AndroidTutor2018- How many times have you been caught with the need to do something on your laptop when you're out and about, but you don't want to drop five bucks for a coffee to suck up some ''free'' Wi-Fi? The solution is simple: just use your phone as a wireless router and share your phone's data plan with your laptop, tablet, friend's phone or even a desktop computer. Many phones are capable of operating as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot – the layout and options may just be a little different for allowing you to share Wi-Fi.
Tips for using less data on the go
Here's how to get free Wi-Fi almost anywhere
As unlimited data plans and LTE become more common and we lead increasingly mobile lives, it's good to know a solid internet connection for your laptop is never further away than your pocket. It's surprisingly simple to set up the ability to share data, and once you've used it a couple of times you'll wonder why you ever thought an actual Wi-Fi hotspot was ever necessary. Just go to Settings > More > Tethering and Portable Hotspot. Here you'll find a bunch of options you've probably never looked at before, and you'll also find out that sharing Wi-Fi connection on Android is easy.
In case you've never checked it out, just go to Settings > More > Tethering and Portable Hotspot. / © AndroidPIT
How to share data with USB Tethering
The first entry, USB Tethering allows you to use your phone's data connection with a USB cable. This means you can charge your phone at the same time as sharing a stable data connection with, say, your laptop. It will most likely be grayed out but when you connect your phone to another device or computer via USB, it'll become available.
The tethering menu (left) and the activated USB and Bluetooth connections (right). / © AndroidPIT
How to share mobile data with Bluetooth Tethering
Here's how to get free Wi-Fi almost anywhere
As unlimited data plans and LTE become more common and we lead increasingly mobile lives, it's good to know a solid internet connection for your laptop is never further away than your pocket. It's surprisingly simple to set up the ability to share data, and once you've used it a couple of times you'll wonder why you ever thought an actual Wi-Fi hotspot was ever necessary. Just go to Settings > More > Tethering and Portable Hotspot. Here you'll find a bunch of options you've probably never looked at before, and you'll also find out that sharing Wi-Fi connection on Android is easy.
In case you've never checked it out, just go to Settings > More > Tethering and Portable Hotspot. / © AndroidPIT
How to share data with USB Tethering
The first entry, USB Tethering allows you to use your phone's data connection with a USB cable. This means you can charge your phone at the same time as sharing a stable data connection with, say, your laptop. It will most likely be grayed out but when you connect your phone to another device or computer via USB, it'll become available.
The tethering menu (left) and the activated USB and Bluetooth connections (right). / © AndroidPIT
How to share mobile data with Bluetooth Tethering
At the bottom, there's Bluetooth Tethering, which is basically the same thing as above, but using Bluetooth to share internet instead. Of course, these kinds of tethering also allow you to transfer data and other files over the USB or Bluetooth connection. Naturally, in the second instance you'll need Bluetooth switched on and paired to another device to share your internet via this connection type. This will allow you to share data between phones, or any other Bluetooth devices.
You can set up your Wi-Fi hotspot however you like (left), then just turn it on (right). / © AndroidPIT
How to setup a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
In the middle are the main events: Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot and Set Up Wi-Fi Hotspot. If you don't want to use the default setup (or have no idea what the portable hotspot will even be called), then you'll want to go into Set Up Wi-Fi Hotspot first. The default values are AndroidAP with a password you can write down to share with another device. You can rename the connection or change the password however you like. Once you've got your Wi-Fi Hotspot set up, just tap that other check box next to Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot and share away. Simply look for that network name in your other device's Wi-Fi connections list and log on.
Opinion by Kris CarlonI use my Wi-Fi hotspot regularly
What do you think?
505030 participants
Keep in mind that not everyone has an unlimited data plan and using a laptop on a mobile data plan can chew through it very quickly, as your laptop will not be using the mobile versions of the websites you visit, so be very wary and only use your phone as a portable hotspot when it's really necessary. Five bucks for a coffee isn't that bad after all when you compare it to excess data charges from your carrier.
Have you used your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot? Did you know how to share Wi-Fi from Android before?
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8 comments
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1 Beverly Garrison Sep 12, 2016 Link to comment
I bought a used galaxy mega 6.3 .it had att service. I had it unlocked for my t mobile service but the hotspot wont work. 8 am using up all my data the first week of my plan. How can I fix this.
0
Reply
1 Ed Meatman Mar 25, 2015 Link to comment
Root your phone. Install wifi tether router from play store. Get paid version.
0
Reply
13 Chad_Higgins Jan 31, 2014 Link to comment
How can i connect my phone to my laptop to get internet? without paying for the hotspot.
I should be able to use my mobile network. but am unable to connect to my laptop?
What works on the Play Store?
oh i have a HTC Evo 3D. running 4.0 ice cream sandwich.
0
Reply
35 Kris Carlon Feb 4, 2014 Link to comment
Hey @Chad, that depends on your carrier and whether or not they charge for using a Wi-Fi hotspot. As @tekf33k3n mentioned above, there are ways to bypass this problem with apps from the Play Store. If you can bypass the carrier charges (or your carrier doesn't charge you) then just enable USB tethering connect to your laptop with a USB cable if the Wi-Fi hotspot isn't being picked up by your laptop.
0
Reply
13 Chad_Higgins Feb 5, 2014 Link to comment
Ive got an evenbigger problem now. i have a evo 4g an old one and while downloading a google play game. i must have gotten a virus,
because im stuck in booting up mode. i try the recovery screen but its still stuck in boot up mode. got any ideas how to reset the phone?
