How to turn your mobile phone into a WiFi hotspot

What’s a mobile phone WiFi hotspot?

Think of a mobile phone WiFi hotspot (aka WiFi tethering) as your phone turned into a modem or router. This allows other devices to connect to the web via your mobile phone. That’s really all there is to it.

A mobile phone WiFi hotspot is your data converted into a WiFi signal. Anyone within range who knows the password can connect their laptop, tablet, or another phone, to the web via your mobile phone.

This is especially handy if you’re on the go a lot. No more typing out email messages on your phone’s tiny keyboard. WiFi tethering allows you to open up your laptop and send the email.

Is it secure?

It’s as secure as using your mobile phone to surf the web. A mobile phone WiFi hotspot is definitely more secure than using a cafe’s WiFi hotspot. If you want an added layer of security you can always use a VPN with AES-256 bit encryption.

Works with most Android and iOS phones

You can easily turn most Android and iOS phones into a WiFi hotspot. Most monthly plans at Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon include hotspot use. There will probably be a limit on hotspot access though so you’ll need to talk to your network and see what they offer.

Connect computers, tablets, and other phones

Any device that can connect to WiFi including computers, tablets, and other mobile phones can connect to your mobile phone WiFi hotspot. These devices will see your phone as just another WiFi source.

Android phones generally allow up to 10 users to connect while iPhone allows up to 5 users at a time. Of course, the more people connected the slower the speed.

Now, let’s see how to do it.

How to turn your mobile phone into a WiFi hotspot

Android

The Android setup procedure varies by phone and Android version. On my Huawei running Marshmallow I go to Settings > More >Tethering & portable hotspot > Portable Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’re using Oreo you will go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & tethering > Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.

You can also turn your mobile phone WiFi hotspot on/off via Shortcuts.

Once your mobile phone WiFi hotspot has been turned on it should be discoverable.by any device looking for a WiFi network. Go ahead and test it out. Open up your computer and look for the network. You should be able to see and connect to it. Anyone else who has your password will also be able to see and connect to it.

It’s probably a good idea to turn it off when you’re done.

iPhone

If you have an iPhone go to Settings > Personal Hotspot >Turn on hotspot.

Battery life, connection speed, and range

Using your mobile phone as a WiFi hotspot drains the battery. Therefore, if you’re going to be using your phone as a WiFi hotspot for any length of time you are probably going to want to plug it into an AC outlet.

The speed can vary and depends on, among other things, how busy the internet is, how close are you to the nearest cell tower, and how many other people are connected to your WiFi hotspot.

The connectivity range of is going to be anywhere from 25 to 50 feet.

In a nutshell, the quality of your mobile phone WiFi hotspot depends on the quality of both your phone and your network.

Finally, yes, you can use your phone while you’re using it as a wifi hotspot.