How to share mobile data from your phone (hotspot, tethering and Bluetooth tethering)

Sharing your phone's data with a laptop, tablet or console is called hotspot, tethering or portable hotspot depending on the system. It's the best option when you're travelling, somewhere without WiFi, or when the venue's WiFi is slow or suspicious. This guide covers how to turn it on in Android and iPhone, when to use Bluetooth or a USB cable instead of WiFi, and how many GB it uses.

What is a hotspot or tethering?

Your phone has a cellular modem (3G/4G/5G) that receives internet from your operator's network. When you turn on the hotspot, the phone broadcasts its own WiFi network (with a name and password you set) and other devices can connect to that WiFi to reach the internet through your mobile data.

The terms are used interchangeably:

• Hotspot — the most common, used by iPhone and most Android brands.
• Tethering — the technical term, which you'll see on Android (Samsung, Xiaomi) and in operator language.
• Portable hotspot — another label some Android brands use.

How to turn on the hotspot on Android

The menu varies between Pixel, Samsung, Xiaomi and OPPO, but the logic is the same. On most:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering (or Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering on Samsung; Portable hotspot on Xiaomi).
3. Tap Wi-Fi hotspot and toggle it on.
4. Set the network name (SSID) and the password. Use a different password from the ones you normally use — your phone's WiFi network is as critical as your home one.
5. Optional: under Advanced settings you can choose the band (2.4 GHz for more range, 5 GHz for more speed) and enable auto-off when no one is connected.

From the laptop or tablet, connect to that WiFi network with the password you set. Done.

How to turn on the hotspot on iPhone

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Personal Hotspot (on iOS 17 and later). On earlier versions it was under Cellular > Personal Hotspot.
3. Turn on Allow Others to Join.
4. Tap Wi-Fi Password to set one. The network name is your iPhone's name (Settings > General > About > Name).
5. Optional: enable Maximize Compatibility if the device you're connecting is old (a PC with WiFi from 5+ years ago). It switches to the 2.4 GHz band, more compatible but slower.

When another of your Apple devices (Mac, iPad) is nearby and signed into the same iCloud, it can connect to the hotspot without entering the password — Apple handles it automatically. Useful if you regularly work with a MacBook + iPhone.

Tethering via Bluetooth or USB cable: when it's worth it

Most people use the hotspot over WiFi. But Android and iPhone also let you share internet over Bluetooth or a USB cable. Each has a specific use case:

• WiFi (the usual) — fastest (real 5G can reach 100+ Mbps on the laptop), works with any device, multiple devices at once. Uses more phone battery.
• USB — a Lightning/USB-C cable from the phone to the laptop. Advantages: the laptop charges the phone while it browses (zero battery drain), a more stable connection, lower latency. Downside: only one device, and it needs a cable. Ideal for long work sessions with a laptop at a desk.
• Bluetooth — slow (1-3 Mbps in practice) but uses far less phone battery. Useful when you only need basic internet (email, chat) and want the phone's battery to last longer.

Does my plan allow hotspot? Operators that limit it

In Spain, almost all postpaid and prepaid plans from the main operators (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MasMovil) and the MVNOs (Simyo, Lebara, DigiMobil, Yoigo, Llamaya, etc.) allow hotspot without restrictions — hotspot data counts within the same allowance as data used directly on the phone.

There are three cases where you may run into limitations:

• "Unlimited data" plans with a fair-use policy (FUP). Some operators cap the hotspot at a specific figure (for example, 30 GB a month) even though the plan is unlimited for use on the phone itself. Check the contract's fine print.
• Very cheap plans with limited data. They allow it but you burn through your monthly allowance in a few hours if you do video calls or streaming from the laptop. Common practice: use the hotspot only when there's no WiFi, not as your main connection.
• Travel eSIM (some brands). Almost all modern travel eSIMs allow hotspot — including MiMobile's — but some cheap brands block it. If you buy an eSIM on another platform for a trip, check before you leave.

How much data the hotspot uses by activity

Rough per-hour figures, useful for working out how many GB you need for a session or trip:

• Normal web browsing (articles, social media): 50-150 MB/h.
• Email + chat (Slack, Teams): 20-100 MB/h.
• SD video call (Zoom, Meet, Teams): 250-500 MB/h.
• HD video call: 600 MB - 1.2 GB/h.
• Music streaming (Spotify, YouTube Music): 50-150 MB/h.
• HD streaming (Netflix, YouTube, Prime): 1-1.5 GB/h.
• 4K streaming: 5-7 GB/h.
• Online gaming: 50-200 MB/h (surprisingly little; the heavy data is the initial downloads).
• Software updates / downloads: as fast as the connection allows — watch out for leaving them running by accident with the hotspot on.

Security best practices when using a hotspot

1. Change the default password. Some Android phones generate predictable passwords; iPhone defaults to a random word, but it's worth switching to something longer if you'll use the hotspot frequently.
2. Turn the hotspot off when you're not using it. It's not just about battery — an open network or one with a known password is an entry point for curious neighbours when you're in a public place.
3. Check which devices are connected. Both Android and iPhone show you the list of devices connected to the hotspot. If you see one you don't recognise, change the password.
4. Don't use the same SSID as your home router. If your hotspot is called "MyHome-WiFi" like your home WiFi, your laptop will try to connect automatically when you travel — a neat trick for data, but it can cause confusion or expose information if the SSID is exposed.