Mobile Hotspot feature and app FAQs

A Mobile Hotspot lets you share your Verizon network connection with other devices so they can access the internet. Devices connect to your Mobile Hotspot using Wi-Fi. While devices are connected, you're charged for any data they use according to your monthly data plan.

Many smartphones and tablets have a built-in Mobile Hotspot feature that you can access in your device's Settings or the App menu. The feature may have a different name (e.g., Personal Hotspot [iOS], Internet Sharing [Windows®] or Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot [Google™ Nexus devices]), but does the same thing.

You can also buy devices that are strictly mobile hotspots. Visit our Mobile hotspot shopping page or go to our Mobile hotspot device FAQs to learn more.

Many of our monthly phone plans and certain prepaid plans let you use 5G Ultra Wideband, 5G and 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot on capable devices for no additional monthly charge.

When a device is connected to your phone's Mobile Hotspot feature or app, data usage is applied to your mobile plan's monthly allowance. After your plan's monthly high-speed allowance is used up, you can still use Hotspot at lower speeds for the rest of the month.*

Visit My Verizon to view your monthly mobile plan or Prepaid plan's Mobile Hotspot allowance feature allowance. Or learn how to get more hotspot data when you need it.

Note:

• 60 GB Mobile Hotspot is included with Unlimited Ultimate.
• 30 GB Mobile Hotspot is included with Unlimited Plus.
• You can also buy an extra 100 GB/month Mobile Hotspot for $10/month with Unlimited Welcome.**

*Upon full usage of Mobile Hotspot allowance, Mobile Hotspot speeds will be reduced to up to 3 Mbps when on 5G Ultra Wideband and 600 Kbps when on 5G / 4G LTE for the remainder of your monthly billing cycle.
**Not available with Welcome Unlimited. You can change to Unlimited Welcome and add this perk in My Verizon.

All of our currently available smartphones and basic phones are compatible with Mobile Hotspot features or apps. If you have an older device, refer to the User Guide on your Device Support page to be sure Mobile Hotspot is compatible.

Some devices with a Mobile Hotspot feature or app allow up to 10 devices to connect at a time, while others allow a maximum of 5.

Refer to the User Guide at the top of your Device Support page to see how many devices can be connected to your specific device.

Mobile Hotspot service is available anywhere you have 4G LTE / 5G Ultra Wideband, TT 5G TT or 3G service. Visit our coverage map for network coverage information.

Yes, you can use Mobile Hotspot while traveling outside the US if you have a connection to our 4G LTE network. (5G Ultra Wideband TT and 5GTT are only available inside the US.*)

Data charges apply according to your international travel plan or roaming rates.

*Devices manufactured before 2020 are not 5G compatible.

On most devices, you can turn on your Mobile Hotspot in your Settings.

For instructions, see the User Guide on the Device Support page for your device or refer to:

• iOS - Share your internet connection with Personal Hotspot article on Apple's website.
• Android™ - Android help for hotspot connection details.

Note: On Windows devices, Mobile Hotspot is named Internet Sharing.

You connect to Mobile Hotspot on your phone or tablet the same way you'd connect to any Wi-Fi network:

1. Open your Wi-Fi settings on the device you want to connect to Mobile Hotspot, and scan for available networks. Your Mobile Hotspot name (SSID) should appear in the list.
2. In the list of available Wi-Fi networks, select the name of the Mobile Hotspot.
3. If requested, enter the Mobile Hotspot password.
4. Tap Join or Connect.

You've successfully connected a device to your Mobile Hotspot.

Yes, you can set Mobile Hotspot to turn off automatically for some devices:

• Android - Power Mode
• BlackBerry® - Auto Shutoff Timer
• iOS - Automatically shuts off when the hotspot is inactive

Note: Some devices may never stay inactive long enough for this feature to work because apps, updates and more are often running in the background.

The SSID is the unique name of your Mobile Hotspot feature or app that people see when scanning for available Wi-Fi networks. When you turn on the Hide SSID option, your Mobile Hotspot can't be seen by nearby Wi-Fi devices.

Our Troubleshooting Assistant may be able to help you with Mobile Hotspot issues:

1. Find your device on our device selector page.
2. Choose Troubleshoot.
3. Enter "mobile hotspot" in the search bar.
4. Choose your issue and follow the prompts.