How to Connect to a Hotspot on Windows 10

To connect to a hotspot on Windows 10, turn on the hotspot on your phone, select the Network icon on the PC’s taskbar, choose the phone’s Wi-Fi network, and enter its hotspot password. Wi-Fi is usually the quickest option. If you do not see the network or prefer a cable, you can also use USB or Bluetooth tethering when both devices support it.

Before you connect

On the phone that will share internet, turn on its hotspot and note the network name (SSID) and hotspot password. The Wi-Fi password is not necessarily the phone’s unlock code. Keep the phone nearby and make sure its cellular connection works if it is sharing mobile data. Hotspot use can count against a mobile data plan, and some carriers restrict tethering or charge extra.

On Android, hotspot controls are commonly under Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering, though menu names vary by manufacturer. On an iPhone, open Settings > Personal Hotspot, turn on Allow Others to Join, and read the Wi-Fi password on that screen. If an iPhone hotspot is hard to find, Apple recommends leaving the Personal Hotspot screen open while the other device connects.

Connect to the hotspot over Wi-Fi

1. Turn on Wi-Fi on the Windows 10 PC. Select the Network icon near the clock on the taskbar. If it is hidden, select the up arrow in the notification area and choose the network icon there. Make sure Airplane mode is off.
2. Choose the phone’s hotspot name. In the network list, select the SSID you noted on the phone, then select Connect. A phone’s hotspot may use its device name, so check the phone if several networks look similar. Select Connect automatically only if this is a hotspot you use regularly and trust.

3. Enter the hotspot password. Type the Wi-Fi password shown on the phone and select Next. Check capitalization and characters carefully; if Windows rejects it, re-open the phone’s hotspot settings and confirm the current password.
4. Confirm the connection. Wait for the network list to show that the hotspot is connected, then open a webpage. If Windows asks whether the PC should be discoverable by other devices, choose No for a phone hotspot or another network you do not control.

Use USB tethering instead

A USB connection can be useful when you want a wired link or the PC does not have working Wi-Fi. Use a cable that supports data, not charging only. For most Android phones, connect the cable, open the phone’s hotspot or tethering settings, and turn on USB tethering. The option may remain unavailable until the phone is connected to the PC. Google notes that Android devices may share mobile data by USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, but the exact steps depend on the phone and carrier.

For an iPhone, turn on Personal Hotspot and connect it to the PC with a USB cable. Install the current Apple Devices app or iTunes for Windows, and tap Trust if the iPhone asks whether to trust the computer. Windows should then list the phone’s connection as a network connection.

Connect through Bluetooth

Bluetooth tethering is another wireless option, but both devices need Bluetooth and the phone must support sharing its connection over Bluetooth. Pair the phone and PC, then enable Bluetooth tethering on the phone. In Windows 10, right-click the Bluetooth Devices icon in the taskbar notification area and choose Join a Personal Area Network. In the window that opens, right-click the phone, select Connect using > Access point, and wait for the connection confirmation. To stop tethering, return to the same menu and disconnect from the device network.

Troubleshoot a missing or failed hotspot connection

• The hotspot is not listed: Check that Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off in Windows. Confirm that the phone hotspot is enabled and, for iPhone, keep its Personal Hotspot screen open while connecting. Close and reopen the Windows network list after changing the phone settings.
• Windows says the password is incorrect: Verify the hotspot password on the phone. If Windows saved an older password, open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the hotspot, choose Forget, and connect again with the current password.
• Windows connects but pages will not load: Check that the phone itself has internet access over cellular data, and confirm that your carrier plan allows tethering. Turn the hotspot off and on, then reconnect. A Windows “Connected” status only confirms the local Wi-Fi link; the phone still needs a working internet connection to pass along.

A current Windows 10 note

These connection steps still apply to a Windows 10 PC, but Microsoft ended standard support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The PC can continue to work, but standard security updates and technical support have ended. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support notice for details.

Official help

• Microsoft: Connect to a Wi-Fi network in Windows
• Google: Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
• Apple: Connect to the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone or iPad
• Microsoft: Connect to a Bluetooth network in Windows