0
Reply
35 Kris Carlon Feb 11, 2014 Link to comment
Hi @Chad, check out this video tutorial on the Evo 4G reset. I hope you had your data backed up!
0
Reply
7 tekf33k3n Jan 29, 2014 Link to comment
"As unlimited data plans and LTE become more common".... Was this an old article that got re-issued? Last time I looked, almost every carrier is steering away from unlimited plans in favor of tiered systems. It may also be helpful to mention that there are plenty of apps on the Play Store that will enable the functionality even when the carrier doesn't. For example, Verizon is still infamous for preventing use of the mobile hotspot feature without paying an additional fee. FoxFi, or similar app, allows the use of the hotspot without tipping off VZW unless some egregious amount of data is used or you log of and on too many times in a very short period.
0
Reply
35 Kris Carlon Feb 4, 2014 Link to comment
In the US, yes, as LTE expands the carriers are moving away from unlimited plans. But LTE globally is nowhere near as prevalent, so slower speed unlimited plans are still more common. Nice tip on FoxFi by the way, thanks!
0
Reply
Write a comment!
You can set up your Wi-Fi hotspot however you like (left), then just turn it on (right). / © AndroidPIT
How to setup a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
In the middle are the main events: Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot and Set Up Wi-Fi Hotspot. If you don't want to use the default setup (or have no idea what the portable hotspot will even be called), then you'll want to go into Set Up Wi-Fi Hotspot first. The default values are AndroidAP with a password you can write down to share with another device. You can rename the connection or change the password however you like. Once you've got your Wi-Fi Hotspot set up, just tap that other check box next to Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot and share away. Simply look for that network name in your other device's Wi-Fi connections list and log on.
Opinion by Kris CarlonI use my Wi-Fi hotspot regularly
What do you think?
505030 participants
Keep in mind that not everyone has an unlimited data plan and using a laptop on a mobile data plan can chew through it very quickly, as your laptop will not be using the mobile versions of the websites you visit, so be very wary and only use your phone as a portable hotspot when it's really necessary. Five bucks for a coffee isn't that bad after all when you compare it to excess data charges from your carrier.
Have you used your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot? Did you know how to share Wi-Fi from Android before?
67 Shares
Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Share on Google+ 67 Shares
More from the web
Monterey Park, California: This Brilliant Company Is Disrupting a $200 Billion IndustryEverQuote Insurance Quotes
How Much Money Do You Really Get from a Reverse Mortgage?NewRetirement
Single in Monterey Park? See Who’s on MatchMatch.com
We Tried HelloFresh: Here's What HappenedPopdust for HelloFresh
by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links
8 comments
Write a comment!
Write new comment:
SubmitCancel
1 Beverly Garrison Sep 12, 2016 Link to comment
I bought a used galaxy mega 6.3 .it had att service. I had it unlocked for my t mobile service but the hotspot wont work. 8 am using up all my data the first week of my plan. How can I fix this.
0
Reply
1 Ed Meatman Mar 25, 2015 Link to comment
Root your phone. Install wifi tether router from play store. Get paid version.
0
Reply
13 Chad_Higgins Jan 31, 2014 Link to comment
How can i connect my phone to my laptop to get internet? without paying for the hotspot.
I should be able to use my mobile network. but am unable to connect to my laptop?
What works on the Play Store?
oh i have a HTC Evo 3D. running 4.0 ice cream sandwich.
0
Reply
35 Kris Carlon Feb 4, 2014 Link to comment
Hey @Chad, that depends on your carrier and whether or not they charge for using a Wi-Fi hotspot. As @tekf33k3n mentioned above, there are ways to bypass this problem with apps from the Play Store. If you can bypass the carrier charges (or your carrier doesn't charge you) then just enable USB tethering connect to your laptop with a USB cable if the Wi-Fi hotspot isn't being picked up by your laptop.
0
Reply
13 Chad_Higgins Feb 5, 2014 Link to comment
Ive got an evenbigger problem now. i have a evo 4g an old one and while downloading a google play game. i must have gotten a virus,
because im stuck in booting up mode. i try the recovery screen but its still stuck in boot up mode. got any ideas how to reset the phone?
0
Reply
35 Kris Carlon Feb 11, 2014 Link to comment
Hi @Chad, check out this video tutorial on the Evo 4G reset. I hope you had your data backed up!
0
Reply
7 tekf33k3n Jan 29, 2014 Link to comment
"As unlimited data plans and LTE become more common".... Was this an old article that got re-issued? Last time I looked, almost every carrier is steering away from unlimited plans in favor of tiered systems. It may also be helpful to mention that there are plenty of apps on the Play Store that will enable the functionality even when the carrier doesn't. For example, Verizon is still infamous for preventing use of the mobile hotspot feature without paying an additional fee. FoxFi, or similar app, allows the use of the hotspot without tipping off VZW unless some egregious amount of data is used or you log of and on too many times in a very short period.
0
Reply
35 Kris Carlon Feb 4, 2014 Link to comment
In the US, yes, as LTE expands the carriers are moving away from unlimited plans. But LTE globally is nowhere near as prevalent, so slower speed unlimited plans are still more common. Nice tip on FoxFi by the way, thanks!
0
Reply
Write a comment!
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