– How to Connect your Chromebook to an Internet HotSpot –
Want to get online way out in the Back of Beyond? Here’s how.
Traveling across the country in the car? Want access to the latest entertainment, TV shows, movies and YouTube?
Use your Chromebook to connect to the World Wide Web (and your digital entertainment packages like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and more) via a cell phone “HotSpot.”
Here’s how to do it:
- From the Home screen tap Settings.
- Tap Cellular.
- Press Personal Hotspot.
- Tap Wi-Fi Password.
- Enter a password, then tap Done.
- Tap the Personal Hotspot switch to enable it.
To Set up an Android as a Wi-Fi hotspot:
- Head to your main system Settings.
- Hit the More button at the bottom of the Wireless & networks section, right below Data usage.
- Open Mobile Hotspot and Tethering. (You may need to click More to see this option).
- Tap on Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Input a Network name or simply tap WiFi and see if your android appears.
- Choose a Security type.
- Assuming you made the secure choice above, enter a Password.
“Mobile Hotspot is a feature that lets you share your Verizon Wireless network connection with other devices, so they can access the internet. Devices connect to your Mobile Hotspot using their Wi-Fi feature. While they’re connected you’ll be charged for any data they use per your monthly data plan.” — Verizon Wireless website
So, if you have an unlimited data plan, you’re golden! (If not, beware the data charges).
Other notes from Google on “Tethering”
Use the Settings app
- Open your device’s Settings app
.
- Tap Network & Internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Turn on Portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Open your device’s Settings app
.
- Tap Network & Internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Tap Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Tap the option that you want to change. Follow the on-screen steps.
- Tap Save.
Tip: If you don’t want your hotspot to require a password, pick None under “Security.”
You can share your phone’s mobile data with up to 10 other devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot.
More alternatives to connect from Google
Step 1: On your phone, get your hotspot’s network name & password.
- Open your device’s Settings app
.
- Tap Network & Internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Tap Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Tap Show password.
Step 2: On the other device, connect to your hotspot.
- Open that device’s list of Wi-Fi options.
- On that list, pick the hotspot network name.
- Enter the hotspot password.
- Click Connect.
- Check that your devices can tether using notifications
Phones that can share their connections using notifications (“host”)
When running Android 7.1.1 and up:
- All Pixel phones
- Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 6
Phones and tablets that can use connections shared using notifications (“client”)
When running Android 6.0 and up:
- All Pixel phones and the Pixel C tablet
- Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9
Set up tethering using notifications
This kind of tethering is on by default for most devices that can use it. It’s off by default for Nexus 5X. You can turn it off or back on at any time.
Step 1: Sign in to the same account
On all your devices that will share connections:
- Sign in to the same Google Account. Learn how to add accounts.
- Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Learn how to turn them on.
Step 2: Let your phone share its connection
- Open your phone’s Settings app
.
- Tap Google
Instant Tethering.
- Tap Provide data connection.
Step 3: Let your other devices use your phone’s connection
- Open your other device’s Settings app
.
- Tap Google
Instant Tethering.
- Tap Get data connection.
When your devices are set up to tether via notifications, your phone with mobile data is nearby, and you unlock a device with no connection:
Still more alternatives:
Step 1: On your other device
- You get a “Wi-Fi hotspot available” notification. Tap it and follow the on-screen steps.
- To connect later without the notification, you can open your Settings app
Google
Instant Tethering
your phone
Connect.
- If you see a carrier verification notification, tap Continue.
Step 2: On your phone
When you connect, you get a “Sharing data connection” notification.
- The notification stays as long as you’re connected.
- To disconnect, tap the notification.
- When you don’t use an Instant Tethering connection for about 10 minutes, it disconnects.
Tether by Bluetooth
- Pair your phone with the device that needs mobile data. Learn how to pair devices.
- Set up the device to get its network connection by Bluetooth. Follow the instructions that came with the device.
After the other device is set for Bluetooth tethering, you can set up and use your phone’s Bluetooth tethering.
- Open your device’s Settings app
.
- Tap Network & Internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Tap Bluetooth tethering.
Tether by USB cable
Important: Mac computers can’t tether with Android by USB.
- Using a USB cable, connect your phone to the other device.
- A USB icon and a “Connected as a…” notification show at the top of the screen.
- Open your device’s Settings app
.
- Tap Network & Internet
Hotspot & tethering.
- Turn on USB tethering.
If you’re USB tethering a computer running Windows XP, first download and install this tetherxp.inf configuration file.
Expect high battery use by tethering
Tethering can use a lot of battery. We recommend:
- Plug in your devices while tethering.
- Turn off tethering connections when you’re done with them.
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