What a 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 Wi-Fi network, your tablet, laptop, or another phone can use your phone's connection. The hotspot broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal that other devices see and join, just like connecting to any other network.
To turn on your hotspot, open your phone's Settings app and look for a section called Hotspot, Personal Hotspot, or Tethering — the exact name depends on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and toggle it on. On most Android phones, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering, then tap Mobile Hotspot and turn it on. Your phone will then broadcast a Wi-Fi network that other devices can see and join.
Before you turn on a hotspot, check your phone plan. Most carriers charge extra for hotspot data or include a limited amount each month. Some plans include unlimited hotspot; others give you 5 GB or 10 GB per month before slowing down. If you go over your limit, your hotspot speed may drop significantly. Your carrier's website or your bill shows how much hotspot data you have.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone's hotspot broadcasts a Wi-Fi network that other devices join the same way they join any other network.
- Turn on hotspot in Settings under Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Mobile Hotspot (Android), but check your plan first because most carriers limit or charge extra for hotspot data.
- The device connecting to your hotspot will see your phone's name in the available networks list and will need your hotspot password to join.
- Battery drains faster when hotspot is on, so plug in your phone if you plan to use it for more than an hour or two.
- Hotspot speed depends on your phone's signal strength and how many devices are connected at once.
Finding your hotspot name and password
When you turn on your hotspot, your phone creates a Wi-Fi network with a name (called the SSID) and a password. Other devices need both to connect. Your phone generates a default name and password automatically, but you can change both to something easier to remember.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot. You will see the name of your hotspot at the top — it is usually your phone's name, like "James's iPhone". Below that is the Wi-Fi Password field. To change the name, go to Settings > General > About and change the device name. To change the password, tap the Wi-Fi Password field in the Personal Hotspot section and type a new one.
On Android, the steps vary by phone maker, but most follow this path: Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot > tap the settings icon (usually three dots or a gear) > Hotspot Name and Hotspot Password. Change either field to what you want. Make sure your password is at least 8 characters long — shorter passwords may not work.
Connecting a device to your hotspot
Once your hotspot is on, any device with Wi-Fi can see it and connect. On the device you want to connect (a tablet, laptop, or another phone), open the Wi-Fi settings and look for your hotspot's name in the list of available networks. Tap or click it, then enter the password when prompted. The device will connect and you will see a Wi-Fi icon appear.
On a Windows laptop, click the Wi-Fi icon in the bottom right corner of the screen, find your hotspot name in the list, click it, and select Connect. When prompted, enter your hotspot password. On a Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top right corner, find your hotspot name, click it, and enter the password. On an iPad or Android tablet, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap your hotspot name, and enter the password.
If a device cannot find your hotspot, make sure your phone's hotspot is actually on — go back to Settings and confirm the toggle is switched on. If the device still cannot see it, restart your phone's hotspot by turning it off and back on. If you changed your hotspot password recently, make sure you are entering the new one, not the old one.
Managing battery drain and connection limits
Using hotspot drains your phone's battery much faster than normal use because your phone is constantly transmitting a Wi-Fi signal and managing data for multiple devices. If you plan to use hotspot for more than an hour or two, plug your phone into a charger. Many phones will not let you use hotspot while the battery is very low, so keeping it plugged in prevents unexpected disconnections.
The number of devices you can connect at once depends on your phone and carrier, but most phones support 5 to 10 devices simultaneously. However, the more devices connected, the slower the connection for each one. If you are streaming video on one device while someone else is browsing on another, both will be slower than if only one device were connected. Close apps on devices you are not actively using to free up bandwidth.
Your hotspot speed also depends on your phone's cellular signal. If you are in an area with weak signal, your hotspot will be slow. Move to a location with better signal if possible. 4G and 5G networks are faster than 3G, so if your phone shows 5G or LTE, you will have better speeds than if it shows 3G.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If a device connects to your hotspot but has no internet, the problem is usually that your phone itself has no data connection. Check that your phone shows a cellular signal (not just Wi-Fi) and that your data plan is active. If your phone shows no signal, move to a different location. If your plan is out of data for the month, your hotspot will not work until your plan resets or you add more data.
If your hotspot keeps disconnecting, restart your phone. If that does not work, turn off the hotspot, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Some phones have a setting that turns off hotspot automatically after a period of inactivity — check your hotspot settings to see if this is enabled and turn it off if you want the hotspot to stay on longer.
If a specific device cannot connect even though others can, forget the network on that device and reconnect. On most phones and tablets, go to Wi-Fi settings, tap your hotspot name, and select Forget. Then find the hotspot again in the available networks list and reconnect with your password. This clears any corrupted connection data.
Hotspot data usage and carrier limits
Every device connected to your hotspot uses data from your phone plan. Streaming video, downloading files, and browsing use the most data. A single hour of video streaming can use 1 to 3 GB depending on the quality. Browsing websites uses much less — typically 10 to 50 MB per hour. Check your carrier's website or your bill to see how much hotspot data you have used this month.
If you have a limited hotspot allowance, monitor usage by checking your carrier's app or website regularly. Some carriers send alerts when you reach 50% or 80% of your limit. Once you exceed your limit, your hotspot speed typically drops to 3G speeds (much slower) for the rest of the month, though you can still use it. Some carriers charge extra per GB once you go over.
To reduce data usage, turn off auto-play for videos on social media apps, disable background app refresh on connected devices, and avoid downloading large files over hotspot. Streaming music and podcasts uses less data than video but still adds up if you do it for hours.
When hotspot is not available on your plan
Some phone plans do not include hotspot at all, or include it only for an extra monthly fee. Check your plan details on your carrier's website or call customer service to confirm whether hotspot is included. If it is not, you have a few options: add hotspot to your plan (usually $10 to $20 per month), switch to a plan that includes it, or use a different method to share internet.
If you cannot add hotspot to your plan right now, you can tether your phone to a computer using a USB cable instead. This uses your phone's data but does not require hotspot to be enabled. On an iPhone, plug it into a Mac or Windows computer and go to System Preferences > Network (Mac) or Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot (Windows) to enable USB tethering. On Android, plug it in and go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > USB Tethering and turn it on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using hotspot cost extra money?
Most carriers include hotspot in your plan, but the amount varies. Some plans include unlimited hotspot; others include 5 GB or 10 GB per month. Check your plan details on your carrier's website. If hotspot is not included, adding it typically costs $10 to $20 per month.
Can I use hotspot while on a call?
On most modern phones, yes. Your phone can handle a voice call and hotspot at the same time. However, if you are on an older phone or using 3G, you may not be able to do both simultaneously. If you experience problems, try turning off hotspot during calls and turning it back on when the call ends.
Why is my hotspot so slow?
Hotspot speed depends on your phone's cellular signal and how many devices are connected. If you are in an area with weak signal, move to a location with better coverage. If many devices are connected, disconnect the ones you are not using. Hotspot is also slower than a home Wi-Fi network because it uses cellular data instead of a fixed broadband connection.
Can I use hotspot internationally?
Yes, but international data charges may apply. Check your carrier's international plan before traveling. Some carriers offer international data passes for a flat fee; others charge per MB. Turning on hotspot abroad without an international plan can result in very high charges, so confirm your plan covers it first.
What is the difference between hotspot and tethering?
Hotspot and tethering both let other devices use your phone's data, but they work differently. Hotspot broadcasts a Wi-Fi network that any device can join wirelessly. Tethering connects a single device to your phone using a USB cable or Bluetooth. Tethering is more secure and uses slightly less battery, but hotspot is more convenient for multiple devices.