How To Set My Iphone As A Hotspot

Mobile hotspot button on Android Quick Settings.

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Have no internet? Actually, you do. It's in your pocket. You can turn your Android phone into a mobile hotspot and share your connection with other devices. This post will show you the ins and outs of setting up a mobile hotspot on Android, so let's get started.

Editor's note: Please take the time to get to know your mobile carrier and the service plan you have purchased. Not all plans allow tethering and hotspot services. In such cases, doing this can incur additional charges and go against your terms of service. Also, some carrier-branded phones may have disabled hotspot capabilities altogether. We'll try to get you up and running with a few techniques today, but it may simply not be possible on your device.

You have likely seen the hotspot button in your device's quick settings drawer. While that is the fastest and easiest way to turn your mobile hotspot on and off, you will want to take a moment to configure things first.

Here's how you configure a hotspot connection on Android:

Open the Settings app.
Tap the Network & internet option.
Select Hotspot & tethering.
Tap on Wi-Fi hotspot.
This page has options for turning the hotspot feature on and off. Additionally, you can change the network name, security type, password, and more.
Follow instructions to customize the hotspot feature to your liking.

The hard part is over. All there is left to do is to turn on the hotspot feature. There is a handy toggle in the Wi-Fi Settings, or you can use the notification shade's quick settings.

Keep in mind that smartphone manufacturers can add their own UI elements to the experience. This often means moving settings and options around. We based these instructions on the stock Android settings menu in a Google Pixel 3 XL on Android 11. Things might be slightly different depending on which device you own, but the process should be relatively similar.

Next: These are the best mobile hotspots you can buy

Set up mobile hotspot via USB

The Google Pixel 5a USB-C charging port and bottom stereo speakers.

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

It's also possible to set up a mobile hotspot using your Android phone's USB connection. Just keep in mind this won't work with every Android device. If yours supports it, here are the steps to do it.

Use your Android phone's USB cable to connect it to your computer.
Wait a bit for your computer to set up the connection.
Open the Settings app.
Tap on the Network & internet option.
Select Hotspot & tethering.
Toggle the USB tethering option.

The same process can activate Bluetooth tethering, but we don't recommend it over Wi-Fi or USB because it's much slower. If you still want to do it, connect other devices to your tethering source via Bluetooth instead of performing step number one.

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Set up a mobile hotspot with a third-party app

Google Play Store on smartphone stock photo 1

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Any recent smartphone should come with hotspot capabilities built-in, but this wasn't the norm in the past. Those of you using older smartphones might not have a tethering/hotspot option at your disposal, in which case you might depend on using a third-party app. Two of our favorite options are PdaNet+ and Portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

What's next?

Many great apps in the Google Play Store provide these and similar services for hotspot and tethering. Keep in mind that your best bet is to use the default Android or carrier tool. Third-party options are for the few users left who still need such services.

It is also essential to keep security in mind when using a mobile hotspot. You should be able to trust the hotspot you've created for yourself, but you may want to consider a VPN service if you connect to other networks.