WiFi is almost as basic as electricity – you usually notice when it's not working – and then panic sets in.
If you are stuck in such a situation, it is probably because of thisThe WiFi connection keeps dropping, no device can connect or the network disappears completely, you don't have to worry. There are several ways to fix these problems.
Index
One of the fastest ways is to connect your computer to a mobile hotspot like your smartphone andshare internet connection. This way your phone acts as a router creating a hotspot even though you're using your cellular data in the process.
Although there are severalDangers of connecting to a mobile phone for Internet access, sometimes you just urgently need to connect to the internet, so a mobile hotspot comes in handy.
We'll show you how to connect your computer to your smartphone's hotspot, whether you're using an Android phone or an iPhone.
How to connect your computer to an Android portable hotspot
YourAndroid-SmartphoneIt can be used as a WiFi hotspot thanks to the native WiFi data sharing feature and wireless connection shared with various other devices including your computer.
You can also share your cellular data via Bluetooth or USB, but check with your cellular provider before capping your monthly data allowance or charging additional fees for tethering.
Monitoring:The steps in this guide focus on a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus running Android 9 (Pie). If you have a different phone, processes and interfaces may differ depending on the device manufacturer.
- Turn on the wifi hotspot by accessing itthe settingsand touchlinks.
- Scroll down and tapMobile hotspot and tethering.
- On the next screen, tap the button to the right ofMobile Hotspotto activate it.
- If the switch is off, you need to turn it off.data storageto make it possible. To do this, go back tolinksscreen and touchdata usage.
- Then tapdata storageand toggle the switch to turn it off when it's on.
- Tap againMobile hotspot and tetheringand then toggleMobile HotspotPhone call. Your phone is now a wireless hotspot and you will receive a notification when the feature is enabled.
- You can now connect your computer to your Android phone's hotspot like any other WiFi router. tap onMobile hotspot notificationto get the name of the access point andsee password.
Monitoring:Be selective about who you share your password with when using your phone as a mobile hotspot, especially since the data processed will use up your mobile data allowance for the month.
- If you want to change the password, tappasswordand enter a new one.
- For Google Pixel phones or standard Android smartphones, enable the WiFi hotspot feature by going toSettings > Network & Internetand then touchHotspot and Sharing > Wi-Fi Hotspot.
- Flip the switch to turn on theWiFi access point, and connect your computer like any other wireless router to get online.
Connect your computer to your Android portable hotspot via Bluetooth
You can also connect your computer to your smartphone via Bluetooth and connect to the Internet.
Pair the two devices and configure your computer to connect to the network via Bluetooth. Instructions may vary, so follow the instructions that came with your device.
- Open on your phoneSettings > Connectionsand typeMobile hotspot and tethering. BeatConnect Bluetooth.
Connect your computer to your mobile hotspot using a USB cable
If you are using a Mac, you cannot connect your Android phone using a USB cable. For Windows computers, you can use a USB cable to connect to your phone.
- Once the two devices are connected, openthe settingsTap on your phoneConnections > Portable hotspot and tetheringand then touchConnect USB.
Monitoring:Connecting your computer to your smartphone can drain your phone's battery. So make sure both devices are plugged into a power outlet while tethering, and turn off the connections when you're done.
Some phones have a setting that disables the hotspot when not in use or when no device is connected. If yours is one of them, enable this setting.
How to connect your computer to an iPhone portable hotspot
If your iPhone has a 3G or 4G data connection, you can use the Personal Hotspot network sharing tool to share your internet connection and get online.
Personal Hotspot allows your iPhone to connect and share a mobile data connection with other nearby devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB. In this way, the iPhone acts as a wireless router for your computer and other devices.
To use the Personal Hotspot feature, you need an iPhone 4 or later with iOS 4.3 or later and a data plan that supports Personal Hotspot or tethering. If you want to connect via USB, you need a USB cable.
The first step is to make sure you add a Personal Hotspot to your data plan. Most major carriers include it by default, while some charge for it or offer it as part of their unlimited data plans.
- You can check with your cell phone provider or go tothe settingson your iPhone and tappersonal hotspotundercellularto see if it is included.
- Then enable Personal Hotspot on your iPhone by going toSettings > Personal Hotspot.
- Toggle the Personal Hotspot option to enable the feature, then make a note of the WiFi password as you will use it to connect your computer to this hotspot. You may be prompted to turn on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or both, when you turn on Personal Hotspot.
- If you use a Mac, you can useinstant access pointand access the Internet via Personal Hotspot without entering the password. Before that, make sure your iPhone is connected to iCloud with the same Apple ID as your Mac computer and turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
- To do this, connect your Mac to your iPhone's hotspot by selecting Wi-Fi status from the menu and selecting your iPhone's name.
- Go back to your iPhoneSettings > Personal Hotspotand touchShare with othersswitch on so that you can connect to the iPhone hotspot without entering the password.
- On other computers, find the iPhone's name in the network list, select it, and enter the passcode displayed on the iPhone's Personal Hotspot screen.
When your computer is connected to the iPhone hotspot, you will see a blue bar on the lock screen and at the top of the phone screen. For iOS 7 and later, the blue bar shows a linked loops icon or a number next to a padlock with the number of devices connected to it.
Just like using an Android hotspot, Personal Hotspot on your iPhone uses data from your monthly data limit, whether you're using it with one device or multiple devices.
Connect your computer to the iPhone's portable hotspot via Bluetooth
- Make sure Personal Hotspot is turned on, then make your iPhone discoverable by going toSettings > Bluetooth. On this screen, go to your computer and set up a Bluetooth network connection.
- On a Mac, clickMenu > System Settings > Bluetoothto activate Bluetooth. You can also click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar.
- Select your iPhone and click on itConnectand follow the instructions to go online.
- On a Windows PC, right-click theSymbol Bluetoothin the notification area next to the taskbar to activate it. ChooseAdd a Bluetooth deviceand follow the steps to connect and go online.
- If the connection is already established, clickJoin a personal area network, right click on the iPhone and hover over itconnect toand then tapaccess point.
Connect your computer to the iPhone hotspot via USB
- Connect your computer to your iPhone using the USB cable that came with your device. When connecting to a Mac, a warning message may appear statingTrust this computer?BeatTrust the device, but if the computer does not recognize the device, try a different cable.
- CliqueMenu > System Settings > Networkand selectiPhoneUSB. If it's not there, click the button+subscribe to add it.
- Click the gear icon and selectDisable service > Applyand click on it again and selectActivate service > Apply.
- For Windows PC, connect the computer to your iPhone and tapTrust the device. Find your iPhone in the list and tap to connect.
- To disconnect devices, turn off Personal Hotspot, turn off Bluetooth, or unplug the USB cable.