If you own an Android smartphone that has an active data plan, you can use it as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, i.e., connect your other devices to it to use its cellular plan for accessing the internet. Let us see how to use an Android phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Step 1: Set Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot on Your Android Phone
Before you can turn your Android phone into a mobile hotspot, you first need to set up its Wi-Fi hotspot. Depending on which Android device you’re using and the operating system it’s currently running, the steps involved in enabling and setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot may vary. Here are the steps to enable and set up a Wi-Fi hotspot on stock Android: On OneUI:
On ColorOS:
On MIUI:
Step 2: Connect Devices to Your Mobile Hotspot
Once you’ve set up and enabled a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Android phone, it’s now ready to be used with other devices. Go to the device you want to connect to this Wi-Fi hotspot and turn on its Wi-Fi. Tap on your mobile hotspot’s Wi-Fi connection to connect to it. When prompted for the password, enter your hotspot password and hit Connect / Join. Alternatively, open the hotspot settings on your Android phone and click on Share or tap the QR code displayed next to the hotspot name or password. This will give you a QR code with your hotspot name and password. You can then scan this QR code using another Android device or iPhone to connect to it without entering the Wi-Fi password manually. It is a handy trick that lets you share your mobile hotspot connection with others without telling them its password. After successfully connecting to your phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot, you can use it as your personal hotspot to browse the internet, check your emails, or do anything else that requires an internet connection.
Things You Must Know When Using a Mobile Hotspot
Easily Turn Your Android Smartphone into a Mobile Hotspot
A mobile hotspot is a great way to use your phone’s data connection on other devices. We hope the steps listed above help you set up a mobile hotspot on your Android smartphone, so you can use it to stay connected to your other devices even when there is no Wi-Fi network around. Of course, it goes without saying that you must use this feature judiciously as it can lead to extra charges from your service provider. Also, make sure to keep your hotspot password safe and secure to avoid any unauthorized access.
Check the number of devices connected to your hotspot. The more devices that are connected, the slower the internet speed will be. Try disconnecting some devices if you’re not getting the desired speed. Move to a different location. Sometimes, cellular signals are not strong and so your hotspot might not work as desired. Moving to a different location might help. Reset network settings. Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset network settings. This will reset your Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings. Restart your phone. Sometimes, restarting your phone can help improve the speed.
