The connection to the Internet is not different from the basic needs of human beings in such an era. Even though we meet our digital needs at home, there is always a possibility of being disconnected. But not any more because Mobile Hotspot comes into being which turns the phone into a portable router to share mobile data with other phones, tablets and computers to edit a picture or play an online game. It is even a solution for old products that have difficulties joining the connected side. Additionally, it let Samsung members arrange the safety and stability of it.
In this post, we explore the world of Mobile Hotspot, including its meaning, features, and settings. Join us as we explore the delights of this ground-breaking technology and learn how to always have access to the Internet wherever you go.
In this post
- What Is Mobile Hotspot and How to Enable It
- Connection Options to Mobile Hotspot
- Basic Configuration for Mobile Hotspot
- Advanced Settings for Mobile Hotspot
- Control Your Data Usage: Set Mobile Data Limits
- Standard or Unique Identity: MAC Address Type
- Turn Off When No Device Connected For
- Hidden Network
- Protected Management Frames
- Power Saving Mode
- Wi-Fi Sharing
- Conclusion
What Is Mobile Hotspot and How to Enable It?
The meaning of hotspot in the dictionary is a public area where it is possible to use electronic devices with Wi-Fi. Mobile Hotspot on Samsung phones is something similar but different. It basically means turning the mobile device into a Wi-Fi router. Unlike a static router whose only function is to share the data with technological devices without a need for a wired connection, a mobile hotspot can either use a real Wi-Fi access point or mobile data to make an Internet connection available up to 10 devices.
Here is how to enable or disable it:
- Go to "Settings".
- Tap "Connections".
- Tap "Mobile Hotspot and Tethering".
- Toggle on or off the button next to "Mobile Hotspot".
- Tap on the relevant title to give a look at the details.
- Go to "Quick Settings Panel".
- Tap "Mobile Hotspot" to enable it and tap and hold to see more details about it.
Connection Options to Mobile Hotspot
Once it is enabled, the network name will appear in the "Available Networks". Like any other secured Wi-Fi network, a password is required to be entered in order to access the network. Here is how to find the password:
- Go to "Settings".
- Tap "Connections", "Mobile Hotspot and Tethering" and "Mobile Hotspot" respectively.
- On the current page password and other related information can be seen easily. For further information about how to change its name and password, look here.
Rather than the password, a unique QR code for your mobile hotspot might be used. As it should be, by the time the QR code is scanned, another device directly connects to the network without needing to enter the password.
How to Create a QR Code for Mobile Hotspot
- On the "Mobiel Hotspot" menu, tap "QR Code" from the bottom of the current screen.
- It can immediately be seen on the screen.
- "Save as Image" saves it to the Gallery to be used in the time to come.
- The same image can be reached from My Files > Internal Storage > Pictures.
- "Share", as the name suggests, lets Samsung users share it with Quick Share, Samsung Flow, Nearby Share or any system or third-party apps.
The short end of the stick is that the data is not encrypted that is to say it is not encoded using an encryption system to secure the password it accommodates within. In this way, anyone who somehow managed to find the code can connect to the Internet.
Auto Hotspot
At the very bottom of the same screen, there is a useful feature which is called "Auto Hotspot". It is not a connection on its own instead it might be classified as enabling choice which directly shares the Wi-Fi or mobile data connection of the phone with the other Samsung devices that are signed into the same Samsung Account as the sharing device. Furthermore, it is also true for Samsung devices that are part of the Samsung Account family group.
As it should be, it appears in the Wi-Fi menu but not in "Available Networks" instead in a different category named "Auto Hotspot". However, what we just said to you is only available for Samsung devices, it will appear under "Available Networks" in any other kind of device like iPhones, iPads, Windows PCs, or other Androids.
Unless it is connected before, the Wi-Fi name becomes the Samsung device's default name or any name declared by the user and it is possible to see the name and surname of the person who shares the access point.
Once it is connected, the user-declared network name is shown under the "Current Networks".
As long as "Auto Hotspot" is turned on, other devices that are signed into the same Samsung Account can see the connection and link up even if "Mobile Hotspot" is turned off.
Any other devices are not that lucky because the password is needed to connect.
How to Enable "Disconnect When Not in Use"
- Go to "Settings" and tap "Connections".
- Tap "Wi-Fi".
- Tap three-vertical-dots ︙ and select "Intelligent Wi-Fi".
