Share a mobile connection by tethering or hotspot on Pixel

You can use your Pixel 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 using the Settings app.
  • All Pixel and some Nexus phones can also share mobile data by Wi-Fi using notifications.

Important: Some mobile operators limit or charge extra for tethering. We recommend checking with your operator.

Note: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Tether by Wi-Fi hotspot

If you've turned on Data Saver, turn it off to tether by Wi-Fi. Learn how to turn off Data Saver.

Use the Settings app

Step 1: Turn on your hotspot
  1. Open your phone's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Network & Internet And then Hotspot & tethering And then Wi-Fi hotspot.
  3. Turn on Wi-Fi hotspot.
  4. To see or change a hotspot setting, such as the name or password, tap it.

Tip: If you don't want your hotspot to require a password, pick None under 'Security'.

Step 2: Connect other devices to your hotspot

You can share your phone’s mobile data with up to 10 other devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot.

  1. On the other device, open that device's list of Wi-Fi options.
  2. Pick your phone's hotspot name.
  3. Enter your phone's hotspot password.
  4. Click Connect.

Use notifications

Step 1: Check that your devices can tether using notifications

Pixel phones can let other devices use their mobile data via notifications.

Selected phones and tablets can receive that shared mobile data:

  • Pixel phones
  • Pixel C tablet
  • Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6 and Nexus 9
Step 2: Set up tethering using notifications

This kind of tethering is on by default for most devices that can use it. You can turn it off or back on at any time.

Step 1: Sign in to the same account

On all your devices that will share connections:

  1. Sign in to the same Google Account. Learn how to add accounts.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Learn how to turn them on.

Step 2: Let your phone share its connection

  1. Open your phone's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Google And then Instant Tethering.
  3. Turn on Provide data connection.

Step 3: Let your other devices use your phone's connection

  1. Open your other device’s Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Google And then Instant Tethering.
  3. Turn on Get data connection.
Step 3: Tether using notifications

When your devices are set up to tether via notifications, your phone with mobile data is nearby, and you unlock a device with no connection:

Step 1: On your other device

  • You get a 'Wi-Fi hotspot available' notification. Tap it and follow the on-screen steps.
  • To connect later without the notification, open your Settings app and tap Google And then Instant Tethering And then your phone And then Connect.
  • If you see a network verification notification, tap Continue.

Step 2: On your phone

When you connect, you get a 'Sharing data connection' notification.

  • The notification stays as long as you're connected.
  • To disconnect, on the notification, tap Disconnect.
  • When you don't use an Instant Tethering connection for about 10 minutes, it disconnects.

Tether by Bluetooth

  1. Pair your phone with the other device. Learn how to pair devices.
  2. Set up the other device to get its network connection by Bluetooth. Follow the instructions that came with the device.
  3. Open your phone's Settings app Settings app.
  4. Tap Network & Internet And then Hotspot & tethering.
  5. Tap Bluetooth tethering.

Tether by USB cable

Important: Mac computers can't tether with Android by USB.

  1. Using a USB cable, connect your phone to the other device. A 'Connected as a…' notification shows at the top of the screen.
  2. Open your phone's Settings app Settings app.
  3. Tap Network & Internet And then Hotspot & tethering.
  4. Turn on USB tethering.

Let your phone turn off your hotspot for you

Tethering can use a lot of battery. By default, your hotspot turns off when no devices are connected. You can change this setting.

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Network & Internet And then Hotspot & tethering And then Wi-Fi hotspot And then Advanced.
  3. Tap Turn off hotspot automatically.

We recommend plugging in your devices while tethering, and turning off connections when finished.

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