For most people, the Internet has become something like air. Sure, you can survive without it, so that’s the crucial difference, but our everyday lives depend so heavily on the Internet that we would definitely get anxious if it all disappeared all of a sudden. Don’t worry, though; it’s not going anywhere.
You, however, are going places. And you want to stay connected to the Web wherever you go, which is usually quite easy when we’re talking of your smartphone but can be tricky when word goes of laptops and similar devices. Unless you find a WiFi network to connect to, you may not be able to use that device, either for work, or for anything else. And, even when you find a WiFi network nearby, most of them are locked, and some of those that aren’t are usually not the safest solutions.
Is there anything you can do about it, though? Wouldn’t it be nice if your phone could act like a network to connect to, given that you always have enough data on it? Well, this isn’t something you should dream of thinking about, because it is very much a real thing. Ever heard of the option of turning your mobile phone into a router?
Using a mobile phone as a router, or bruke mobil som ruter as it is said in Norway, is an option that people often go for. You can explore the country, if that is your goal, and go pretty much everywhere you want to go without worrying that you won’t be able to connect, say, your laptop to the Internet. If you have your smartphone by your side, such a problem won’t even exist.
Can You Use Your Mobile Phone as A Router?
Clearly, using a mobile phone as a router is a genuine possibility and an option that a lot of people resort to, whether they want to connect some of their other devices to the Web, or they want to help their friends get online when there’s no secure WiFi connection to rely on. Even though you understand this is a realistic possibility, you are wondering if you can use your specific phone for these purposes. It is not a question of whether this is possible, but a question of whether it is possible for you.
Well, there are a few criteria to meet, but since we’re living in a digital world, so to speak, I am quite certain that you have already met them. For starters, you’ll need to have a smartphone so as to be able to do this, meaning that older phones won’t do the trick. You can check this easily by searching for the mobile hotspot button on your phone. If you have it, then sharing the connection is possible.
In addition to that, you’ll need to have a data subscription plan associated with that phone, as you won’t have any Internet to share with your other devices if you don’t pay for it through the subscription. Another important thing to mention here is that your data plan should be rather good if you’re planning on sharing the connection often. In other words, you need to have enough data to support the usage of all the devices you want to connect. That is something to keep in mind when choosing your data plan and your provider.
Why Do It?
You’re all clear on the possibility of using your mobile phone as a router. You’ve checked for the button on your phone, and you’ve realized you have it. Whether you’ve already chosen a good enough data plan or not, you’re most likely wondering one thing. Put simply, you’re not sure why you should actually use your phone as a router. Are there any benefits to it at all and should you, thus, bother getting a good enough data plan to be able to do it?
There sure are. So, let’s talk about them now, aiming at helping you figure out precisely why you may want to do this. As you’ll see, the benefits are definitely great, so it is no wonder that this has become a popular option for a lot of people.
- Security
First off, there is the security. Turning your phone into a router means you won’t be sharing the connection with anyone else, as opposed to connecting to some public WiFi networks. Your data will, therefore, be properly secured, which is especially important if you need the Internet to access some sensitive information or perhaps handle some financial transactions. Interference is not exactly what you want in those cases, and the hotspot option offers you the security you need.
- Flexibility
When on the go and you wind up needing to quickly get online on your laptop, or on a different device, you won’t exactly be able, or willing, to wait until you have found a secure WiFi network. It may be a long time before you do. With your phone/router by your side, though, you have the flexibility of connecting to the Web pretty much whenever you want. No reason to wait – connect on the go.
- Portability
Speaking of being on the go, the great thing about your phone is that it is quite easy to carry. In fact, it is the one device that is always by your side. The portability allows you to stop worrying whether the next coffee shop you’ll run into will have WiFi or not. You’ll have Internet right there in your pocket at all times. What more could you ask for?
- Ease of Use
You could ask for ease of use, of course. And you would get it. If you’re thinking that it takes a lot of work to set up this type of connection, think again. There is basically one button you have to find and click so as to turn your phone into a router, but we’ll talk about that process a bit later. For now, what you need to know is that it is quite easy to use.
- Cost-Effectiveness
Another reason why people use this solution is because it is cost-effective. You pay for one data plan, and you have enough data to share with your other devices. So, there is no reason to pay for a dedicated router when your phone can serve as one, and without incurring any additional costs. If you are, thus, looking for a simple and cost-effective solution that will allow you to be online wherever you go, you should undeniably consider this option.
How to Do It?
The actual process of turning your phone into a router isn’t difficult. Yet, the procedure is different depending on the type of smartphone you have. To be more precise, the steps are not the same for Android and for iPhone – a difference that you were bound to expect. The great thing is that it will all be quite simple on both types of devices, and all you have to do is simply learn which steps to take towards it depending on the type you’re using, so let’s check that out.
This could help as well: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-turn-your-phone-into-a-wi-fi-hotspot
- Android
Say you want to connect a laptop to the Internet, and you want to share data from your Android smartphone. The first thing you must do is turn on Bluetooth on both of those devices, and I suppose you already know where the buttons for it are located. On the computer, the symbol is usually located in the lower right part of the screen, and on the phone, you can find it in the settings.
Once you’ve turned on Bluetooth on your computer, you’ll have to click on “add a device” or something that will be similarly phrased, and then search for nearby devices, at which point your phone will appear on the list. You can create an access key and synchronize the devices. Then, go to the control panel on your computer, go to the Network Sharing Center, click on Configure Connection and then on External Connection. Enter “99#” in the field that will appear and then click connect. That’s it.
- iPhone
The procedure is similar on iPhones as well. You start by turning on Bluetooth on both devices, and you follow the steps on your computer to connect the phone to it. Once that’s done, you should select the “access to the internet via the mobile’s data connection” and then click on “direct connection”. Enter your username and password to proceed and then add the GPRS CID string “99#”. Click “connect” and you’re done with the process.
Singh is an experienced spiritual writer and the resident author at Guruvanee.com. With a deep passion for exploring the mystical aspects of life, Singh delves into various spiritual traditions, philosophies, and practices to inspire readers on their spiritual journeys.