A mobile device that shares its data cellular connection with nearby devices connected via wi-fi.

A mobile hotspot is an ad hoc wireless access point that is created by a dedicated hardware device or a smartphone feature that shares the phone's cellular data. Other nearby devices can then use the shared hotspot to connect to the internet.

Mobile hotspots are also known as portable hotspots. The hardware devices used to create them, officially known as pocket or travel routers, are sometimes referred to as mobile hotspots as well. They are also often generically known as Mi-Fis, although that name is owned by Novatel in the United States and many other countries.

Pocket routers access cellular signals and convert 3G and 4G signals to Wi-Fi and vice versa, creating mobile Wi-Fi networks that can be shared by multiple users within about 10 meters of the device. Most wireless carriers offer mobile hotspot devices and the wireless data plans required to enable them. Another option is using a smartphone to connect other devices. Many smartphones enable the creation of a mobile hotspot through tethering, accessing the phone's existing cellular data connection.

The bring-your-own network (BYON) often involves employees creating mobile hotspots at work, which can impact network security. For example, an employee who creates a mobile hotspot at work is simultaneously connected to three networks at once: the cellular carrier's, the hotspot and the corporate network. If the device or any of the networks are not secure, that can put corporate data at risk.

This was last updated in August 2020

Continue Reading About mobile hotspot

  • Mi-Fi and Android smartphone mobile hotspot comparison
  • Using phones for laptop Internet access
  • The implications of mobile hotspot security vulnerabilities
  • Frequently-asked questions about mobile hotspots
  • Do you really need a mobile hotspot?

Which feature if available allows you to share your smartphone's cellular data connection over a USB cable?

Mobile phones have long had a modem feature, allowing you to hook up the device to your computer using USB tethering. This lets you share the mobile internet connection over a wired connection with your laptop or other devices. It's easy to do.

Which of the following are universally common items that are synced between a mobile device and a larger computer?

Which of the following are universally common items that are synced between a mobile device and a larger computer? (Choose three.) The items most often able to be synchronized are contacts, apps, email, photos, music, and videos.

How can I use mobile hotspot without using data?

Open the Settings app on your device. Tap the Connections option (may be listed as Network & Internet). Look for Mobile Hotspot and Tethering and tap on that. Toggle the Mobile Hotspot switch to the on position.

What wireless standard does Apple use for payments?

An automatic payment system for Apple Watch and iPhones that used NFC wireless technology. A wireless standard for using radio waves to communicate over very short distances between devices. The most common implementation of Bluetooth wirelessly connects devices at a distance of up to one meter.