How to Use Your Android Phone as a Mobile Hotspot

Android phones have a built-in Mobile Hotspot feature (sometimes called Portable Hotspot or Tethering) that lets you share your phone's internet connection with other devices. It works like a mini Wi-Fi router — other devices connect to your phone the same way they would connect to a home network.

This is useful when you are away from home Wi-Fi, traveling, or in an area with poor connectivity where your phone has a signal but no Wi-Fi is available. A laptop connecting through your hotspot will use your phone's cellular data.

You can connect up to eight devices at once over Wi-Fi, though connecting more devices slows down the speed for everyone. Battery and data both drain faster while hotspot is active, so plug in if possible and monitor data usage.

The hotspot settings are usually found in the main Settings app under Network or Connections. The exact location varies slightly by phone brand: Samsung phones call it "Mobile Hotspot," Google Pixel calls it "Hotspot," and other brands may use "Portable Hotspot" or "Tethering."

Most unlimited plans include hotspot use, though some carriers throttle hotspot speeds after a certain amount of data. Check your plan details if you are unsure.