Can I use an iPhone WiFi Hotspot without Cellular data?

How to use Mobile Hotspot without using data?

Smartphone users are often asking how to use Mobile Hotspot without using data or use iPhone WiFi Hotspot without Cellular data.

In earlier days most of us used to rely on dial-up and cable connections for internet connectivity. Nowadays Mobile Hotspot technology has changed this and we can now connect our devices to the internet wirelessly from one point, using the Hotspot on our smartphones. The main limitation of using a mobile Hotspot is data usage. Anytime you’re using a mobile Hotspot from your phone, you need to pay attention to how much data does Hotspot use.

Due to the sharing of data with multiple devices by connecting to the Hotspot, the data on your cell phone might be quickly depleted. Unless you want to pay for extra data, you’ll have limited access to these online activities while using a mobile Hotspot. In this article, I am going to explore whether we can use mobile WiFi Hotspots without using data or iPhone WiFi Hotspot without Cellular data and if yes then how to do that.

Before I show how to use mobile Hotspot without using data let’s first look into what a Mobile Hotspot is, how to set it up on your smartphone, and how to use Mobile Hotspot.

What is a Mobile Hotspot and how does it work?                            

A mobile Hotspot is a wireless portable device providing internet access on the go. It can be either a dedicated device or can be embedded in a smartphone that has a cellular connection. The mobile Hotspot allows other compatible devices with WiFi capabilities to connect to the internet by sharing the phone’s cellular data. A phone Hotspot can work with any WiFi-based device, including laptops, tablets, other phones, and even game consoles.

The way it works is simple. When your smartphone is connected to the cellular data network, it converts a 4G or 5G data stream into a WiFi signal and makes it available to any nearby device as long as the user has the network name (SSID) and password. Your phone can’t act as a mobile Hotspot where cellular data is unavailable.

How to Set up a Mobile Hotspot 

How to set up a mobile Hotspot on an Android device:

1. Turn on your device and Open the Settings app;

2. Tap on the ‘Wireless & Networks’ option (or Network & Internet option);

3. Next, scroll down and tap on ‘Mobile Hotspot and Tethering’;

4. Toggle the Mobile Hotspot switch to the on position;

5. From here, you can also modify the settings of your mobile Hotspot. To do this, just tap on Mobile Hotspot. Now, you can change your Hotspot’s name as well as the password that other devices are required to input to share your data connection;

How to set up a Mobile Hotspot on an iPhone 

Here’s how to turn an iPhone into a Hotspot:

1. Go to Settings;

2. Tap on Cellular or Personal Hotspot;

3. Finally, toggle the slider next to ‘Allow Others to Join’ to the on position (If you’re using iOS 12 or earlier, the slider just says Personal Hotspot.);

4. From here, you can change the name of your WiFi network. To do this go to Settings > General > About, and change the name at the top of your screen;

5. To change the password, tap WiFi Password and type in a new one;

Note: If you don’t see the option for Personal Hotspot, contact your carrier to make sure that you can use Personal Hotspot with your data plan.

How to use Mobile Hotspot?

How to use your iPhone as a mobile Hotspot,

1. Tap Settings;

2. Tap Personal Hotspot;

3. Tap Allow Others to Join;

4. Then tap Wi-Fi Password to change the password for your shared network;

How to use an Android phone as a mobile Hotspot,

1. Tap Settings;

2. Tap Connections;

3.  Tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering;

4. Tap the Mobile Hotspot to turn it on;

5. Once it’s on, tap Mobile Hotspot again, then tap Configure, where you can change the Hotspot password for your shared network;

How to use mobile Hotspot without using data

One issue that smartphone users experience when the mobile Hotspot is turned on is that the cellular data on their phones gets rapidly depleted due to the sharing of data with multiple devices. Therefore, the users often enquire whether it is possible to use a WiFi Hotspot without a data plan, and if yes, then how to use a Hotspot without using data to access the internet.

There’s a feature called ‘WiFi tethering’ that converts the phone Hotspot into an internet router temporarily. By enabling this feature in your settings you can avoid using mobile data and Tether (link a device to connect to the internet) to a nearby WiFi network. The Hotspot will then share WiFi data with the device instead of mobile data. The good thing is, that you can also do this using any unused old smartphone.

Here are the steps to follow on how to use mobile Hotspot without using data;

1. Open the ‘Settings app’;

2. Click on the ‘Wireless & Networks’ option;

3. Look for the ‘Portable WiFi Hotspot’ option;

4. Tap on the toggle next to the above option to turn it on;

5. Now, using a different device, Open ‘Setting’ and search for the new ‘WiFi Access Point’, or just turn WiFi on to scan for the new wireless network;

6. Once you find the new wireless network, tap on it and then enter the password and you should be connected;

You may also like to read this post: How to get WiFi without Internet provider

Can I use an iPhone WiFi Hotspot without Cellular data?

