Mobile Hotspot FAQs

Mobile Hotspot lets you share your Verizon Wireless network connection with other devices, so they can access the internet. Devices can connect to your Mobile Hotspot using Wi-Fi. While devices are connected, you'll be 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 Settings or the App menu. The feature may have a different name on your device, like Personal Hotspot (iOS), Internet Sharing (Windows®) or Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot (Google™ Nexus devices), but they do the same thing.

We also carry Jetpack devices that are strictly mobile hotspots. Visit our Mobile Hotspot shopping page to see which ones are available today or go to our Verizon Jetpack FAQs to learn more.

You're charged data usage according to your monthly data allowance whenever a device is connected to your Mobile Hotspot.

These plans let you use 4G LTE / 5G Nationwide¹ Mobile Hotspot on capable devices for no additional monthly charge:

• Get More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited
• Shared Data Plan – 5GB
• Shared Data Plan – 10GB
• Above Unlimited², Beyond Unlimited², Go Unlimited²
• The Verizon Plan shared data plans (e.g. S, M, L)²
• The Verizon Plan²
• The MORE Everything® Plan²
• Certain prepaid plans

You can thank someone for sharing their Mobile Hotspot with you by giving them more data. Refer to our Data Gifting FAQs to learn about giving data as a gift.

¹5G Nationwide available in 2,700+ cities. 5G Nationwide access requires a 5G Nationwide-capable device, which automatically connects when you’re in a 5G coverage area. View a list of eligible devices.
²This plan is no longer available to add to your account.

Go to one of these plan pages to learn about Mobile Hotspot and your plan:

• Play More Unlimited
• Do More Unlimited
• Get More Unlimited
• Go Unlimited FAQs¹
• Beyond Unlimited FAQs¹
• Above Unlimited FAQs¹
• Prepaid FAQs

¹This plan is no longer available to add to your account.
²Includes plan data allowance of high-speed data, then speeds up to 600 Kbps the remainder of the month. Your data experience and functionality of some data apps, such as streaming video or audio, may be impacted.

No, Mobile Hotspot comes preinstalled on compatible devices. Depending on your device, it may be in your App menu or Settings. It may also be named something different than Mobile Hotspot, like Personal Hotspot (iOS), Internet Sharing (Windows) or Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot (Google Nexus devices). But these all do the same thing.

For instructions specific to your device, go to your Device Support page.

Mobile Hotspot is included in many plans, so you don't need to add it to your account.
 
If you have the $65 Prepaid Unlimited plan, you can add the Mobile Hotspot feature for $5/month.*

*Mobile Hotspot access includes 10 GB of 5G Nationwide / 4G LTE data, then speeds up to 600 Kbps the remainder of the month. Your data experience and functionality of some data applications such as streaming video or audio may be impacted.

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

To get Mobile Hotspot access to the 5G Ultra Wideband network, you need:

• A 5G Ultra Wideband-capable phone
• To be in a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area
• A plan with 5G Ultra Wideband¹
  • Start Unlimited, Go Unlimited: Add to your plan for $10/month
  • Play More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited, Get More Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, Above Unlimited: Included in your plan²
  • $75 Prepaid Unlimited Plus²

¹Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband: 5G Ultra Wideband-capable device w/in the 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area req'd. Downloads over 5G Ultra Wideband. Depending on location, uploads over 5G Ultra Wideband or 4G LTE. Uploads over 4G LTE will not count towards your 4G LTE data allowance. For plans with 5G access, a $10/mo charge and credit will appear on your bill.
²5G Ultra Wideband available only in parts of select cities. 5G Ultra Wideband access requires a 5G-capable device inside the 5G Ultra Wideband Coverage Area. Downloads over 5G Ultra Wideband. Depending on location, uploads over 5G Ultra Wideband or 4G LTE. When in 5G Nationwide or 4G LTE coverage, Mobile Hotspot access includes 10 GB of 5G Nationwide / 4G LTE data, then speeds up to 600 Kbps the remainder of the month. Your data experience and functionality of some data applications such as streaming video or audio may be impacted.

This varies by device. Some allow up to 10 devices 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*, 5G Nationwide** or 3G service. Visit our coverage map for network coverage information.

*5G Ultra Wideband available only in parts of select cities. 5G Ultra Wideband access requires a 5G-capable device inside the 5G Ultra Wideband Coverage Area. Downloads over 5G Ultra Wideband. Depending on location, uploads over 5G Ultra Wideband or 4G LTE.

**5G Nationwide available in 2,700+ cities. 5G Nationwide access requires a 5G Nationwide-capable device, which automatically connects when you’re in a 5G coverage area. View a list of eligible devices.

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

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

*5G Ultra Wideband available only in parts of select cities. 5G Ultra Wideband access requires a 5G-capable device inside the 5G Ultra Wideband Coverage Area. Downloads over 5G Ultra Wideband. Depending on location, uploads over 5G Ultra Wideband or 4G LTE.

**5G Nationwide available in 2,700+ cities. 5G Nationwide access requires a 5G Nationwide-capable device, which automatically connects when you’re in a 5G coverage area. Most devices manufactured in 2020 require the customer to download a software update that adds the 5G Nationwide capability. The software updates will begin to roll out to capable devices in the weeks and months following the 5G Nationwide announcement on 10/13/20. View a list of eligible devices.

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

For instructions, visit the Mobile Hotspot section of the Device Support page for your device.

iOS: Refer to the Share your Internet connection with Personal Hotspot article on Apple's website.

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

You connect to Mobile Hotspot 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 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:

1. Go to the Troubleshooting Assistant.
2. Select your device.
3. Sign in with your My Verizon credentials or click Get Started.
   
4. Hover over Data Internet and Connectivity.
5. Select the issue you need help with.
   
6. Follow the steps presented to resolve your Mobile Hotspot issue.