Otherwise specific hotspot configuration is accessed through “Configure Wi-Fi hotspot” option under the “Tethering & portable hotspot” menu. If you’ve never used it before you can select a password, share name, and other configuration details.

Choose “Portable Wi-Fi hotspot” to enable the connection sharing.

Choose “More” then select “Tethering and portable hotspot”.

On the Android, open “Settings”, then go to Wireless & Networks.

This should also be the same for AT&T, T-Mobile and any other GSM cellular network: Nonetheless, we’ll show you how to enable it on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, and, theoretically at least, any other GSM or CDMA carrier.Īndroid Hotspot Setup with AT&T & T-Mobile Why this is different is not entirely clear to me, but it may have to do with certain carriers decisions on whether or not to offer hotspot as a standard feature, or as an added data plan feature that costs an additional fee. Setting up wireless hotspots in Android is super easy, but it’s actually slightly different on various carriers. How to Enable Wi-Fi Hotspot on an Android Smartphone It’s also worth pointing out that, despite the incredible conveniences of hotspot features, it’s very easy to use tons of bandwidth once you connect a computer to a smartphones internet connection, and thus you should learn some simple tips to reduce data usage any time a Mac or PC has been tethered to a smartphones cell plan. Since all carriers handle personal hotspot differently, the billing situation is up to you to figure out on your own, and if you don’t see any hotspot options on your phone it’s probably because you haven’t paid for the service or your carrier doesn’t offer it.

Keep in mind that wi-fi hotspot and internet tethering may be an additional fee service through your cellular carrier, and each data plan differs as to whether tethering is included in the standard bandwidth allocation or if it’s available at an additional cost. Of course the iPhone has the Hotspot ability too, but we’re going to focus on getting this feature working with Android this time around, and we’ll also show how to get USB tethering working between Android and Mac OS X too, which, unlike Windows, is not a supported option by default on the Mac. Nearly every Android smartphone can share it’s cellular data connections and turn itself into an internet hotspot, an infinitely valuable feature that lets you connect Macs, PC’s, iPad, or Nexus tablets get online through the cell connection.

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