Share Mobile Hotspot With a QR Code

Updated: 2026-11-03 · 7 min read

You're on a train, a friend's laptop needs internet, and your hotspot password is a random string Android made up two years ago. Instead of reading it out letter by letter, let them scan it.

How a hotspot QR code works

Your mobile hotspot is just a small WiFi network created by your phone. A hotspot QR code uses exactly the same format as a home WiFi code: network name, security type and password. When another phone scans it, it joins your hotspot as if it were any other WiFi network. If you're curious about the text inside, see WiFi QR Code Format Explained.

Android: Pixel and stock Android

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering.
2. Tap Wi-Fi hotspot and turn it on.
3. Tap Share or the QR code icon next to the hotspot name (depending on version, you may need to tap Hotspot password first).
4. Verify with your screen lock if asked.
5. Let the other person scan the code with their camera.

You can also long-press the Hotspot tile in Quick Settings to jump straight to these settings.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.
2. Tap Mobile Hotspot (the words, not just the switch) and turn it on.
3. Tap QR code at the bottom of the screen.
4. The other device scans it.

Samsung's hotspot screen also shows connected devices, which is handy for checking who is on.

Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo and others

The path is usually Settings > Portable hotspot or Settings > Connection & sharing > Personal hotspot, then a Share or QR code option. If your phone doesn't show one, use a generator app with the hotspot name and password from that screen.

iPhone Personal Hotspot

Apple doesn't put a QR code on the Personal Hotspot screen. You have three options:

• Other Apple devices: iPhones, iPads and Macs signed in to the same Apple Account (or in Family Sharing) can join your hotspot from their WiFi menu without a password.
• Type the password: go to Settings > Personal Hotspot, turn on Allow Others to Join, and read the Wi-Fi Password. The hotspot name is your iPhone's name (Settings > General > About > Name).
• Make your own QR code: enter that name and password in a WiFi QR generator, choose WPA, and save the image in Photos to show whenever needed. If you change the iPhone name or hotspot password, make a new one.

Note: iPhone hotspot names often include an apostrophe, like "Asha's iPhone". Apostrophes are fine in QR codes, but make sure the generator keeps the exact characters; curly apostrophes (’) and straight ones (') are different characters, and a code with the wrong one will look right but fail to join.

Use an app for faster hotspot sharing

If you share often, Wifi QR Connect on Android includes hotspot sharing with a QR code alongside its WiFi QR scanner and creator. It also has a download and upload speed test, useful for checking whether your mobile data is fast enough before a friend starts a video call, and shows current WiFi connection info. Scan history is stored locally on your device.

Set a safe hotspot password

Default hotspot passwords are random, which is good. If you set your own:

• Use WPA2 or WPA3 (Android shows options such as "WPA2-Personal", "WPA3-Personal" or "WPA2/WPA3"). Choose WPA2/WPA3 mixed for widest compatibility; see WPA2 vs WPA3: What to Pick in Your QR Code.
• Make it at least 12 characters. The QR code removes the typing pain, so longer is fine.
• Never leave the hotspot open (no password). Strangers nearby could use your data.
• Change the password if you shared it with someone you no longer want connected.

On iPhone, recent iOS versions also offer a Maximize Compatibility toggle on the Personal Hotspot screen. Turn it on if an older laptop or device can't see your hotspot; it switches to the 2.4 GHz band, which may be slower.

Saving mobile data while sharing

Hotspot users can burn through your data plan fast, because laptops treat any WiFi like unlimited home internet.

• Android: in hotspot settings, look for data limit or "Turn off hotspot automatically" options. Samsung offers "Set data limit" in the Mobile Hotspot menu.
• On the connected laptop: Windows lets you mark a network as metered (Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > your network > Metered connection), which pauses many background updates. macOS also recognises iPhone hotspots and reduces some background activity.
• Pause big downloads: cloud sync, game updates and OS updates are the usual data hogs.
• Check speed first: a quick speed test tells you whether streaming or video calls are realistic on your current signal.

Hotspot battery and heat

Running a hotspot drains battery quickly and can warm your phone. Keep it plugged in when possible, out of direct sun, and turn the hotspot off as soon as you're done. Android's "Turn off hotspot automatically" setting shuts it down when nobody is connected.

Troubleshooting

1. Scanner joins but there is no internet: check that mobile data is on and you have signal. Some plans block or limit tethering; check with your carrier.
2. Device can't find the hotspot: move closer, switch the hotspot band to 2.4 GHz, or turn on Maximize Compatibility on iPhone.
3. "Incorrect password" after scanning: you may have changed the hotspot password after making the code. Make a fresh code.
4. Laptop can't scan: laptops without cameras need the password typed in. Show the password text or send it privately.
5. Code from a screenshot doesn't work: on Android, open it with Google Lens; on iPhone, open it in Photos and use the code detection button, or display it on a second screen.

More general fixes are in WiFi QR Code Not Working? 9 Fixes That Work.

Security when sharing a hotspot

Anyone connected to your hotspot shares your mobile internet connection, and anything they do appears to come from your phone number's connection. Share it only with people you trust, avoid leaving it on in crowded places, and remove the QR image from your gallery if you made one. For more, read Is It Safe to Share WiFi With a QR Code?.

Hotspot vs sharing a home WiFi code

A hotspot code and a home WiFi code look identical to the person scanning, but they behave differently for you. Your home code can live on a printed card because the router is always on. A hotspot only exists while you switch it on, uses your mobile data, and moves with you, so it is better shared on screen for a few seconds than printed. If you regularly host guests at home, a printed code for a guest network is more practical; see How to Make a WiFi QR Code for Guests.

FAQ

Can I share my iPhone hotspot with a QR code?

Not from the Personal Hotspot screen itself. Create a WiFi QR code using your iPhone's name as the network name and the hotspot password, then show it from your Photos.

Where is the hotspot QR code on Samsung?

Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, tap Mobile Hotspot and tap the QR code button at the bottom.

Does a hotspot QR code change every time?

No. It stays the same until you change the hotspot name, password or security type. After any change, generate a new code.

Can I limit how much data hotspot users take?

Many Android phones let you set a hotspot data limit. On the connected laptop you can also mark the network as metered to reduce background downloads.

Is it safe to leave my hotspot on?

It's best to turn it off when not in use. That saves battery and data and reduces the chance of unknown devices trying to connect.