Connect personal devices to an instant hotspot

You can automatically create a hotspot for use by your nearby devices with instant hotspot. No passwords required.

Important:

• Both devices should:
  • Be signed in with the same Google Account.
  • Have "cross-device services" turned on.
• This feature is available for Android 11 and up, but has more features in Android 14. Learn how to connect your older Android versions.
• Cross-device services aren’t available on Android Go devices.
• This feature isn’t available on Samsung devices. If you have a Samsung device, you can use the Auto Hotspot feature instead.
• To connect to an instant hotspot, the device should be near the hotspot host.

Make sure cross-device services & instant hotspot are on

Important: To use instant hotspot, turn on cross-device services on both devices and connect to the internet.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Settings.
2. Tap Google All services Devices & sharing Cross-device services.
3. To make sure "cross-device services" is on, tap Use cross-device services.
4. Under “What your devices can do,” tap Internet sharing.
5. To make sure features are on:
   • Internet sharing: Tap Use internet sharing.
   • Instant hotspot: Tap Instant hotspot.

Connect to an instant hotspot through notifications

If you have an Android device that isn’t connected to the internet, it will search for other nearby devices to check if they can provide an instant hotspot. If one is found, you'll receive a notification asking if you’d like to connect. If you choose to connect, your Android device will automatically connect with no password required.

To connect your Android device to your Android phone that has an internet connection:

1. On your Android device, find the notification in your notification tray titled "Use your phone's hotspot."
2. Tap Connect.
   • It may take a few seconds to connect.
3. To confirm if you're connected:
   • On your Android device: You should find a “Connected to your phone" notification.
   • On your phone: You should find a "Providing mobile data” notification to your other Android device.

Tips:

• If no device is connected, your hotspot will automatically turn off.
• To disconnect, in the “Connected to your phone” notification, tap Disconnect.

Connect to an instant hotspot under internet settings

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Settings.
2. To get to the Wi-Fi list, under “Network & internet,” tap Internet.
3. Tap on your other Android device as an available Wi-Fi option.
4. Your other device’s hotspot will turn on and the device you’re using will connect to it. It may take a few seconds to connect.

Tips:

• When connected, your device shows whether it's connected to the internet either from mobile data, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.
• If you connect to another network, the device or hotspot name disappears from the Wi-Fi list.
• On Android 11 and up devices, the hotspot name is "Instant Hotspot" with random characters. On Pixel devices with Android 14, it's the device name.

Connect your older Android devices

If you have an Android tablet that’s running Android 11, 12, or 13, you can only connect to an instant hotspot through the notification. The instant hotspot won’t show on the Wi-Fi list in Settings or from the Internet tile in Quick Settings.

When your device can’t connect

When there’s a connection error, check if:

• You’re in an area with signal or coverage.
• Your devices are close to each other.
• Both devices:
  • Are signed in with the same Google Account.
  • Have “cross-device services” turned on.
  • Have the “Instant hotspot” feature turned on.
  • Have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

Related resources

• Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
• Connect to Wi-Fi networks on your Android device
• Share files and links with Android devices near you