- Tap "Auto Hotspot Connection".
- Toggle on "Disconnect When Not in Use".
Basic Configuration for Mobile Hotspot
On the detailed page that appears when "Mobile Hotspot" is tapped, the default name of the access point is under the Network Name, the combination of secret words or characters that are used to get access to the network is under the Password and the strength of the radio frequencies to transmit data over a cellular network is under Band.
Even if they are the default ones, they are not unchangeable, or unconfigurable in terms of Samsung's thesaurus.
In order to change the credentials, do the followings:
- When the Mobile Hotspot menu is opened, tap "Configure".
- From this menu, tap any one of the headings to make changes to the software information and do not forget to tap "Save" after each change.
Here are the titles that can be seen on basic configuration options:
Network Name
The Network Name is the hotspot's name and it appears with that particular name in the "Available Networks".
Numbers and special characters can be added to the name, but the number of characters cannot pass beyond 32 characters.
Password
It goes without saying, do not forget to create a password of at least 8 characters that consist of letters, numbers and special characters to make it as strong as possible.
Emojis or other related special characters cannot be useable. There is no need for them though because it is always a good idea to choose characters which can be easily found in every kind of device.
One last thing with the password is that the maximum number of characters is 61. Once 61 characters are passed, there will be a warning message on the screen that says "Maximum number of characters reached".
Band
The band is a technical side of the Wi-Fi access points. 5 GHz provides better performance when it is compared with 2.4 GHz, however, there are some shortcomings of it.
5 GHz is relatively new, provides a higher data transfer rate and is less blocked but its coverage area is not as far as 2.4 GHz, so works better in shorter distances. Since it is new, only the devices produced after its realisation support this technology which paves the way for other old and relatively old devices not to find or connect to the hotspot. That's why the decision of using which one is user-specific.
Security
The security provides two options which are secure and insecure in an informal way and "Open" and "WPA2 PSK" in a formal way. It should not be that hard which one is the safe and the unsafe, right?
While Open Security is a Wi-Fi network which is like an unlocked door that allows every single person to open the door and connect to the Wi-Fi party, WPA2 PSK (WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access and PSK for Pre-Shred Key) is like a locked door that needs a key (password) to open the door and connect to the Wi-Fi party.
Advanced Settings for Mobile Hotspot
All of the settings above that ranging from the password to the security standards are the basic ones which are required to work the system as expected. Besides these, there are advanced settings to be set for the mobile hotspot as well.
All the settings that will mention right below can be found in the "Configure" menu under "Advanced":
- Open "Settings".
- Tap "Connections", "Mobile Hotspot and Tethering" and "Mobile Hotspot" respectively.
- Tap "Configure".
- Finally, tap "Advanced".
Control Your Data Usage: Set Mobile Data Limits
Let's assume that you have a limited amount of data plan that is not enough to share with friends or loved ones and there is a certain threat of high additional charge. Under these circumstances, you may set a data limit for the mobile data.
It should be better for Samsung to introduce the same feature for Wi-Fi as well because there are still limited Wi-Fi plans in particular countries. That is to say, with this feature, only the used mobile data is tracked not Wi-Fi.
Starting from 1 MB, data can be limited until 9999999999 MB. Moreover, all the amount of data should be in MB (megabyte). For the ones who are not familiar with the terms, 1000 MB is equal to 1 GB (gigabyte) in decimal, 2000 MB to 2 GB and it goes on and on and on.
As and when the set data is reached, Mobile Hotspot on the mobile device is turned off automatically by the system itself and as a matter of course all the connected devices will lose the connection.
Provided that it is enabled again, daily used data will be reset to zero which is to say that it will start at 0 KB (kilobyte) like it is not set before and continue to share the connection until the data limit is reached.
Standard or Unique Identity: MAC Address Type
This one is also a technical part of the hotspot which is why we will make an effort to define it as simply as possible.
As you are a normal person with a normal name like "Jack, Angelina and etc.", each Samsung or other kind of device connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot has its unique name which is generally hard to pronounce like "00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e" or "00-1a-2b-3c-4d-5e" which corresponds to "Phone MAC" and it never changes.
On the other hand "Randomized MAC" is like a secret agent who has nicknames according to the duty. In the digital world, the name changes from "00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e" to "00:1b:2c:3d:5e:6f" and that process is repeated every single time your device tries to connect to the Internet connection.
