To use your phone as a hotspot, turn on the hotspot feature: on Android, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Hotspot; on iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and switch on Allow Others to Join. Then, on your laptop or other device, pick your phone’s network name from the Wi-Fi list and enter the password. Below are the steps for each system, the USB and Bluetooth alternatives, and what to try when it will not connect.
Two heads-ups first. Your phone’s data plan supplies the connection, so everything the laptop uses comes out of your data allowance. And some carriers restrict tethering or charge extra for it, according to both Google’s and Apple’s help pages, so check your plan before you rely on it.
How do you turn on a hotspot on Android?
Menu names vary a little between brands, but the shortest route is the same on most phones, per Android Help. Some of the steps below require Android 14 or later.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
- Tap Hotspot.
- If you do not see it, tap Edit at the bottom left and drag Hotspot into your Quick Settings.
- To view or change the network name and password, tap Hotspot again. On some phones you first need to tap Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
Your phone now broadcasts a Wi-Fi network, and up to 10 other devices can connect to it.
How do you connect a laptop or another phone?
- On the other device, open the Wi-Fi list.
- Select your phone’s hotspot name.
- Enter the password and tap Connect.
If you want to skip the password, Android Help says you can touch and hold Hotspot in Quick Settings and choose None under Security. We do not recommend it: anyone nearby could use your connection and burn through your data.
How do you turn on Personal Hotspot on iPhone?
Apple calls the feature Personal Hotspot.
- Open Settings > Personal Hotspot. On some models the path is Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot.
- If the option is dimmed, make sure Cellular Data is on.
- Turn on Allow Others to Join.
- To change the password, tap Wi-Fi Password and set one with at least eight ASCII characters, meaning plain letters, numbers and common keyboard symbols.
To connect another device over Wi-Fi, keep both devices close with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. On the other device, select your iPhone’s name in the network list and enter the password.
To rename the hotspot, change the device name under Settings > General > About > Name.
Can you share over a USB cable?
Yes, and it is often the steadier choice for long work sessions, plus the phone keeps charging.
On Android:
- Plug the phone into the computer with a USB cable.
- In Quick Settings, touch and hold Hotspot and turn on USB tethering.
Android Help notes that Macs cannot tether to Android over USB.
On iPhone:
- Turn on Personal Hotspot, then connect the iPhone to your computer with a cable.
- Approve any prompts on both devices.
- On Windows, you need the latest Apple Devices app or iTunes.
On iPhone, the hotspot stays active while the cable is connected. Turn it off when you finish so it does not use data without you noticing.
What about Bluetooth?
It works on both systems, but it is the slowest option and the fiddliest to set up. Think of it as a backup.
On Android: pair your phone with the other device, set up its network connection over Bluetooth, then touch and hold Hotspot on the phone and turn on Bluetooth tethering.
On iPhone: turn on Personal Hotspot, open Settings > Bluetooth and keep that screen open. On your computer, pair with the iPhone in Bluetooth settings and confirm the codes match.
Which method should you pick?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Quick use, no cable | Wi-Fi |
| Hours of work, low battery | USB cable |
| No Wi-Fi option or no cable handy | Bluetooth |
What if it does not work?
- No Hotspot tile (Android). Tap Edit in Quick Settings and drag the tile in.
- Option dimmed (iPhone). Turn on Cellular Data. If it stays dimmed, your plan may not include the feature, so ask your carrier.
- The other device cannot see the network. Update both devices, restart them and try again, as Apple advises. On iPhone, if that fails, turn on Maximize Compatibility in the hotspot settings.
- Password rejected. Check upper and lower case. On iPhone, the password needs at least eight characters. If you forgot the password of a network you already use, see how to find your Wi-Fi password on iPhone, Android and Windows 11.
- Some features fail. Apple says features that depend on Wi-Fi, such as iCloud backup, may not work over a hotspot.
How do you avoid draining your data and battery?
Sharing a connection eats both. Android Help suggests keeping your devices plugged in, turning tethering off when you are done and, if your phone offers it, enabling the option that switches the hotspot off automatically when nothing is connected. It also helps to hold off on big downloads and system updates on the laptop while it runs through your phone. For more ways to save power, see how to make your phone battery last longer.
FAQ
Does a hotspot use a lot of data?
It uses whatever the connected device uses. Browsing and email are light. Video, video calls and system updates are heavy. All of it counts against your plan’s allowance.
How many devices can connect?
On Android, Google’s help page says up to 10 other devices can join a Wi-Fi hotspot. On iPhone, the limit depends on your carrier and iPhone model.
Do I have to pay extra?
It depends on your plan. Google and Apple both warn that some carriers restrict tethering or charge more for it, so confirm with yours.
Is it safe?
Always use a password, and do not leave the hotspot on when you do not need it. Without a password, anyone nearby can use your connection.
