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How To Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot Using Your Phone

By / Tech / June 13, 2025

Learn how to create a Wi-Fi hotspot using your phone, share mobile data, and stay connected, no matter where you go.

Find out how to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone
Find out how to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone (Image via Author | Deltias Gaming)

Ever found yourself out somewhere with no Wi-Fi, laptop in hand, and needed internet right away? That’s when your phone can pull double duty. With a couple of taps, it turns into a personal hotspot, letting your other devices hop online using your mobile data.

It’s a lifesaver at the right moment. But just because it’s easy to turn on doesn’t mean it’s always the best idea. It can chew through your data fast, overheat your phone, and leave your battery begging for mercy. So yeah, it works, but there are a few things to know first.

How to Set Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot on Android

The setup’s pretty simple, but different phones might call things slightly different names.

Steps showing how to turn on and configure mobile hotspot on android
Steps showing how to turn on and configure mobile hotspot on Android (Image via Author | Deltias Gaming)
  • Drag down on the notification panel
  • Click on the Hotspot / Mobile Hotspot button; this will toggle your hotspot on or off
  • If you haven’t configured your Mobile Hotspot or you forgot the password, you can long-press the same button. This will take you to the hotspot settings page, where you can configure the hotspot or check the password.

Some phones also let you control how many devices can join or set it to turn off if no one’s using it. This comes in useful if you’re trying to save battery or restrict unwanted access

Setting Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot on iPhone

iPhones make it easy to share Wi-Fi Hotspots. Here’s how it goes:

Image showing steps to turn on hotspot on iPhones
Steps to turn on hotspot on iPhones (Image via Author | Deltias Gaming)
  • Drag down on the control centre and tap on the personal hotspot symbol
  • If you want to configure the hotspot or check the password, head on to settings and click on Personal Hotspot. From here, you can modify the settings and password.

That’s it. Your iPhone is now broadcasting a signal, and other devices can jump on. If you don’t see the option, your carrier might not support hotspot use, or it could be blocked on your plan.

Things to Know Before Using a Hotspot on Your Phone

Wi-Fi Hotspots are handy, but they come with some strings attached:

  • Your data plan takes the hit. Watching a few videos or downloading files can eat through gigabytes in no time.
  • Battery drain is real. You’re using mobile data and Wi-Fi at the same time, so expect heat and a fast drop in battery.
  • Don’t leave it open. No password means anyone nearby can jump on, which is a disaster waiting to happen.
  • Some carriers get stingy. Not all plans include hotspot use, and some slow your speeds once you hit a certain limit.
  • Old devices struggle. Not every laptop or tablet handles hotspots smoothly, especially older ones.

When Your Hotspot Isn’t Working

Things not connecting like they should? Here’s a quick checklist:

  • Restart both devices. This fixes more than you’d think.
  • Make sure mobile data is working on your phone.
  • Double-check your password to prevent typos from happening.
  • Moving around with the phone will increase the distance between the connected devices, and signal strength will take a hit.
  • Run updates if needed. Sometimes software glitches mess things up.

Still a no-go? It might be worth calling your carrier or checking if there’s a network problem in your area.

Other Options If Your Phone Can’t Handle It

Options like the Solis Lite offers a power bank along with lifetime data for users who move a lot
Options like the Solis Lite offer a power bank along with lifetime data for users who move a lot (Image via Solis by Simo)

Sometimes, your phone just isn’t the best tool for the job. Here are a few backup plans:

  • Dedicated hotspot devices are specifically designed for this purpose. Better battery, stronger signal, and no overheating issues.
  • USB tethering works great for laptops. It’s faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi sharing.
  • Public Wi-Fi can work in a pinch, but don’t use it for anything sensitive unless you’ve got a good VPN.
  • Some power banks now come with hotspot capabilities built in. Not common, but pretty cool for travel.

Using your phone as a hotspot is awesome, until it’s not. It’s perfect when you’re stuck without Wi-Fi, but not something you want to use all the time. Be smart about it, know what your plan allows, and always secure your connection. Otherwise, you might burn through data or juice way faster than you expected.

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