Share mobile data with other devices

All the data rates offered by different operators allow us to always stay connected through our mobile phone. In addition, most models incorporate a function called "data sharing", very practical when we need to work from a tablet or laptop somewhere where there is no Wi-Fi connection available. In this post we will see how to do to share mobile data with other devices.

In what situations can this function be useful? For example, when we stay in a country house or rural establishment without WiFi, or when we urgently need to connect on the road. All this as long as there is data coverage, obviously.

To carry out this connection, it is necessary to create a WiFi access point from our smartphone. The possibilities are different depending on whether our device is Android or iPhone. There is a name in English to designate this way of sharing mobile data with other devices: tethering. We explain the details below:

On Android

There are several different modes for mobile data connection sharing on Android:

Create a Wi-Fi hotspot

This is the most used way by Android users to share a mobile data connection. This method allows us, among other things, to establish a maximum number of connected users and execute a series of security modifications (name or password change, for example). The steps to follow may vary slightly depending on the phone model, although they are basically the following:

1. First of all, we go to the menu of Settings of the smartphone.
2. Then we will «Networks and the Internet».
3. In the next menu, we go to section "WiFi zone / Share connection".
4. There is the menu "Set up portable Wi-Fi hotspot", where we will be able to change the name of our connection or SSID, in addition to establishing a password with a minimum of 8 characters.

Then, from the target device we want to share the connection with, we search for the new network and connect using the previously set password.

via Bluetooth

It is a method with many points in common with the previous one, although it is more imitated, since It only allows us to share the connection with a single device at a time. The idea is to link the two devices: the one that sends the WiFi signal and the one that receives it. This is what to do in each of them.

On the sending device:

1. First of all we have to make sure that Bluetooth is activated.
2. Then we go to the Settings of the telephone.
3. We choose the option «Wi-Fi and Networks».
4. In this menu we select the option Share.

On the receiving device:

1. You also have to activate Bluetooth.
2. Then we look for the mobile to which we want to connect and we synchronize the devices (in some cases it will be necessary to enable the option of "Internet access").

Via USB

It can be a good option to provide a data connection to a desktop computer. These are the steps to follow:

1. First, We connect our device to the computer with the USB cable. A connection notification will appear on the screen.
2. Next we go to phone settings menu.
3. We access the option "Wi-Fi and Networks".
4. There we go to the option "Share via USB". *
5. Finally, activating this option will install on the computer the Controllers necessary to share mobile data with other devices.

(*) The steps and options may vary significantly depending on the brand and model of the smartphone.

Related article:

How to connect mobile to PC via WiFi

On iPhone

If we have an iPhone and what we want is share mobile data with other Apple devices, the necessary steps are very similar to those we have explained about Android. However, the way to execute them or access the different options is different.

Connect via iTunes

The system is very similar to Android, except that in this case the USB connection is made through iTunes. For this reason, it is necessary to have the latest version for Mac. Then, the steps to follow are these:

1. To start with, let's Settings.
2. We enter the option "Mobile data".
3. There we choose "Share internet".
4. In the next menu you must activate the option "Allow others to connect", where there are three connection options:
   • Wi-Fi
   • Bluetooth.
   • USB.
5. At this point, all you have to do is choose your preferred option and optionally change your password.
6. Finally, in the message displayed on the computer screen “Trust this device?”, click on "To accept".

Family Sharing Feature

It is another way that Apple offers us to establish these connections. The idea is that, through "Share with family", all its members can connect automatically. This is how to do it:

1. First of all, let's go to settings menu.
2. From there, we look for the option of "Share internet".
3. There we activate the function "Share with family", where we will be able to choose between automatic connection or through request. You can also pre-configure the connection so that the access point automatically turns off when no device is connected.