What Is a Mobile Hotspot and How to Turn One On

A mobile hotspot turns your smartphone into a portable Wi-Fi router. When you turn it on, your phone shares its cellular data connection with other devices — your laptop, tablet, another phone, or anyone you give the hotspot password to. It's like creating a private Wi-Fi network powered by your phone's data plan.

People use hotspots when they don't have Wi-Fi available: at hotels with unreliable connections, in a coffee shop, while traveling, at a family member's house, or during an internet outage at home. Instead of connecting your laptop to a public Wi-Fi network — which can be a security risk — you connect it to your personal hotspot, which is private and controlled by you.

There are a few things to know before using a hotspot. First, hotspots use your phone's cellular data — the same data your phone uses to load websites and apps. If your plan has a data limit, heavy laptop use on the hotspot can use it up quickly (streaming video uses roughly 1 GB per hour). Most modern smartphone plans include hotspot as a feature. But it may be a separate allowance — check with your carrier if you're not sure.

Second, running a hotspot drains your phone's battery faster than normal use. Plug your phone in if you're going to use the hotspot for more than an hour.

Third, other people nearby can see your hotspot name (called the SSID) — but they can only connect if they know your password. Choose a strong password and don't share it with strangers.