The institutional internet I use is really ropy at the minute, so I'm trying to set up my phone to use it as a wi-fi hotspot for my laptop. But despite following the standard instructions (such as these - https://www.lifewire.com/use-your-an...otspot-2377915) it won't work. My laptop sees the hotspot and can connect to it, but there is no internet. My phone can't see the network and I don't understand why not. How does this stuff work?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Help me use my phone as a hotspot
Collapse
X
-
I use an iphone, but it refuses to work as an internet hotspot if the phone itself is connected to the local wifi - the hot spot has to work from my phone's data. I have no idea if this is your problem, but it's usually what scuppers me and I spend ten minutes trying to work out what the problem is before I finally remember to switch wifi off in the settings.
-
Yes, when I get caught with this one, it is because the wifi is still on the phone (and the wifi is down, which is why I'm using the phone as a hotspot in the first place). Your best way of checking is to plug the phone into the laptop USB and make sure Wifi is switched off on both.
Comment
-
Is that the same as Mobile Data? If so, yes.
WiFi is off on the phone, but if I switch it off on the laptop then the laptop won't see any networks at all. I plugged phone into the USB but it didn't give me any more options. I tried pairing the laptop and phone using bluetooth but that didn't work.
The thing is, my phone will only connect to the internet by connecting to a Wifi i.e. I have to connect to the same wifi as I do with my laptop. I think that's the problem. How does it connect to its own data? The phone can only connect to the net if Wifi is on, but then the hotspot disappears. If I turn Wifi off and hotspot on then the network appears on my laptop, and I can connect to it, but it isn't connected to the intenet. Does this make sense?
I was going to ask O2 but they seem to have removed their 'ask an advisor' facility. I did post on their user forum.Last edited by delicatemoth; 14-04-2020, 10:55.
Comment
-
All I can find is what's contained in MyO2 - monthly rate, minute allowance, data allowance. No mention of being able or unable to hotspot. O2 are actually a bit thick, they still have my old name despite me changing it nearly five years ago and telling them that more than once.
Comment
-
- Oct 2011
- 26984
- Cambridgeshire
- Ipswich (convert)
- Those chocolate-coated ring-shaped ones you get at Christmas
I've done this once when I was on my way to work as there was a long delay waiting for the train. I had my work laptop with me so used my phone's data and turned it into a hotspot for the laptop.
It got through the vast majority of the month's data allowance in a matter of minutes. Laptops can be thirsty things it seems.
Comment
Comment