What a mobile hotspot is and how to turn it on
A mobile hotspot is a feature that turns your phone into a wireless router, letting other devices connect to the internet through your phone's cellular data. Instead of needing a separate WiFi network, your phone broadcasts its own signal that laptops, tablets, and other phones can join. The device you're connecting uses your phone's data plan, so every megabyte counts against your monthly limit.
Most phones have this feature built in — it's called a hotspot on iPhones and a portable hotspot on Android phones. You turn it on in your phone's settings, set a password, and then other devices see it as a WiFi network they can join. The process takes less than a minute once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- On an iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot > toggle it on, then share the WiFi password shown on screen with devices you want to connect.
- On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & Tethering > toggle on Mobile Hotspot, then set a password in the hotspot settings.
- Your phone must have cellular data turned on and a working data plan for the hotspot to work — WiFi-only phones cannot create a hotspot.
- Every device connected to your hotspot uses data from your phone's plan, so check your carrier's data limits before connecting multiple devices.
- If a device won't connect, restart both your phone and the device you're trying to connect, then try again with the correct password.
Turning on a hotspot on iPhone
Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Personal Hotspot. Toggle the switch next to Personal Hotspot to the on position. Your iPhone will show a WiFi password below the toggle — write this down or remember it, because you'll need to give it to anyone connecting to your hotspot.
Once Personal Hotspot is on, your phone's name appears as a WiFi network on other devices. On the device you want to connect, open WiFi settings, find your iPhone's name in the list, tap it, and enter the password shown in Personal Hotspot settings. The device will connect within a few seconds. You can see how many devices are connected by looking at the blue bar at the top of your iPhone's screen — it shows the number of connected devices.
If you don't see Personal Hotspot in Settings, your carrier may not support it, or you may need to contact them to add it to your plan. Some carriers charge extra for hotspot use or limit how much data you can use this way.
Turning on a hotspot on Android
Open Settings and look for Network & Internet or Connections — the exact name varies by phone maker. Tap Hotspot & Tethering or Mobile Hotspot. Toggle on the switch next to Mobile Hotspot or Portable Hotspot. Android will show you the network name and password, or you can tap the settings icon to change them before turning it on.
Once the hotspot is on, other devices will see your phone's name as a WiFi network. On the device you want to connect, open WiFi settings, find your phone's name, tap it, and enter the password from your Android hotspot settings. The connection usually takes a few seconds. Some Android phones show a notification at the top of the screen when devices connect or disconnect.
If you can't find Hotspot & Tethering in Settings, try searching for "hotspot" in your phone's settings search bar. Different Android manufacturers use different menu names, but the feature exists on nearly all modern Android phones.
What devices can connect to your hotspot
Any device with WiFi can connect to your phone's hotspot — laptops, tablets, smartwatches, gaming consoles, and other phones. Your phone's hotspot works just like any other WiFi network from the connecting device's perspective. The number of devices you can connect at once depends on your phone and carrier, but most phones support between 5 and 10 simultaneous connections.
Keep in mind that every device connected to your hotspot uses data from your phone's plan. Streaming video, downloading files, or browsing the web on a connected device will count against your monthly data limit just as if you were using that data on your phone itself. If you have a limited data plan, connecting multiple devices or letting someone else use your hotspot can eat through your allowance quickly.
Troubleshooting when devices won't connect
If a device can't find your hotspot, make sure your phone's hotspot is actually turned on by checking the toggle in settings. Then restart your phone — turn it off completely and turn it back on. This fixes most connection problems.
If the device sees your hotspot but won't connect, the password is usually the problem. Double-check that you're entering the exact password shown in your phone's hotspot settings, including capital letters and numbers. Passwords are case-sensitive. If you're not sure of the password, go back into your phone's hotspot settings and look at it again, or change it to something you'll remember.
If the password is correct but the device still won't connect, restart the device you're trying to connect and try again. If it still doesn't work, forget the network on the connecting device — go into its WiFi settings, find your phone's hotspot name, and tap "Forget" or "Remove" — then try connecting again from scratch.
If your hotspot turns on but other devices can't see it at all, make sure your phone's cellular data is turned on. A hotspot cannot work if data is off. Also check that your phone has an active data plan with your carrier — prepaid plans sometimes run out of data or expire.
Data usage and carrier limits
Your phone's data plan covers hotspot use, but some carriers limit how much hotspot data you can use each month even if you have unlimited phone data. Check your carrier's website or call them to learn about your plan has a separate hotspot data limit. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other major carriers all have different policies.
If you use a lot of hotspot data, your carrier may slow down your speeds once you hit a certain amount — this is called throttling. Some carriers charge extra for hotspot use or require you to add it to your plan. It's worth checking before you start using your hotspot regularly, especially if you plan to connect multiple devices or stream video.
When to use a hotspot instead of public WiFi
A mobile hotspot is more secure than public WiFi at a coffee shop or airport because only devices you approve can connect, and the connection is encrypted. If you need to do banking, shopping, or anything involving passwords on a laptop, a hotspot is safer than public WiFi.
However, a hotspot uses your phone's data, which may be slower than a wired connection and will count against your monthly limit. Public WiFi is free and doesn't use your data, but it's less secure. If you're just browsing or checking email and don't mind the security risk, public WiFi is fine. If you're doing anything sensitive or want faster speeds, use your hotspot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using a hotspot drain my phone's battery faster?
Yes, running a hotspot uses more battery than normal phone use because your phone is broadcasting a WiFi signal and managing multiple connections. If you're using a hotspot for an extended time, plug your phone into power or bring a portable charger. Turning off the hotspot when you're not using it will extend your battery life.
Can I use a hotspot if I have a limited data plan?
Yes, but hotspot data counts against your limit just like any other data use. If you have 5 gigabytes per month and you use 2 gigabytes on your phone, you have 3 gigabytes left for hotspot use. Some carriers have a separate hotspot limit that's smaller than your total data limit, so check with your carrier first.
Why is my hotspot so slow?
Hotspot speed depends on your phone's cellular signal strength and your carrier's network in your area. If you're in a weak signal area, your hotspot will be slow. Moving to a location with better signal usually helps. If you're connecting many devices at once, that can also slow things down because your phone's data is split between them.
Can I use a hotspot on a tablet or iPad?
Only if the tablet has cellular service and a data plan. WiFi-only tablets cannot create a hotspot because they don't have a cellular connection. If your tablet has a SIM card slot and an active plan, you can turn on its hotspot the same way you would on a phone.
What's the difference between a hotspot and tethering?
Hotspot and tethering are the same thing — tethering is just an older term for it. Both mean connecting another device to your phone's data. Some phones use the word "tethering" in settings instead of "hotspot," but they do the same job.