How to Connect Your PC to Your Mobile Hotspot: Windows & Mac (2024)

Table of Contents
Quick Steps Using a Windows PC Using a Mac Expert Q&A Video Tips You Might Also Like Expert Interview References About This Article Is this article up to date? FAQs

Use a mobile hotspot with Windows or macOS with and without a wire

Co-authored byNaseem Speachand Rain Kengly

Last Updated: July 29, 2024Fact Checked

  • Using a Windows PC
    • |
  • Using a Mac
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Interview

Did you know you can get internet access on your computer using a hotspot? Whether you want to use your iPhone, Android, or public hotspot, it's easy to connect. Here's how to connect a Windows or Mac computer to a hotspot.

Quick Steps

  1. Enable your mobile hotspot.
  2. Click the Wi-Fi icon on your computer.
  3. Select your hotspot's name.
  4. Click Connect.
  5. Enter the password.
  6. Click Next.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Windows PC

Download Article

  1. 1

    Turn on your mobile hotspot. This process will differ depending on your device.

    • On iPhone: Open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot. Toggle on Allow Others to Join and set a password.
    • On Android: Open Settings and tap Connections. Tap Mobile hotspot & tethering and toggle the switch on.

  2. 2

    On your PC, click the

    icon. It's in the taskbar near the clock, which is usually at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens a list of available wireless networks.

    • You may need to click the text bubble icon to expand the side menu.
    • If you're not connected to a network right now, you'll see an asterisk (*) at the top-left corner of this icon.

    Advertisem*nt

  3. 3

    Click the name of the hotspot. In most cases, this is the name of your device.

    • If you want your PC to always connect to this hotspot automatically when it's in range, check the box for Connect automatically.

  4. 4

    Click Connect. If the hotspot requires a network security key, you'll be prompted to enter it now.

    • Some public hotspots (e.g. airports or cafes) require an extra step. Open a web browser and navigate to www.wikihow.com. If you're redirected to a page that tells you to agree to rules or sign up for an account, follow the instructions to get online. If you see wikiHow's homepage, you're good to go.
      • Never log into secure platforms or enter any sensitive information while connected to a public Wi-Fi network or hotspot.

  5. 5

    Enter the security key and click Next. As long as you entered the correct password, you should be able to connect to the internet through this hotspot.

  6. 6

    Use a wired connection (optional). If you don't want to connect via Wi-Fi, or if you're having trouble connecting, you can use a wired connection instead. Do the following:

    • Plug your phone into your computer via USB.
      • If you're using an iPhone, you must have iTunes installed on your computer.
    • Enable hotspot on your phone.

    7. Advertisem*nt

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Mac

Download Article

  1. 1

    Turn on your mobile hotspot. This process will differ depending on your device.

    • On iPhone: Open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot. Toggle on Allow Others to Join and set a password.
    • On Android: Open Settings and tap Connections. Tap Mobile hotspot & tethering and toggle the switch on.

  2. 2

    Click the

    button. It's in the menu bar at the top-right side of the screen. A list of available wireless networks will appear.[1]

  3. 3

    Click the hotspot you want to join. If you're using your phone's hotspot, select your phone.

    • Some public hotspots (e.g. airports or cafes) require an extra step. Open a web browser and navigate to www.wikihow.com. If you're redirected to a page that tells you to agree to rules or sign up for an account, follow the instructions to get online. If you see wikiHow's homepage, you're good to go.
      • Never log into secure platforms or enter any sensitive information while connected to a public Wi-Fi network or hotspot.

  4. 4

    Type the password and click Join. As long as you entered the correct password, you should be able to connect to the internet through this hotspot.

    5. Advertisem*nt

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

      Advertisem*nt

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip

      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

      Submit

      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How toChange Your Wi Fi PasswordHow toFind Your WiFi Password when You Forgot It
      When Wi-Fi Isn't Working on Your Phone but Works for OthersHow to Switch On Wireless on an HP Laptop9 Simple Steps to Update Wi-Fi on AlexaHow to Connect your Smart TV to Wi-Fi Without The RemoteHow toConnect Two WiFi Routers Without a CableEasy Ways to Set Up and Connect to a Local Area Network (LAN)How to Connect Apple TV to Wi-Fi Without a RemoteHow toConnect to MiFiHow Can I Find out My Wi-Fi Password?How toMake a Wifi Antenna

      Advertisem*nt

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about wireless networks, check out our in-depth interview with Naseem Speach.

      About This Article

      How to Connect Your PC to Your Mobile Hotspot: Windows & Mac (30)

      Co-authored by:

      Naseem Speach

      Tech Expert

      This article was co-authored by Naseem Speach and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Naseem Speach is a Tech Expert based in Los Angeles, California. Naseem started his tech reviews YouTube channel in 2020 and has since gained a following of over 34,000 subscribers. He specializes in sharing information about the latest smart home tech, Apple, Samsung, Google, PlayStation, Microsoft, and gaming devices. This article has been viewed 139,576 times.

      How helpful is this?

      Co-authors: 4

      Updated: July 29, 2024

      Views:139,576

      Categories: Wi Fi

      In other languages

      Russian

      German

      Indonesian

      French

      Dutch

      Hindi

      • Print
      • Send fan mail to authors

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 139,576 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisem*nt

      How to Connect Your PC to Your Mobile Hotspot: Windows & Mac (2024)

      FAQs

      How do I connect my PC to my mobile hotspot? ›

      How Do I Connect My Personal Hotspot to My Computer?
      1. Turn off Wi-Fi on your computer. ...
      2. Plug one end of your phone's USB cable into a free USB port on your computer, and attach the other end to your device.
      3. Start the hotspot on your phone. ...
      4. Your PC should connect to the hotspot automatically.
      Apr 22, 2022

      Learn More Now ›
      Why is my PC not connecting to my phone hotspot? ›

      Quick fixes if your computer won't connect to a hotspot

      Turn Bluetooth® off on your PC. Turn your PC's Wi-Fi off and on. Make sure you are inside your cellular carrier's network. If you're using your phone as a hotspot, make sure it's properly set up to provide a signal.