As already explained most Android phones can use a feature called WiFi tethering to convert the Hotspot into a router temporarily. By enabling this feature in your settings, the Hotspot will share WiFi data with other devices instead of mobile data  Now let us see if iPhone users can use iPhone WiFi Hotspot without cellular data.

Due to hardware limitations, you cannot use 2 simultaneous WiFi connections on iPhones. You cannot use Hotspot and WiFi at the same time on an iPhone. The iPhone personal Hotspot only allows you to share your iPhone cellular internet connection.

iPhone only has one WiFi radio in it. That WiFi radio can either act as a station (client) or an access point, but not both at the same time.

As your phone’s Hotspot can’t work without cellular service it needs to be connected to a cellular network to create a WiFi signal. A cellular network converts a 4G or 5G data stream into a WiFi signal that nearby devices can share. The bottom line is that other devices cannot access the internet via the Hotspot of your iPhone if it does not have a cellular data plan.

For accessing the internet by other devices, you need to ensure you have a cellular data plan, and your carrier needs to allow you to Hotspot other devices. If your carrier restricts Hotspot connectivity, you are probably required to purchase a data plan that includes Hotspot connectivity. You can check with your carrier regarding this.

You can also like to read: How to share WiFi on iPhone – a simple step-by-step guide

Frequently asked questions

Now that I have explained how to use Mobile Hotspot without using data and the limitations of using an iPhone WiFi Hotspot without cellular data, let me also address some of the related questions often asked by smartphone users.

Can I use a mobile Hotspot without data?

Your phone can’t act as a mobile Hotspot if you don’t have a cellular data plan. Without a data plan, it won’t be able to convert the cellular signal into a WiFi signal that nearby devices can share.

Does using a mobile Hotspot use data?

When a device is connected to your phone’s Mobile Hotspot the Hotspot shares data with the device. This data may be part of your mobile plan or WiFi. If you have WiFi with internet then the Hotspot will share WiFi data with the device till the WiFi data is turned off.

When multiple devices are using the mobile Hotspot from your phone, you need to pay attention to how much data does hotspot use from your data plan. If you use up all your data, your internet speed will decrease. Some data plans permit users to use more than their limit without slowing down their speed, but you may see an increase in your monthly bills.

Does an iPad Hotspot without cellular work?

No, the iPad Hotspot without cellular does not work. Hotspots don’t work without cell service as they need cellular service to create a Wi-Fi signal. So You will need a data plan from your provider to make your iPad Hotspot work.

Is tethering the same as a Hotspot?

Tethering is the term used for linking a computer or other device to a smartphone to connect to the internet. It is sometimes referred to as a mobile Hotspot, personal Hotspot, portable Hotspot, or WiFi Hotspot.

How to share mobile data without Hotspot?

Depending on the specific situation there are a few different ways how to share mobile data without Hotspot.

If you have a data-only plan you can share your mobile data with others using Tethering. Tethering shall use your phone as a modem and will connect other devices to it via WiFi or Bluetooth. You can also share your data connection using third-party apps like ShareMyInternet and EasyTether.

How to share internet from iPhone without Hotspot?

Bluetooth tethering has become an efficient method for sharing an iPhone’s internet connection. This technology enables devices to communicate wirelessly over short distances making it a convenient way to share the internet without needing a Hotspot. Follow these simple steps on how to share internet from iPhone without Hotspot via Bluetooth tethering:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone;
2. Select “Bluetooth.”;
3 Toggle the Bluetooth switch to turn it on;
4. Make sure your other device also has Bluetooth turned on and is paired with your iPhone;
5. On your iPhone, go back to the main Settings menu, and select “Personal Hotspot.”;
6. Toggle the Personal Hotspot switch to turn it on;
7. Under “To Connect Using Bluetooth,” you will see the name of your paired device;
8. Tap on the device name to connect;

Once connected, your other device will be able to access the internet through your iPhone’s Bluetooth connection.

Should I use the default password on my wireless network?

No, you should not use the default password on your wireless network. It is advisable to alter it and use a different one.

You might also like to read this related post: iPhone Hotspot Not Working – easy steps to fix it

Conclusion

On going through the post explaining how to use Mobile Hotspot without using data and the limitations of using an iPhone WiFi Hotspot without cellular data it would be evident that mobile Hotspot technology has changed the way we connect to the internet.

The WiFi Hotspot temporarily converts your smartphone into a router for you, to enjoy a wireless internet connection. All that you need is a cellular connection, and you will be good to go.

One of the most important things to remember about mobile Hotspot usage is that this feature may quickly drain your phone’s battery due to the continuous sharing of data with the devices you connect to it. Therefore, if you intend to use the Hotspot feature for a long time, you need to have your phone’s charger handy.