Safely)
Your phone can share its mobile internet with a laptop, tablet or another phone. This is called a hotspot or tethering. It's perfect when home Wi-Fi is down or you're travelling.
Turn on a hotspot on Android
- Go to Settings → Network & internet → Hotspot & tethering → Wi-Fi hotspot (Samsung: Connections → Mobile Hotspot and Tethering).
- Set a hotspot name and a strong password.
- Turn the hotspot on.
You can also toggle it from Quick Settings.
Turn on a hotspot on iPhone
Go to Settings → Personal Hotspot, turn on Allow Others to Join, and set a Wi-Fi password. Mobile data must be on.
Connect your laptop
On the laptop, open the Wi-Fi list, choose your phone's hotspot name and enter the password.
Other tethering methods
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi hotspot | Easy, multiple devices | Uses more phone battery |
| USB tethering | Faster, stable, charges phone | Needs a cable, one device |
| Bluetooth tethering | Low battery use | Slow |
Keep it secure
- Use WPA2 or WPA3 security with a strong password.
- Don't use an open hotspot; strangers could use your data.
- Turn the hotspot off when you finish.
- Check connected devices in hotspot settings.
Save data while tethering
Laptops use far more data than phones because of updates and cloud syncing.
- On Windows, set the hotspot as a metered connection: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → [network] → Metered connection. This pauses most updates.
- Pause OneDrive or Google Drive sync.
- Set a data limit on your phone. See saving mobile data.
Battery tips
Hotspots drain battery quickly and make phones warm. Keep the phone plugged in, remove its case, and set the hotspot to turn off automatically when no devices are connected.
Hotspot troubleshooting
Hotspot option is greyed out
Some mobile packages or networks block tethering. Also check that mobile data is on, and that you're not using a SIM configured only for voice. Dual-SIM phones share the hotspot from the SIM selected for data.
Connected but no internet
- Make sure the phone itself can browse on mobile data.
- Turn the hotspot off and on, then reconnect the laptop.
- Turn off VPN or Private DNS on the phone to test.
- On Windows, forget the hotspot network and reconnect.
Hotspot keeps turning off
Phones turn off hotspots automatically when no device is connected for a while, or in battery saver mode. Check the hotspot's timeout setting and disable battery saver while tethering.
Slow speeds
Signal strength matters most. Place the phone near a window, avoid covering it, and use the 5 GHz hotspot band if both devices support it. Remember the connection is shared: more devices means slower speeds for each.
Smart ways to use a hotspot
- Backup internet during home internet outages or power cuts. See keeping internet on during power cuts.
- Safer browsing on the go compared with public Wi-Fi in cafés and airports.
- Travel: one phone with a local SIM can connect a family's devices.
- Online exams or interviews when your home connection is unreliable; test it beforehand.
Keep an eye on data usage while tethering; a laptop can use a whole day's allowance in minutes if it starts downloading updates.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't my laptop connect to my hotspot?
Try switching the hotspot band between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, restart both devices, and check the password.
Does my mobile package allow hotspot use?
Most do, but some packages restrict tethering. Check with your network.
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