Windows · Network & Internet
Manage Mobile Hotspot
Mobile Hotspot lets you share your PC's internet connection (WiFi, Ethernet, or cellular) with other nearby devices over WiFi, Bluetooth, or a USB cable. It's useful for sharing a wired connection with a phone, or a cellular data plan with a laptop that lacks its own SIM.
How to open Mobile Hotspot
- Open Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot.
- Choose which connection to share from the 'Share my internet connection from' dropdown.
- Set a network name and password under 'Properties'.
- Turn on 'Mobile hotspot' and connect your other device using the displayed credentials.
What you should know
- Choose which connection to share, like WiFi or Ethernet, if more than one is available.
- Set a custom network name and password for the hotspot other devices will connect to.
- Choose the sharing method: WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB, depending on device compatibility.
- Enable 'Turn off hotspot automatically when no devices are connected' to save battery.
Sharing a metered cellular connection through Mobile Hotspot can burn through a mobile data cap quickly if connected devices run large downloads or updates in the background.
Why it matters
Mobile Hotspot is a genuinely useful fallback when a hotel or venue only offers a single wired Ethernet connection but you need WiFi for a phone or tablet, or when your laptop has a cellular SIM you want to share with a nearby device that doesn't. It turns a single internet connection into a shared one without needing a dedicated travel router. Understanding the metered-connection warning matters most for anyone sharing cellular data, since forgetting it's on can unexpectedly consume a data cap through background updates on connected devices.
Best practices
- Set a strong, unique hotspot password rather than leaving the auto-generated one if you'll be sharing it verbally in a public space.
- Enable 'Turn off hotspot automatically when no devices are connected' to avoid unnecessarily draining battery on a laptop.
- Choose Ethernet as the shared connection when available, since sharing over WiFi both hosts the hotspot and uses that same adapter to receive the source connection.
- Keep an eye on data usage if sharing a cellular connection, especially with devices that auto-update in the background.
Common problems and fixes
- Mobile Hotspot won't turn on at all.
- Confirm you actually have an active internet connection to share first, since Windows won't enable the hotspot without a working source connection selected.
- Devices connect to the hotspot but have no internet access.
- Check that the correct source connection is selected under 'Share my internet connection from', since it may be pointed at an inactive adapter.
- Sharing over WiFi disconnects your own PC from its WiFi network.
- Share your Ethernet connection instead if available, or accept that WiFi-sharing mode uses your WiFi adapter to broadcast rather than receive, which some hardware can't do simultaneously.
Tips and tricks
- Click the network icon in the taskbar for a quick Mobile Hotspot toggle instead of opening full Settings every time.
- Rename the hotspot to something recognizable if you frequently connect multiple personal devices to it, so it's easy to pick out among nearby networks.
Frequently asked questions
Does using Mobile Hotspot use more of my data plan than normal?
No more than the connected devices would use on their own, but you're now responsible for tracking combined usage across every device instead of just your PC.
Can I use Mobile Hotspot to share a VPN connection?
Generally no — a VPN's encrypted tunnel exists at the app or system level on the sharing PC and typically isn't extended automatically to devices connected through the hotspot.
How many devices can connect to a Windows Mobile Hotspot at once?
Windows supports up to 8 connected devices at a time, though actual usable speed and stability depend heavily on your PC's hardware and the strength of the shared source connection.
Related settings
- WiFi ConnectionWiFi Connection settings allow you to view, connect to, and manage wireless networks. You can configure automatic connections, set network priorities, and troubleshoot connectivity issues from this panel.
- VPNVPN settings let you add, connect, and manage Virtual Private Network profiles for securely routing your traffic through a work, school, or personal VPN server. This is where you configure server details, sign-in info, and whether the VPN connects automatically.
- Network ResetNetwork Reset restores all networking components to their factory default settings. This includes removing all saved WiFi networks, resetting TCP/IP stack, and clearing DNS cache. Use this as a troubleshooting step when other network fixes have not resolved your issue.
More Network & Internet guides for Windows
- Bluetooth SettingsBluetooth settings allow you to connect wireless devices such as headphones, keyboards, mice, and smartphones to your PC. You can pair, remove, and manage connected devices easily.
- Remote DesktopRemote Desktop lets you connect to this PC from another Windows device, or from Mac, iOS, and Android using the Remote Desktop app, over your local network or the internet. Once enabled, you can control this PC's full desktop remotely, which is useful for accessing a work computer from home or troubleshooting a family member's PC.
- Nearby SharingNearby Sharing lets you send files, photos, and links wirelessly to another nearby Windows PC using Bluetooth and WiFi together, without needing a shared network drive, email, or a USB stick. Both the sending and receiving PC need Nearby Sharing turned on and Bluetooth enabled for it to work.
- Airplane ModeAirplane mode instantly turns off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and GPS radios all at once, which is required during flights and useful anytime you want to quickly disable wireless connectivity.
- Proxy SettingsProxy settings let you route your PC's internet traffic through a proxy server, either automatically detected or manually configured, which is often required on corporate or school networks.
- EthernetEthernet settings manage your PC's wired network adapter, including IP configuration, connection metering, and network profile type for a plugged-in cable connection.