Connect your phone's hotspot to your computer in three steps

Your phone can share its internet connection with your computer through a feature called a hotspot (also called tethering). The computer sees the phone as a wireless network and connects to it the same way it would connect to any other Wi-Fi network. You turn on the hotspot on your phone, find that network on your computer, enter the password, and you're connected.

The process is nearly identical whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, though the menu locations differ slightly. Your phone will use its cellular data while the hotspot is active, so make sure your phone plan includes data or you may face overage charges.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on your phone's hotspot in Settings, then find and connect to that network from your computer's Wi-Fi menu.
  • Your phone displays a hotspot password during setup — write it down before you try to connect your computer.
  • The hotspot drains your phone's battery faster than normal use, so keep your phone plugged in if you plan to use it for more than an hour.
  • If your computer won't find the hotspot network, restart both devices and make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your phone's settings.

Turn on the hotspot on your iPhone

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Personal Hotspot. If you don't see this option, your phone plan may not support it — contact your carrier to confirm. Toggle the switch next to Personal Hotspot to turn it on. Your iPhone will display a Wi-Fi password at the top of the screen; write this down or take a screenshot because you'll need it on your computer.

Leave this screen open or at least leave the Settings app running in the background while your computer connects. If you close Settings entirely, some iPhones will turn off the hotspot automatically after a few minutes of inactivity.

Turn on the hotspot on an Android phone

Open Settings and look for a section called Hotspot, Tethering, or Mobile Hotspot — the exact name varies by phone manufacturer. Tap it, then tap the toggle or switch to turn on the hotspot. Your phone will show you the network name (called an SSID) and password; write both down before moving to your computer.

Some Android phones let you customize the network name and password before you turn on the hotspot. If you want a different name or password, do that now while you're in the hotspot settings. Once the hotspot is active, changing these details usually requires turning the hotspot off and back on.

Connect your computer to the hotspot network

On your computer, open the Wi-Fi menu. On Windows, click the Wi-Fi icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar. On Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top right corner of your menu bar. You should see your phone's hotspot network listed among the available networks — it will have the name you saw on your phone (or the default name if you didn't customize it).

Click on your phone's network name to select it. Your computer will ask for the password. Type the password exactly as it appeared on your phone — it's case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. Once you enter the correct password, your computer will connect and you should see a "connected" indicator next to the network name.

Troubleshoot if your computer can't find the hotspot

If your computer doesn't see your phone's hotspot network in the Wi-Fi list, restart both devices. Turn off your phone's hotspot, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. On your computer, turn Wi-Fi off and back on. Then check the Wi-Fi list again.

If the network still doesn't appear, check that Bluetooth is turned on in your phone's settings — some phones require Bluetooth to be active for the hotspot to broadcast properly. Also confirm that your phone's hotspot is actually turned on by going back to the hotspot settings and checking the toggle. If you're still not seeing it after these steps, restart your phone completely and try again.

Manage your hotspot connection and battery drain

Once connected, your computer will use your phone's cellular data just like it would use home Wi-Fi. Check your phone's data usage in Settings to see how much data the connection is using. Video streaming and large file downloads drain data quickly, so be mindful if your plan has a limit.

Running a hotspot drains your phone's battery much faster than normal use. If you plan to use the hotspot for more than an hour, plug your phone into a charger. You can use your phone normally while the hotspot is active — the connection will stay open in the background. To disconnect, simply turn off the hotspot in your phone's settings, or forget the network on your computer's Wi-Fi menu.

Switch between hotspot and regular Wi-Fi

Your computer can remember multiple Wi-Fi networks and will automatically reconnect to them when they're available. If you have both a home Wi-Fi network and your phone's hotspot saved, your computer may connect to the wrong one depending on which is in range. You can control this by "forgetting" networks you don't want to use right now.

On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Known Networks, find the network you want to remove, and click Forget. On Mac, go to System Settings > Wi-Fi, click Details next to your Wi-Fi network, and click Remove. Your computer will no longer automatically connect to that network, though you can always reconnect manually by entering the password again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does using a hotspot cost extra money?

It depends on your phone plan. Most plans include data that works the same whether you use it on your phone or through a hotspot. However, some carriers charge extra for hotspot use or limit how much hotspot data you can use per month. Check your plan details or contact your carrier to confirm what's included.

Can I use a hotspot while on a phone call?

On most modern phones, yes — your computer can use the hotspot while you're talking on the phone. However, the call and the data connection share your phone's cellular signal, so internet speed may slow down during the call. Once you hang up, speed returns to normal.

Why does my hotspot keep disconnecting?

This usually happens if your phone goes to sleep or if you move too far away from your phone. Keep your phone awake by disabling auto-lock in Settings, or just tap the screen occasionally. Also stay within about 30 feet of your phone for the strongest connection. If disconnections continue, restart both devices.

Can I connect multiple devices to my phone's hotspot at once?

Yes, most phones allow several devices to connect simultaneously — typically between 5 and 10 depending on your phone model. Each connected device uses your phone's data, so multiple connections will drain data and battery faster. Check your phone's hotspot settings to see how many devices are currently connected.

What's the difference between hotspot and Bluetooth tethering?

A hotspot uses Wi-Fi and is faster, while Bluetooth tethering is slower but uses less battery on your phone. Wi-Fi hotspot is the standard choice for most people. Bluetooth tethering is mainly useful if your computer is very old and doesn't have Wi-Fi, or if you need to save your phone's battery at the cost of slower speeds.