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How to use a mobile hotspot

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In this article, you will learn how to share a mobile hotspot from Android and iOS devices.

 

What is a mobile hotspot?

As you may already know, mobile phones can use Wi-Fi, mobile data, or even an Ethernet to connect to the internet. You can share this connection with other devices that can connect to Wi-Fi by turning on the hotspot feature on your phone.

 

How to share a mobile hotspot from Android

If you wish to share a hotspot from your Android mobile device, follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone's settings:

    Android home screen with Settings highlighted

  2. Next, select the hotspot & tethering button:

    Android Network and internet with Hotspot and tethering highlighted

  3. Enable the Wi-fi hotspot option:

    Hotspot and tethering with the Wi-Fi hotspot switch highlighted

  4. If you wish to configure your network, open the Wi-fi hotspot section, and select the setting you would like to change, for example, hotspot password: 

    Wi-Fi hotspot settings with Hotspot password highlighted

  5. After inputting the new password, select the OK button:

    Hotspot password dialog with OK highlighted

 

How to share a mobile hotspot from iOS

If you wish to share a hotspot from your iOS mobile device, follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone and select the settings button:

    iPhone home screen with Settings highlighted

  2. Afterward, select the personal hotspot option:

    iOS Settings with Personal Hotspot highlighted

  3. Next, enable the allow others to join button:

    Personal Hotspot with Allow Others to Join highlighted

  4. If you wish to set a different password, select the Wi-fi password option, and after inputting your new password, press the done button: 

    Wi-Fi Password screen with Done highlighted

 

How to connect to a shared mobile hotspot

If you are using a macOS device and want to connect to the shared hotspot, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Wi-fi settings and select the shared hotspot network: 

    macOS Wi-Fi settings with iPhone network highlighted

  2. After inputting the password you have previously set, press the OK button: 

    macOS Wi-Fi password dialog for iPhone with OK highlighted 

  3. The shared mobile hotspot network will appear in your Wi-fi drop-down menu:

    macOS Wi-Fi menu with iPhone hotspot highlighted

 

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