How to Turn On Your Phone’s Wi-Fi Hotspot

If you’re out running errands and you suddenly need internet, you can use your phone to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot. With a few taps, you’ll have an internet connection for laptops, tablets, and other connected devices.

See below for more detailed, step-by-step instructions to help you switch on the hotspots for various Android and Apple iOS phones. We also have a list of the best phone plans for hotspots.

How to turn on your hotspot (for most phones)

To set up a hotspot, in the majority of cases you can follow these simple instructions:

Step 1: Open the settings menu.

Step 2: Go to the section marked Wi-Fi Hotspot (also sometimes listed as Personal Hotspot or Mobile Hotspot and Tethering).

Step 3: Switch on the hotspot.

Sometimes these instructions are different, though, depending on the type of phone you have, but that’s more or less how it works. We go into more specific operating systems below.

How do I find my phone hotspot password?

To find your phone’s hotspot password, go to the hotspot menu under your phone’s settings. You’ll see a button that allows you to enable and disable the hotspot along with a section for configuring passwords and changing the name of your hotspot.

See our directions above on hotspot setup for iPhones and hotspot setup for Android phones for more details.

Do you need a dedicated hotspot device other than your phone?

If you need internet regularly while traveling or working outside the office, it may be worth investing in a mobile hotspot separate from your phone’s hotspot.

While phone hotspots are easy and relatively cheap, standalone hotspots connect more devices, hit faster speeds, and often have a wider range. More advanced 5G hotspots have Wi-Fi 6 capability, helping them maintain an efficient connection while supporting a large number of devices. Also, having a separate hotspot means you won’t drain your phone’s battery.

See our top recommendations for the best mobile hotspots, best 5G hotspots, and mobile hotspot data plans.

How to turn on a phone hotspot on an iPhone or iPad

Switching on your phone’s hotspot is quick and easy with an Apple iOS device.

Note: If you don’t already have a cellular plan that allows for hotspots, you’ll need to contact your provider to set it up.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot. Or (depending on the type of iPhone you have) go to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot.

Step 2: Hit the toggle button to turn on the Personal Hotspot. If you don’t have a cellular plan with hotspot data, you may have to tap a button that says Set Up Personal Hotspot, which will prompt you to call your provider.

Step 3: Toggle on the function that says Allow Others to Join.

Step 4: Write down the password. You can change the password by tapping on the text, tapping X to erase it, and typing in a new password of your choice.

Once you’ve turned on your iPhone’s hotspot, you can connect another Wi-Fi enabled device to it by looking up the name of your hotspot on your device’s Wi-Fi menu and typing in the password.

How to turn on a phone hotspot on Android phones

Setting up a hotspot on an Android phone depends slightly on what kind of phone you have. But the instructions are more or less the same regardless of the phone.

Usually you can find the hotspot by searching in your phone for “hotspot” or “tethering.” After you’ve turned on the hotspot, connect to it on another device that needs internet by selecting the name of your hotspot in the device’s Wi-Fi menu and putting in the password.

Samsung phones

Step 1: Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot. Tap to switch it on. You can turn it off the same way.

Step 2: Make sure the Wi-Fi sharing option is switched on—otherwise you can’t connect other devices.

Step 3: To change the hotspot name, password, and other settings, tap on the Mobile Hotspot menu.

Motorola phones

Step 1: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & Tethering.

Step 2: Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot to turn it on.

Step 3: Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot to edit the name of your hotspot.

To change your password, go to Advanced > Hotspot Password. If you want, tap Hide My Device to keep others from seeing your hotspot listed publicly. In the Advanced menu, you can also switch the AP Band to 5 GHz to improve your network connection.

Google Pixel phones

Step 1: Make your way to Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering.

Step 2: Toggle next to Off (to enable) or On (to disable).

LG phones

Step 1: On your Home screen, go to Settings > Network & internet > Tethering. Or it could be listed under Settings > Networks > Tethering.

Step 2: You’ll see a switch to turn on the hotspot, which will be labeled either Wi-Fi Hotspot or Mobile HotSpot (depending on the model of LG phone). Tap the button to turn it on.

Step 3: Go to Configure Mobile HotSpot to adjust settings like the name of the hotspot and the password. Then hit Save.

Huawei phones

Step 1: The menu options for Huawei phones are all worded slightly differently, but the directions are pretty much the same. Access the hotspot and switch it on by going to Settings > Wireless & Networks.

Step 2: In Wireless & Networks, you will find a section called either Personal Hotspot or Tethering & Portable Hotspot. Just look for the word “hotspot,” and it will lead you to the button to switch it on. You’ll also find options for setting up the name, password, and more.

Best phone plans for hotspots

Data effective as of 7/26/24. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

*AutoPay Discount included: -$5/mo. per line

†5G coverage not available everywhere. Requires compatible device/service. Other terms and restr’s apply. Data charges may apply.

To use your phone’s hotspot, you’ll need a cellular plan that gives you hotspot data. Thankfully, plenty of phone plans give you just that. Major cellular companies often give you more hotspot data for your dollar, but MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) like Mint Mobile and Visible also have decent hotspot deals.

Expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $85 per month for a phone plan with hotspot data. Also, keep an eye out for your hotspot’s data cap—you usually can use only a finite amount of mobile data per month before your speeds are slowed to a crawl or your hotspot connection is cut off entirely.

Phone hotspot requirements

Of course, to set up a hotspot on your phone, you’ll need the following:

• A smartphone with hotspot capabilities
• A phone plan that allows you to set up personal hotspots

Android phones generally let you connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. For Apple, the maximum number of devices you can connect depends on the iPhone you have and what your wireless carrier allows.

What is a phone Wi-Fi hotspot?

A phone Wi-Fi hotspot is an internet access point built into your smartphone, providing a Wi-Fi connection for other devices within its range. It works similarly to a wired internet connection like the one you have at home, only it uses mobile data from your cellular provider to get you internet access anywhere with cell service.

Make your phone a hotspot when you are . . .

• Traveling
• Staying in a vacation home
• Working at a restaurant or coffee shop
• Looking for Wi-Fi while your home internet is down

Just keep in mind that your phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot isn’t an adequate replacement for home internet. Hotspot data usually costs a lot more and the speeds aren’t as fast, so you’re still better off with a wired internet plan if you need a setup for day-in, day-out use. Or you can get a dedicated mobile hotspot.

Additional resources

• How to Find Free Public Wi-Fi
• Best Mobile Hotspots
• Best Hotspot Data Plans 2021
• How to Get Internet without a Phone Line or Cable