Since the Randomized Mac Address does not bring the mobile device into the open, it had better leave the settings as it is.
Turn Off When No Device Connected For
It is an indisputable truth that the Mobile Hotspot drains the battery because phones are not normal routers whose only task to do is to ensure the connection between the service provider and the customer, instead, there are hundreds of apps working in the background and the foreground. When we are busy, we cannot even remember whether it is left open or not.
In such circumstances, enabling "Turn Off When No Device Connected For" is a must. There are several options but they can be categorized under two categories which are "no timeout" and "desired time".
The former category consists of just one option that directly sets no timeout and keeps the hotspot open even if there is no connected device.
The latter category consists of 5 different options which are 5/10/20/30/60 minutes, so according to your needs the desired time can be set with ease.
Hidden Network
This particular option hides the network itself, so it cannot be seen in the Available Networks. Well, you may ask what is the point of enabling the hotspot given the fact that I cannot reach it to connect in a safe method. It is all about security to protect the connection from attackers and privacy to share mobile data or Wi-Fi without being noticed by freeloaders.
What about how to connect to a hidden network? You may either enable "Auto Hotspot" to the Wi-Fi before hiding it or enter the SSID (Service Set Identifier) manually which is to say entering "Network Name" and "Password" from the "+ Add Network" part of the Wi-Fi.
How to Enter Wi-Fi Credentials Manually
- Open "Settings" and tap "Connections" and "Wi-Fi" respectively.
- Alternatively, Quick Settings Panel > tap and hold the Wi-Fi icon.
- Tap "+ Add Network".
- Enter the name of the Wi-Fi to "Network Name" and the password to the "Password" and select the security type they are generally either "Open" or "WPA/WPA2-Personal" for Samsung Mobile Hotspot.
- Tap "Save".
- As long as the hotspot is enabled on the other device, it will immediately connect.
Protected Management Frames
It is another know-how which technically protects the network from particular attacks and enhances the security to block security violations.
The seamier side is that it prevents some older devices from connecting because it expects both the access point and the connected devices to support the technology.
Power Saving Mode
When it is enabled, the traffic of the hotspot is examined in detail to find the best methods to save the battery of the device. According to the analysis, it might lower the brightness of the screen, limit the usage of the CPU and the apps in the background, disable the vibration and so forth which results in reduce in battery usage.
It is worth noting that it might affect the performance of particular features like online gaming and video streaming.
In light of this information, we suppose to put it to test whether there is an observable difference between on and off versions.
Power Saving Mode Is Put to Test
To make things difficult, we played an online mobile game for 10 minutes during each test.
Power Saving Mode Off: The battery percentage started at 84% and ended at 80%. Since the feature is disabled, there was no lag or any other kind of drop in the performance.
Power Saving Mode On: This time around, starting percentage for the battery was 80% and ended at 78%. Even though it is stated otherwise, there was not much difference in the gaming performance except for a limited amount of lags.
There is a certain save in the battery which is equal to 50% in the mathematical sense. It might seem not a much difference but we are sure it can be in the long run such as 12% battery saving in 60 minutes.
It bears stating that the test is realised with a relatively advanced Samsung phone (Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite) and through Wi-Fi sharing. The result may vary on your particular product based on whether the Wi-Fi or Mobile Data is used or the Samsung device is high budget or medium budget.
Wi-Fi Sharing
Although the reason for being the Mobile Hotspot might be sharing the mobile data with any other device on a trip or anywhere else where there is no Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi connection of the Samsung phone in addition to the mobile data can be shared with other devices as well in situations such as no strong coverage area of the router. Consequently, "Wi-Fi Sharing" answers this purpose.
In simple words, it connects to a Wi-Fi router and shares the connection with other devices which cannot establish a connection with the real router. It might be enabled or not but it is automatically kept open if the "Auto Hotspot" is turned on.
Conclusion
Whenever and wherever it is needed, Mobile Hotspot allows the users to share out both Wi-Fi and mobile data connection with others. Not only that, but it is also possible to make changes to visible information like network name and password and to invisible information like adding additional security measures and turning it off when it is not in use.
Please leave a comment below if you need assistance with Mobile Hotspot on Samsung Galaxy phones or tablets. We might be able to respond to your questions if we have the necessary expertise. If not, we can point you toward particular articles from the community that you can use to research the problem you're attempting to address. We are here to help you, so don't worry.
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