      Find Out More ›
      Can I connect my Windows PC to iPhone hotspot? ›

      To do this, go to “Settings” > “Network & Internet” > “Wi-Fi” > “Manage known networks” > “Add a new network.” Manually enter the iPhone hotspot's SSID and password. Sometimes enabling and disabling Airplane Mode on the iPhone can help reset the hotspot functionality and make it more visible to Windows.

      Keep Reading ›
      Why is my mobile hotspot not working? ›

      Bad signal strength may be to blame for your personal hotspot not working. Your device also requires mobile data or Wi-Fi, and if it isn't available or you've reached your data limit, you may not get a connection.

      Know More ›
      How can I share my PC internet to mobile with hotspot? ›

      Select Start , then select Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot. For Share my Internet connection from, choose the Internet connection you want to share. If desired, select Edit > enter a new network name and password > Save. Turn on Share my Internet connection with other devices.

      See Details ›
      How to connect PC with mobile? ›

      What to Know
      1. Connect the devices with a USB cable. Not all Androids use the same cable; the one that came with your device is best.
      2. Then, on Android, go to Settings > Connected devices > USB > File transfer. ...
      3. To connect your Android wirelessly, use the AirDroid app, Bluetooth, or Microsoft's Link to Windows app.
      Jun 13, 2024

      Know More ›
      Why won t mobile hotspot work on PC? ›

      Update to the latest firmware version for all devices. Restart the Hotspot device or phone. Restart the devices you are trying to connect to the Hotspot. Delete the Wi-Fi profile on the connecting device and re-add it.

      Know More ›
      Why can't I connect my iPhone hotspot to my PC? ›

      If you can't find or turn on Personal Hotspot, check that your wireless carrier enabled it and that your wireless plan supports it. Restart the iPhone or iPad that provides Personal Hotspot and the other device that needs to connect to Personal Hotspot. Make sure that you have the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

      Read More ›
      Why does my computer say no Internet when connected to my phone hotspot? ›

      Turn off Airplane Mode if it's on. This feature prevents your device from accessing the internet, so it must be switched off to make the hotspot work correctly. This is easy to do on all devices: Windows [Turn Off Airplane Mode], Android [Turn Off Airplane Mode], and iOS [Turn Off Airplane Mode].

      Read More ›
      Why does my hotspot not show up on my laptop? ›

      Move closer to the hotspot if your laptop is too far away. When using a wireless hotspot, it's easy to forget, but Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections don't have unlimited coverage; they only work within a specific range. If this is your situation, the hotspot won't even appear as an available Wi-Fi network on your laptop.

      Show Me More ›

      How to connect a hotspot? ›

      On your Android phone or tablet, open Settings. To get to the Wi-Fi list, under “Network & internet,” tap Internet. Tap on your other Android device as an available Wi-Fi option. Your other device's hotspot will turn on and the device you're using will connect to it.

      Tell Me More ›
      What does USB tethering mean? ›

      USB tethering is a feature available on smartphones that allows you to share your mobile data connection with other devices by connecting them via a USB cable. It essentially turns your phone into a modem or a mobile hotspot, enabling you to access the internet on your connected device.

      Discover More Details ›
      Why won't my hotspot connect to my Mac? ›

      Apple Mac will not connect to iPhone Hotspot

      It is not always clear why Macs encounter problems with HotSpots, but changing passwords on your HotSpot may be the cause in some cases. It is very rare that this problem can't be solved by resetting your Mac's memory of your HotSpot.

      See Details ›
      Why doesn't my T-Mobile hotspot work? ›

      Ensure hotspot is plugged in to charger and powered on (Make sure to use the charger that came with hotspot) Ensure hotspot has at least 3 bars of service (move closer to window to improve service) Ensure you are within 15 feet of the hotspot Restart your Chromebook, iPad, or laptop and try to connect again Ensure ...

      Explore More ›
      How do I connect my PC to my mobile hotspot via Bluetooth? ›

      For more, see Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows. On the other device, activate the hotspot and set it to share over Bluetooth. Back on your PC, right-click (or long-press) Start , then select Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices and find your phone or other PC that you just paired with in the list.

      Read On ›
      How do I connect my mobile data to my computer? ›

      How to Connect Internet From Mobile to Laptop ?
      1. Step 1: Connect Your Mobile to Laptop Via Usb Cable. just don't worry. ...
      2. Step 2: Go to Settings Then Go to Hotspot & Tethering. just follow the images as shown above.
      3. Step 3: Enable Usb Tethering. ...
      4. Step 4: Now,go to Your Laptop or Pc. ...
      5. Step 5: Finally Open Web Browser.

      Continue Reading ›
      Top Articles
      Drphil.com Message Boards
      Acadia Healthstream Login
      Warriors Game Today Box Score
      Sports Clips North Huntingdon
      Www Craigslist Com Ia
      Jellymar.io Unblocked
      Mychart Mountainstarhealth
      Conan Grey Lotus Powder
      Craigslist.fresno
      Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - Style, Death & Aristotle Onassis
      Candii Kayn Kemo
      Htr Obits Manitowoc
      Latest Posts
      Saterra St Jean tit*
      Kaccess Kmart
      Article information

      Author: Duane Harber

      Last Updated:

      Views: 6254

      Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

      Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Duane Harber

      Birthday: 1999-10-17

      Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

      Phone: +186911129794335

      Job: Human Hospitality Planner

      Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

      Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.