Share a mobile connection by tethering or hotspot on Android
You can use your phone’s mobile data to connect another phone, tablet, or computer to the internet. Sharing a connection this way is called tethering or using a hotspot.
Most Android phones can share mobile data by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB.
Important: Some mobile carriers limit or charge extra for tethering. We recommend checking with your carrier.
Note: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
Tether by Wi-Fi hotspot
Step 1: Turn on your phone's hotspot
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network & internet
Hotspot & tethering
Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Turn on Wi-Fi hotspot.
- To see or change a hotspot setting, like the name or password, tap it. If needed, first tap Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
Tip: If you don't want your hotspot to require a password, pick None under "Security."
Step 2: Connect another device to your phone's hotspot
- On the other device, open that device's list of Wi-Fi options.
- Pick your phone's hotspot name.
- Enter your phone's hotspot password.
- Click Connect.
Tip: You can share your phone’s mobile data with up to 10 other devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Tether by Bluetooth
- Pair your phone with the other device.
- Set up the other device to get its network connection by Bluetooth. Follow the instructions that came with the device.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network & internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Tap Bluetooth tethering.
Tether by USB cable
Important: Mac computers can't tether with Android by USB.
- Using a USB cable, connect your phone to the other device. A "Connected as a…" notification shows at the top of the screen.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network & internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Turn on USB tethering.
Extend battery life while tethering
- Plug in your devices while tethering.
- Turn off tethering connections when you're done with them.
- If your phone can turn off your hotspot for you when no devices are connected, turn on that setting.
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