Android smartphones can be used as WLAN hotspots. There are tethering options for USB and Bluetooth. We show ...
Did you know that your smartphone can work like a wireless router? If you activate the WLAN hotspot, your data connection will be shared for up to eight other devices. This will bring your tablet or your laptop to the network quickly. We give tips for WiFi hotspots in Android, so the function will not cost you.
Meanwhile, many smartphone tariffs have a few gigabytes of high-speed volume per month. Since it does not hurt, if one now and then the data connection for more alls only one device used. If you just want to surf the tablet on occasion, you do not have to buy an LTE-enabled tablet and make an additional contract. It is enough if you temporarily activate the WLAN hotspot in the smartphone. Smart: Since Android 5 Lollipop, the Android tablet automatically detects that it should not download updates via this wireless connection. This saves your scarce data volume.
Set up a WLAN hotspot: How it works
- Opens the settings in the device to work as a WLAN router.
- Under More opens your tethering & mobile hotspot.
- Tap Set up Wi-Fi Hotspot.
- Sets network SSID and a password of at least eight characters.
- Go back and activate the hotspot.
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| Sets the frequency, encryption and password for the hotspot. / © CoolAndroidTips |
If the WLAN hotspot is no longer needed after use, you should deactivate it again. After the first setup of the hotspot, this is pleasingly easy. Android sets a tile for you in the fast setting, over which your hotspot in the future with the same configuration can turn off and on.
Connect to the Hotspot
Once the Android hotspot is set up, you can connect up to eight devices to it. Keep in mind that the battery consumption of the hotspot device increases strongly. The best way to do this is to use a charger or power bank. Targets with Andorid 5.0 Lollipop or new recognize that it is an Android hotspot. You then apply the data-saving rules that apply to the mobile data connection. This includes the fact that large files and updates are not downloaded, or that in some apps images are loaded only in low resolution.
Windows 10 also provides such an option for so-called clocked connections. Unfortunately we could not activate the option in our Windows test device because it was grayed out. Many users complain about problems with the feature.
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| This is how tethering works: via USB cable between PC and Android device. / © COOLANDROIDTIPS |
More options to release the Internet with Android
There is also USB and Bluetooth tethering. USB tethering turns your smartphone into a USB modem, which is usually automatically recognized by computers. These then use the Internet connection of your smartphone; Whether mobile or WLAN.
Under Windows 10, this connection can not be defined as a "clocked connection" so that uninhibited updates are downloaded. This can cost you several hundred megabytes of your data volume.
Bluetooth tethering was too slow in our fastest test. The interface is only recommended if there is no alternative for them. As you set it up, Google simply explains intelligibly on the help page.
Alternatives to the Android hotspot
If you often turn on your hotspot, it may be worth buying your own device for the task. Pure data rates are cheaper than smartphone tariffs with generous high-speed volumes. The LTE hotspots are sometimes already there. Separately they cost from 40 euros.
The Verivox tariff will cover you for 24 months to the above mentioned base charge. At the beginning there are 310 Euro payout. The furnishing fee is refunded in full. You surf the LTE network of Vodafone and have 12 GB unrestricted speed, which means currently up to 375 Mbps.
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