How to use mobile hotspot: Step-by-step guide for iPhone and Androids

Mobile hotspot. No, it’s not the name of a food truck serving spicy Chinese soup. Rather, it’s a smartphone feature that uses your 5G · 4G LTE mobile data to create a wireless network that your other devices (like a laptop) can use to connect to the Internet. That’s called tethering, and you can think of mobile hotspot like a portable Wi-Fi router that can tether multiple devices at the same time. It may sound complicated, but it’s not. Today we’ll show you how to use mobile hotspot so you can stay connected wherever you are. 

How to turn on mobile hotspot on iPhone

The easiest way to get your hotspot up and running on an Apple device is from the Control Center. To do that, just swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the cellular data icon (it’s the only green one). From there, switch Personal Hotspot Off to On.

If you prefer to take the long way, here’s your roadmap:
1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Personal Hotspot or Settings
3. Tap Cellular
4. Tap Personal Hotspot
5. Switch on Allow Others to Join 

How to turn on mobile hotspot on Android

Each Android phone menu varies depending on the manufacturer, but we do have some general steps you can take on how to use your phone as a hotspot: 

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Connections or Network & Internet
3. Go to Hotspot and Tethering and turn on Wi-Fi Hotspot 
4. Set a custom network name and a password

How to connect a device to a mobile hotspot

To recap, mobile hotspot works like a personal Wi-Fi router. So it makes sense that connecting to one is just like connecting to any Wi-Fi network. Here’s how you do it: 

1. Open the Wi-Fi settings for your device
2. Scroll through the Networks and click your mobile hotspot
3. Enter the password for your mobile hotspot

And some Android devices support a hotspot QR code for even easier connection. Here’s how to get it: 

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Network & Internet
3. Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot
4. Tap the QR code icon
5. With the device you want to connect, scan the QR code with the camera                         
3. Tap to confirm to connect

Security tip: When you fire up your mobile hotspot, any nearby device can discover it by scanning Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity. But only users you’ve shared the password with can connect to it.

How to disconnect from a mobile hotspot

Ready to cool off the hotspot? It’s easy. To disconnect from a mobile hotspot,  you can either turn the Wi-Fi data exchange off or just switch to another network.

Security tip: To prevent leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs wherever you go, it’s a good idea to turn the hotspot off as soon as you’re done with it. Plus, it will seriously save your battery.

Reasons to use a mobile hotspot

This feature is useful for staying connected on-the-go when you’re in situations like:

• Working remotely
  • Using a mobile hotspot is a solid backup to slow public Wi-Fi. You can work from pretty much anywhere with cellular coverage, like the park or that new matcha spot you found on TikTok. 
• Traveling
  • Whether you’re exploring a new country or your own city, using a mobile hotspot provides reliable, secure and portable internet for all your reservation-booking and selfie-posting needs.
• Navigation
  • Real-time data is crucial for navigating anywhere, and your mobile hotspot is a reliable option for connecting Wi-Fi only devices to live directions – no last-minute, Jersey sliding necessary. 

But it’s also useful in other situations too, like: 

• Power outages & internet failures
  • Your mobile hotspot works independently of your home internet. That makes your phone the perfect Plan-B for staying connected during emergencies.
• Driving through remote or rural areas
  • Dedicated mobile hotspot devices often have better antennas than most phones. These act as cell signal boosters and can enhance your connectivity, even in the middle-of-nowhere.
• Identity theft protection
  • Your mobile hotspot is generally more secure than public Wi-Fi because your hotspot creates a private, encrypted connection. This prevents unauthorized access to your personal data.

Does using a mobile hotspot drain my battery?

Yes, mobile hotspot puts a major load on your battery. In fact, using your phone as a mobile hotspot drains your battery up to 65% faster than normal. That’s because your phone is essentially working double-duty: it’s maintaining a 5G · 4G LTE connection to a cell tower while broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal to your tethered devices at the same time. To prevent this, we recommend plugging in your phone while mobile hotspot is enabled. But if you don’t have access to a charger, we recommend the following to reduce battery drain:

• Switch to 4G 
• Limit the amount of tethered devices 
• Avoid battery saver mode 
• Lower your hotspot range 
• Keep your phone cool

Spot right there

Before you split, we need you to know that not all hotspots are created equal. Some carriers may charge you extra, and they bank on you burning through your data allowance. Not I, said Mint Fox. Mint Mobile offers free mobile hotspot on all of our premium wireless plans, which start at $15/mo*, and our free app makes it super easy to check your data usage. If that sounds like a great deal, that’s because it i

_{*Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month plan (equiv. to $15/mo.) req’d. New customer offer for first 3 months only; then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. Customers who use over 50GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds for the rest of the monthly cycle in certain locations when our network is busy. Includes up to 20GB hotspot. Videos stream at ~480p. Availability, speed & coverage varies. See Terms.}