How to Use an AT&T Hotspot

A step-by-step guide to turning your AT&T telephone into a Wi-FI hotspot.

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Cell phones help us stay connected to anybody and everything. Simply sometimes nosotros demand to use another device, whether it'southward a Idiot box for streaming our favorite bear witness or a laptop calculator for doing our homework. This is when hotspots come in handy.

Your AT&T plan's information connection can be transferred from your phone to i or more than other devices. And you might be surprised to see simply how fast your data speeds are (in some cases they can be faster than a domicile internet connectedness).

In this commodity we'll walk you lot through how to fix an AT&T hotspot on an Apple or Android device. But first, let'southward make certain that your cell phone plan and device are hotspot capable.

How hotspots work and what y'all need to make one

When yous create a hotspot y'all're basically turning your phone into a Wi-Fi router, like the one you may have at home. Other devices, like computers, tablets, and other phones, tin then tether to your phone to get an cyberspace connection.

A mobile hotspot will have roughly the same information speeds equally your phone does. If you lot're on a 4G LTE connection, then your speeds volition exist effectually 25 Mbps (you tin can learn more about how much internet speed you actually need in our handy guide).i

There are two chief things you'll need to gear up a hotspot: a phone program and a telephone. Permit's talk details.

Is your AT&T programme hotspot capable?

Not all AT&T plans include hotspot capability or hotspot data allotments.  But yous tin purchase a dedicated AT&T hotspot programme that doesn't have whatever talk or text.

Here'due south how much hotspot data AT&T's unlimited plans offering:

  • Unlimited Starter: hotspots not offered
  • Unlimited Extra: 15 GB of hotspot data included
  • Unlimited Aristocracy: 40 GB of hotspot information included

If you'd like to upgrade to a plan with more hotspot data, here's a look at the cost difference betwixt AT&T'south three master unlimited plans.

If you're non satisfied with AT&T'southward hotspot options then bank check out these other plans that offering astonishing hotspot benefits.

Is your AT&T phone hotspot capable?

Another thing yous'll need before you lot can set up an AT&T hotspot is a phone or other hotspot capable device.

Near phones, even ones that are a few generations old, are equipped with hotspot/tethering technology. But if you're working with an older phone, you could potentially demand to upgrade.

Here's a list of the most popular phones from leading brands that are offered through AT&T.

Setting up an AT&T hotspot on Apple devices

Setting up an AT&T hotspot on an Apple device is simple. Simply follow these steps if you're using an iPhone:

  1. Go to the Settings section (the icon with the gears).
  2. Select the Cellular Data option at the top.
  3. Then select the Personal Hotspot option.
  4. Switch to the on position (the bar will be greenish).

Once your hotspot has been enabled on your phone, information technology will evidence you a password. I just happen to have an iPhone on an AT&T plan, and then here's a screenshot of what information technology will expect like:

Screenshot of settings screen for AT&T iPhone

To connect your other device(s), you lot demand to find the Wi-Fi network that says your phone'due south proper name (usually it will be "[your proper name]'southward iPhone") and and then enter the password from your phone.

Once you're continued you should see a bluish bar at the elevation of your iPhone screen telling you that the hotspot is enabled and how many devices are tethered.

And y'all're done! Good work.

Setting upwardly an AT&T hotspot on Android devices

If you use an android device, setting up a mobile hotspot on the AT&T network is like shooting fish in a barrel. Just follow these steps:*

  1. Go to the Settings app.
  2. Click on Connections or Network.
  3. Click on the Hotspot and tethering option.
  4. Turn the Wi-Fi Hotspot toggle switch to on.

*At that place are many different types of Android phones, and sometimes phone manufacturers will create custom settings for their devices. However, the process for setting upward a mobile hotspot should exist similar to the 1 described here.

Using this same settings page you lot can change the security settings and password for your mobile hotspot.

Once your mobile hotspot has been enabled in the settings section of your Android device, you can turn it on either in settings or using the "quick settings" and clicking the Wi-Fi hotspot icon.

Android Phone settings page

Once your hotspot is configured on your Android device, you should be able to tether other devices (the aforementioned style you lot'd connect to a Wi-Fi network) using the password that you've set up.

That'south it. Woohoo!

How to set up other hotspot devices

Your phone isn't the only device that can be turned into an AT&T hotspot. There are dedicated hotspot devices out there and, in some cases, you tin can even turn your auto into a hotspot (basically it will be KITT from Knight Rider).

Setting upwardly defended hotspot devices

AT&T can plough pretty much anything into a hotspot. Seriously, the company sells hotspot security cameras, pet collars, glasses, computer plug-ins, and more than. These devices offer a handy way to connect to the internet wirelessly without purchasing a telephone plan.

If y'all're wondering how much an AT&T hotspot device is, the answer is: it depends. But more often than not you tin expect to pay $100+ (AT&T offers monthly installments on many devices).

Each hotspot device will have its ain specific instructions for setting up, but don't worry, information technology shouldn't be difficult. Just make sure that you've got compatible gear before you lot buy!

Setting up in-car Wi-Fi with AT&T

Aye, you can turn your ride into a mobile hotspot that tin tether to 10 other devices. Your family unit road trips merely got a whole lot easier.

Some cars come with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot technology. With other vehicles, you'll have to buy a dissever plug-in device from AT&T. Older cars might not be compatible at all, even with a plug-in device (*sorry trombone*).

To larn more than nearly turning your vehicle into a mobile hotspot, expect at your vehicle's manual to see if it has built-in hotspot applied science, or bank check out this plug-in device from AT&T.

Sources:

Easton Smith

Written by

Easton Smith

Easton has worked as a freelance author and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and engineering products. He has probably read more than Terms of Utilise contracts than any homo alive. When he's not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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