Switch internet WiFi hotspot on your phone. Whether it is an Android or iOS device, this guide will help you with turning your phone into a WiFi router.
Back in the day when cellular network was making its way to the mainstream user, the ability to call and text other users across the world seemed like a dream. However, the inception of the internet and commercializing it globally is what really opened up doors to creating the network that billions of users have access to today, not just through their computers, but through their mobile devices as well.
The lifeblood of the internet today can be considered Wi-Fi, which allows you to break free from the shackles of the cord and go wireless. What makes mobile devices stand apart from other wireless smart devices like your laptop is the ability to wirelessly connect to the internet even when there isn’t a Wi-Fi network around. Moreover, turning your smartphone into a mobile hotspot is what has really changed the game, since it allows you to use your Android or iOS phone as a wireless router.
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This opens up the door to sharing the mobile data on your phone with a laptop, another smartphone, or basically any Wi-Fi enabled device. This is why the Mobile Hotspot feature comes as a built-in ability in not just Android, but iOS devices as well, and here’s how you can turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot by using the Settings app in the phone itself or employing a third-party app to easily manage the feature.
How to: Use Your Android Phone device as an Internet WiFi Hotspot
Since the ability to share the mobile internet on your Android device with absolutely any smart device is highly desirable, Google has made it a stock feature that can be found on each and every modern Android device. Ever since the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop, Mobile Hotspot button has also found its place on the Quick Settings panel when you pull down on the screen.
Setting up the Mobile Hotspot
Before you can go ahead and turn the internet WiFi hotspot on your device and start sharing the cellular internet on your Android device with other smart devices across a wireless network, you need to configure the mobile hotspot. While you can set up your mobile hotspot as an “Open Network” (Wi-Fi network without a password), we highly recommend that you set up a password for the mobile hotspot as an added safety measure.
Here’s how to switch on Mobile internet WiFi hotspot on Android.
- Pull down on any screen on your Android device to view the notification shade.
- Tap on the gear icon on the bottom right corner of the panel to open the Settings app.
- In the Settings app, find the Network & Internet tab (Pixel devices) or the Connections tab (Samsung devices).
- Scroll down to find the Hotspot & Tethering menu and tap on it.
- Now open the Wi-Fi Hotspot tab on the next screen.
- Here you can choose to change the Hotspot Name, choose the Security encryption level, and enter the Hotspot password.
Once you have everything configured you are ready to go, all you need to do is press the toggle switch next the Wi-Fi Hotspot tab to enable it. You can now go ahead and scan for available networks on the other smart devices and the Hotspot Name that you have saved your mobile phone’s hotspot connection should appear.
Additionally, you can make the Mobile internet Hotspot feature easily accessible by adding it to the Quick Settings menu. All you need to do slide down to view the notification shade, tap on the Edit icon and then drag and drop the Hotspot tile to the Quick Settings window. You will then be able to access the Mobile Hotspot service on your Android device directly from the Quick Settings menu in an instant.
How to Use Your iPhone as an Internet WiFi Hotspot
While Apple was late to join the party of helping users wirelessly tether the internet across multiple devices, you now do have the ability to turn your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot. The ability to do so comes built into the Settings app itself, but just like you would want to on an Android device, it is recommended that you first set up the Personal Hotspot feature and password protect it before moving forward.
- On your iPhone, go to and open the Settings app, then select Mobile Data. (On devices running iOS 10 or later, whereas the older versions of iOS have it as Mobile)
- Tap on the Personal Hotspot tab, and set the toggle switch to ON to enable the Personal Hotspot. (Tap on the slider bar so that it turns on green.)
- If the Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth toggles are turned off, the system will ask you if you want to turn them on. Select WiFi and USB Only on the pop-up menu and the hotspot will be activated.
- Tap on the WiFi Password tab and enter your password which will be used to secure your mobile hotspot connection.
Now that the personal hotspot is active, you will be able to see the name of your iPhone as an available Wi-Fi network under the Wi-Fi search menu of other devices. Simply use the Wi-Fi password that you had saved previously to access the personal hotspot and start using the internet from your iPhone on other devices.
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Final Words
With the methods that have been highlighted above, you can carry your very own portable Wi-Fi hotspot anywhere at any time. However, the idea of using your Android or iOS device as a full-fledged wireless router is not perfect, since in most cases, the mobile data plan that you’re on is tied down to your network carrier and the restrictions it puts forward.
There’s a good chance that the mobile data plan of your network carrier restricts you to a certain amount of bandwidth each month, which is why it is crucial that you don’t “let it lose” when it comes to using your phone as a mobile hotspot. Make sure that you don’t update apps or stream tons of content when using your smartphone as a mobile hotspot and you should be fine.
Will you be using your mobile device as a portable internet Wi-Fi hotspot to get some entertainment going or get some work done on the go? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section right down below or highlight any questions that you may have, and we’ll be sure to respond right away.
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