How to Turn Your Old Laptop into a Mobile Hotspot?

In today’s world, staying connected to the internet has become a necessity. We use smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices to browse the internet, check emails, and get things done. But sometimes, we face situations where we need to connect to the internet, but we don’t have a Wi-Fi router or a data plan. In such cases, you can use your old laptop as a mobile hotspot to share your internet connection with other devices. In this guide, we will show you how to turn your old laptop into a mobile hotspot.

How to Enable Mobile Hotspot in Windows 11?

To begin with, ensure that your laptop is equipped with a Wireless adapter that supports the mobile hotspot feature. In general, most Wireless adapters will support this feature. However, if you are using a very old laptop, you may need to purchase a USB Wireless adapter that supports the mobile hotspot feature.

Afterward, connect your laptop to the internet through either an Ethernet cable or a Wi-Fi connection.

he first step is to start the mobile hotspot connection so your laptop can discover it.

To share your mobile hotspot on Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select Connections.

3. Scroll down and tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

4. Toggle on the Mobile Hotspot setting.

5. Tap Mobile Hotspot to see and change your password.

Note: This process may differ slightly depending on your Android device’s brand and version. If your Android hotspot isn’t working, try these ten fixes.

To share your mobile hotspot on an Apple iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Personal Hotspot.

3. Toggle on Allow Others to Join.

Note: This process may differ slightly depending on your iPhone model or iOS version. If your iPhone hotspot isn’t working for Windows, try troubleshooting the issue.

Connect Your Windows Laptop to the Wi-Fi Hotspot

Once you’ve shared the hotspot using your mobile device, you can create a network connection with your Microsoft laptop like any other wireless network.

To connect to your mobile hotspot on Windows 11:

1. Click the Wi-Fi symbol at the bottom-right corner of the taskbar.

2. Click the arrow next to the Wi-Fi symbol to enter your Wi-Fi settings.

3. Scroll down until you find your mobile hotspot and select it. It should be the name and model of your phone.

4. When prompted, enter the hotspot Wi-Fi password and click Connect.

To connect to your mobile hotspot using Windows 10:

1. Press the network settings symbol in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar. This will appear as a Wi-Fi symbol if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, a computer, and a cable if you’re connected via ethernet, or a globe with a disconnected symbol if you are connected to no network.

2. Select your hotspot name.

3. When prompted, enter the network security key and click Next.

How to Connect Your Laptop to the Mobile Hotspot via USB

It’s possible to tether your Android phone to your Windows laptop via a USB cable. To configure USB tethering:

1. Connect your USB cable to both the phone and your laptop.
2. Open Settings on your Android.
3. Tap Connections.

4. Tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

5. Toggle on USB Tethering.

How to Connect Your Laptop to the Mobile Hotspot via Bluetooth

The final way to connect your laptop to a mobile hotspot is to enable Bluetooth tethering. This is possible on both iOS and Android phones.

To enable Bluetooth tethering on Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Connections.
3. Tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.
4. Tap Bluetooth tethering.

5. Toggle it on.

To enable Bluetooth tethering on an iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth.

3. Turn Bluetooth on and select your laptop from the list of devices to connect to.

To then connect your Windows PC to the Bluetooth hotspot:

1. Click the upwards arrow at the bottom-right of your taskbar to see the icon tray.
2. Right-click the Bluetooth symbol and click Show Bluetooth Devices.

3. Click Add Bluetooth or other device.

4. Select Bluetooth.

5. Select your phone from the list.

6. When you click your phone, you should receive a pairing request. Confirm that the passkey is identical on your phone and laptop, and then click Pair on your phone.

7. Click Connect on your laptop.

Happy Days

Maintaining internet access at all times is becoming more and more necessary with so many people working from home or needing the internet to stay in touch with their families. Luckily, with the mobile hotspot feature, you can create a Wi-Fi connection using your cellular data, meaning you never lose touch.

After modifying the hotspot properties as per your preference, you can enable the hotspot by toggling the switch to the “On” position. Once the hotspot is enabled, your laptop will start broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal that other devices can connect to.

It’s important to keep in mind that using your old laptop as a mobile hotspot will drain the battery faster than normal use, so it’s recommended to keep it plugged in during use. Additionally, the range of the hotspot may be limited compared to a dedicated Wi-Fi router, so it’s best to keep the connecting devices within a reasonable distance from the laptop.

Conclusion

In conclusion, turning your old laptop into a mobile hotspot is a great way to stay connected on the go without having to invest in additional hardware. By following the above steps, you can easily transform your old laptop into a wireless access point and share your internet connection with other devices. This can be particularly useful in situations where you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or need a reliable internet connection while traveling. So, give it a try and enjoy the benefits of having a mobile hotspot at your fingertips!