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Mobile Hotspot and Tethering

Mobile hotspots are extremely useful, but there are some things you need to keep in mind when using one on your device: 

  • In order to use a hotspot, you must have a tethering plan on your service account.

  • Mobile hotspots consume battery power and use data service.

  • While a mobile hotspot is active, your device’s apps will use the mobile hotspot’s data service.   

  • Roaming while using your phone or tablet as a hotspot may incur extra data charges.

  • Activating a mobile hotspot will disable Wi-Fi.

  • Only LTE tablets can create hotspots, not regular tablets.

  1. From Settings, tap Connections, and then tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

  2. Tap the switch next to Mobile Hotspot.

  3. When you’re ready turn off Mobile Hotspot, tap the switch again.

You can now connect any compatible device to your hotspot, just like you’d connect it to your home Wi-Fi.

Note: Available options may vary depending on the carrier, phone model, and software version.

If you don’t want strangers using your hotspot, you can hide your device and adjust more options.

    1. Navigate to and open Settings.

    2. Tap Connections, and then tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

    3. Tap Mobile Hotspot, and then tap Configure.

The following options will now be available:

    • Network name: View and change the name of your hotspot.

    • Security: Select the hotspot’s security level.

    • Password: View and change the password for your hotspot.

    • Band: Set the radio band for the hotspot. 2.4 Ghz is compatible with more devices, and 5 Ghz will provide better performance.

You can also tap Advanced to edit additional settings, such as Power saving mode and Wi-Fi sharing.

Mobile hotspot could be the reason your battery is draining but activating timeout settings will shut it off when nobody is using it. This will also conserve your hotspot usage if you have limited hotspot on your current data plan.

  1. From Settings, tap Connections, and then tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

  2. Tap Mobile Hotspot, and then tap Configure.

  3. Tap Advanced, and then tap Turn off when no device connected for.

  4. Select the desired amount of time before the hotspot turns off.

Automatic Hotspot allows your phone’s internet connection to be shared with devices that are signed in to your Samsung account, or your Samsung family group.

  1. From Settings, tap Connections, and then tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

  2. Tap Mobile Hotspot, tap Auto Hotspot, and then tap the switch to turn it on.

  3. Tap the switch next to Family sharing to let family members access your automatic hotspot if needed.

  4. Next, you will need to set up Wi-Fi sharing. From the Mobile Hotspot Home screen, tap the switch at the top of the screen to turn on and share the hotspot.

  5. When everything is set up, you can connect devices to the hotspot. On the device you want to connect, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick settings panel. Then, touch and hold the Wi-Fi icon.

  6. Thanks to Automatic Hotspot, the hotspot should already be listed as a Wi-Fi network; tap the hotspot to connect to it. While your device is connecting, do not touch the other device that is emitting the hotspot signal because this could cause connection problems.

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