Set Up Hotspot: iPhone, Android and Windows Guide (2026)

Need internet for your laptop when Wi-Fi is unavailable? Start with your phone’s hotspot settings. Turn on sharing, check the network name and password, then join that network from your laptop. Follow the instructions for your device, and test the connection before starting work.

Before you start: check the connection you will share

A phone hotspot normally shares mobile data over Wi-Fi. Your laptop connects to the phone, while the phone connects to the mobile network. This is different from joining public Wi-Fi. Our guide to how mobile hotspots work explains the distinction.

• Test mobile data: disconnect the phone from Wi-Fi and open a webpage.
• Check tethering permission: confirm that your plan includes hotspot use, including any separate allowance.
• Check the active SIM: on a dual-SIM phone, identify the line selected for mobile data.
• Keep power available: charge the phone before a long session.

How to set up a hotspot on iPhone

On iPhone, the feature is called Personal Hotspot. You can find it in Settings, sometimes under Cellular or Mobile Data. If the option is missing, first confirm that cellular data is enabled.

1. Open Settings → Personal Hotspot, or Settings → Cellular → Personal Hotspot.
2. Turn on Allow Others to Join.
3. Open Wi-Fi Password and set a password using at least eight ASCII characters.
4. Keep this settings screen open while connecting your other device.
5. On the laptop or tablet, select your iPhone’s name in the Wi-Fi list and enter the password.

The hotspot name follows your iPhone’s device name. To change it, open Settings → General → About → Name. These steps follow Apple’s Personal Hotspot instructions.

If your laptop cannot see the network, try Maximize Compatibility when available. For more device-specific help, see our iPhone hotspot setup and troubleshooting guide.

How to set up a hotspot on Android

On Pixel and many Android phones, open Settings → Network & internet → Hotspot & tethering → Wi-Fi hotspot. Menu names vary, so search Settings for “hotspot” if necessary. Configure the connection before sharing its details.

1. Choose a recognizable hotspot name.
2. Keep password protection enabled and set a strong, unique password.
3. Turn on Wi-Fi hotspot.
4. On the connecting device, open Wi-Fi settings, select the network, and enter its password.

On Pixel, Data Saver may need to be turned off before Wi-Fi tethering works. Google’s Pixel tethering guide also covers automatic hotspot shutdown and alternative connection methods.

Samsung Galaxy: the menu is different

Open Settings → Connections → Mobile Hotspot and Tethering → Mobile Hotspot. Open the information or configuration area to edit the network name, password, security and band. Available options depend on your model, carrier and software.

According to Samsung’s hotspot guidance, 2.4 GHz offers broader compatibility, while 5 GHz can provide better performance. If an older laptop cannot find the hotspot, try 2.4 GHz first. Our Samsung hotspot guide covers additional settings.

Connect your laptop, then test actual internet access

On Windows or Mac, open the Wi-Fi menu and join the phone’s network. Enter the hotspot password, not your phone’s unlock code. Next, open a fresh webpage to confirm that internet access works.

If the laptop connects but nothing loads, test a webpage on the phone with its Wi-Fi disconnected. If that also fails, troubleshoot the phone’s mobile connection first. If the phone works but the laptop does not, recheck tethering permission before changing advanced settings.

Want to share internet from a Windows PC instead?

A Windows mobile hotspot turns the computer into the sharing device. This is useful when you want other devices to use the PC’s existing connection, rather than your phone’s mobile data.

1. Open Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot.
2. Under Share my internet connection from, select the connection to share.
3. Select Wi-Fi as the sharing method when that option is shown.
4. Edit the network name and password, then enable Mobile hotspot.
5. Join that network from your other device.

Microsoft’s mobile hotspot instructions cover sharing Wi-Fi, Ethernet or cellular connections. This does not create internet access: the PC still needs a working upstream connection.

Hotspot not working? Match the symptom to the fix

Work through one change at a time, then reconnect and test again. This keeps troubleshooting focused. Start with visibility and passwords before investigating the mobile network or plan.

Avoid guessing APN settings from unrelated guides. If your provider requires a specific configuration, request instructions for your exact plan and device. Likewise, do not begin with a network reset when a simpler check may identify the problem.

Use a travel eSIM without draining your allowance

Before buying a travel eSIM, check destination coverage, hotspot permission, validity and any tethering cap. Do not assume that an unlimited phone-data allowance also means unlimited hotspot use. Confirm the exact plan’s terms.

For dual-SIM travel, select the intended data line before enabling the hotspot. On iPhone, Personal Hotspot uses the line selected for cellular data. Follow your travel provider’s roaming instructions without enabling roaming on your home line by mistake.

If you are considering an eSIM, start by checking device compatibility. Hotspot support and eSIM compatibility are separate requirements.

Next, estimate the work your connected devices will do. Include meetings, streaming and file transfers, rather than considering phone browsing alone. Use our travel data calculator to plan your allowance.

For a Windows laptop, consider enabling Metered connection for the hotspot network. Microsoft explains that this can restrict some background updates and syncing. It is not a guaranteed data cap, so keep checking your provider’s usage balance.

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