How to Set Up and Use a Mobile Hotspot

4 min read · iPhone · Android · Windows · Mac

A mobile hotspot turns your phone into a portable WiFi router. Other devices — a laptop, tablet, or a friend's phone — connect to it just like a regular WiFi network and use your phone's mobile data to access the internet. Your carrier must support hotspot use on your plan.

Set Up a Personal Hotspot on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot

Open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot. If you don't see it, tap Cellular first — it's nested there on some carriers.

Toggle on Allow Others to Join

Toggle on Allow Others to Join. Your iPhone immediately starts broadcasting a WiFi network that other devices can connect to.

Note your hotspot name and password

Below the toggle, you'll see Wi-Fi Password. This is the password other devices will need to enter. Your hotspot's network name is the same as your iPhone's name (shown at the top of the Settings screen).

Change the password if you want

Tap Wi-Fi Password to change it to something you'll remember more easily. Use at least 8 characters to keep your hotspot secure.

Connect the other device to your hotspot

On the other device (laptop, iPad, etc.), open its WiFi settings, find your iPhone's name in the network list, and enter the Wi-Fi Password. You're connected.

Instant Hotspot: If another device is signed into the same Apple ID as your iPhone — or is a Family Sharing member — it can connect to your hotspot without needing to type the password. The device will see your iPhone listed under "Personal Hotspot" in its WiFi menu automatically.

Set Up a Mobile Hotspot on Android

Open Settings and go to Network or Connections

Open Settings. On most Android phones, tap Network & Internet. On Samsung phones, tap Connections.

Tap Hotspot & Tethering

Tap Hotspot & Tethering (or Mobile Hotspot and Tethering on Samsung). You'll see several tethering options.

Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot

Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot (or just Mobile Hotspot on some phones) to open the hotspot settings.

Set a network name and password

Tap the Hotspot name field to change what others see in their WiFi list. Tap Hotspot password to set a password. Use something you can share easily but that isn't too obvious.

Toggle on the hotspot

Toggle on Use Wi-Fi Hotspot at the top of the screen. The hotspot is now active — your network name will appear on other devices' WiFi lists within a few seconds.

Connect a Windows PC to a Mobile Hotspot

Click the WiFi icon in the taskbar

Click the WiFi icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar (or press Windows + A to open Quick Settings). Click the WiFi button to make sure WiFi is on.

Find your phone's hotspot name in the network list

Click the arrow next to the WiFi icon, or go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi. Your phone's hotspot name will appear in the list of available networks.

Click Connect and enter the password

Click your hotspot's name, then click Connect. When prompted, enter the WiFi password from your phone's hotspot settings. Tick Connect automatically to avoid retyping next time.

Connect a Mac to a Mobile Hotspot

Click the WiFi icon in the menu bar

Click the WiFi icon at the top right of your Mac's screen to open the network menu.

Find your phone's hotspot and click it

Your phone's hotspot will appear in the list — iPhone hotspots show up under a separate "Personal Hotspot" heading. Click the network name.

Enter the password and click Join

Type the hotspot password and click Join. Your Mac is now using your phone's mobile data connection.

Hotspot drains your battery fast: Broadcasting a WiFi signal is one of the most power-intensive things a phone can do. Keep your phone plugged in when using it as a hotspot for extended periods. Also monitor your mobile data — other devices can use it quickly when streaming or downloading.

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