Turn on hotspot in Settings on any Samsung phone

To turn on hotspot on a Samsung phone, open Settings, tap Connections, then Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, and toggle Mobile Hotspot to the on position. The exact wording and location of these menu items varies slightly between Samsung models and Android versions, but the path is the same on most Samsung devices made in the last five years.

Once you turn on the hotspot, your phone broadcasts a wireless network that other devices can connect to. Your phone uses your mobile data plan to provide internet to those devices. You can see the network name (called the SSID) and password on the hotspot settings screen — share these with anyone who wants to connect.

The hotspot drains your battery faster than normal use and counts against your mobile data plan, so turn it off when you are done. Most Samsung phones do not turn off the hotspot automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Connections, then Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, and toggle Mobile Hotspot on.
  • Your phone's hotspot network name and password appear on the same screen where you turned it on.
  • Other devices connect to your hotspot the same way they connect to any Wi-Fi network.
  • Hotspot use drains your battery and counts against your mobile data plan, so turn it off when you are finished.
  • If you do not see Mobile Hotspot and Tethering in Connections, check your carrier — some carriers hide or restrict this feature.

Find the hotspot settings on your specific Samsung model

The path to hotspot settings is consistent across Samsung phones, but the exact menu names can shift between models. If you have a Samsung Galaxy S series, Galaxy A series, or Galaxy Z series phone, the steps above will work. If you have an older model or a carrier-specific version, the menu might be slightly different.

If you cannot find Mobile Hotspot and Tethering under Connections, try searching for it instead. Open Settings, tap the search icon at the top, and type "hotspot". Samsung will show you the exact location on your phone. This is faster than hunting through menus and works on any Samsung phone running Android 10 or newer.

Customize your hotspot name and password

By default, Samsung generates a hotspot network name based on your phone model and a random number — for example, "Galaxy S23 1234". You can change this to anything you want. Open Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, tap Hotspot name, and type a new name. This name is what other people see when they look for Wi-Fi networks to join.

The password is also generated automatically and appears on the same screen. To change it, tap Password and enter a new one. Use a password at least 8 characters long — shorter passwords are weaker and easier to guess. You do not need to restart the hotspot after changing the name or password; the changes take effect when ready.

Connect other devices to your hotspot

Once your hotspot is on, other devices see it as a regular Wi-Fi network. On the device you want to connect — a laptop, tablet, or another phone — open Wi-Fi settings, find your hotspot network name in the list, tap it, and enter the password. The device connects the same way it would to any other Wi-Fi network.

Most devices stay connected until you manually disconnect them or turn off the hotspot. If a device keeps disconnecting, move it closer to your phone or check whether your phone's battery is very low — some Samsung phones reduce hotspot range when the battery is below 20 percent.

Check how much data your hotspot is using

Your hotspot counts against your mobile data plan. To see how much data you have used, open Settings, tap Connections, then Data Usage. This screen shows your total data use for the current billing period. It does not break down hotspot use separately from regular phone use, so you cannot see exactly how much data other devices consumed.

If you want to limit hotspot use, some Samsung phones let you set a data warning or limit in the same Data Usage menu. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service line to find out what your data plan includes and whether there are overage charges if you go over your limit.

Turn off hotspot to save battery and data

Your phone does not turn off the hotspot automatically, even if no devices are connected. To turn it off, open Settings, tap Connections, then Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, and toggle Mobile Hotspot to the off position. This stops your phone from broadcasting the network and stops using extra battery power.

If you forget to turn off the hotspot, your battery will drain noticeably faster than usual. Some older Samsung phones have an option to turn off the hotspot after a set time of inactivity — if you see this option in Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, you can enable it to avoid draining your battery accidentally.

Troubleshoot hotspot problems

If your hotspot will not turn on, first check whether your carrier allows it. Some carriers restrict hotspot use to certain plans or disable it on certain devices. Call your carrier's customer service line to confirm that hotspot is included in your plan.

If hotspot is turned on but other devices cannot find your network, restart your phone and try again. If devices can see the network but cannot connect, make sure you are entering the password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive. If a device connects but has no internet, check whether your phone has an active mobile data connection by opening a web browser on the phone itself.

If your hotspot is very slow, move closer to your phone or check whether too many devices are connected at once. Each additional device sharing your connection slows it down. Turning off hotspot on devices you are not actively using can improve speed for the devices that need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does using hotspot cost extra money?

Hotspot use counts against your regular mobile data plan — it does not cost extra unless you go over your data limit and your carrier charges overage fees. Check your plan details or call your carrier to find out whether you have a data limit and what happens if you exceed it.

Can I use hotspot if I have no signal?

No. Your phone needs an active mobile data connection to share internet through hotspot. If your phone shows no bars or no data symbol, hotspot will not work even if it is turned on.

How many devices can connect to my hotspot at once?

Most Samsung phones support 10 connected devices at once, though the exact number varies by model. Even if more devices could connect, each additional device slows down the connection for all the others, so connecting too many at once will make everything slower.

Will my hotspot work if I am roaming internationally?

Hotspot works on international roaming the same way it works at home, but international data charges may explore. Contact your carrier before traveling to understand roaming costs and whether hotspot use is included in your roaming plan.

Can I hide my hotspot network so only people I invite can see it?

Yes. Open Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, look for an option called Visible or Broadcast SSID, and toggle it off. Your network will no longer appear in the Wi-Fi list, but devices that already know the network name can still connect if they have the correct password.