Share Android data connection with iPhone

When you do not have Wi-Fi network for Wi-Fi only iPad, your iPhone is out of service or runs out of its data plan, do you know that you can share the cellular data from an Android phone? Sharing data connection between Android devices and/or iPhone can be done through a process known as “tethering.” By doing so, your iOS device can use the Android phone’s cellular data to connect to internet. It’s actually perfectly possible to share an internet connection with your iPad or iPhone from Android phones. This feature is called “Portable Hotspot”, “Mobile hotspot” or “Wi-fi hotspot”. Keep in mind that your mobile data plan must support tethering, and some carriers may charge extra for this service. And be cautious about your data usage, as tethering can consume data quickly. Here are the steps for sharing Android data connection or internet connection with iPhone and iPad.

Wi-Fi hotspot on Android Mobile phones

Part 1. How to Share Android data connection with iPhone?

In this article, we will use a Xiaomi Redmin phone to show how you can share Android phone’s internet connection and cellular data with an iPhone or iPad. This feature however can be found on almost all Android powered smartphones, such as Samsung, Nexus, LG, HTC, Lenovo, Motorola, ZTE, Huawei, Xiaomi and many others. The steps and terminology may vary slightly depending on your Android device’s manufacturer and operating system version.

Step 1. Enable Mobile Data on Android phone

On Xiaomi Android phone, you can pull up the top menu, then tap on Mobile Data to turn on your cellular data on the phone. You can also go to Xiaomi Settings >> Network >> SIM cards & mobile networks >> Data enabled to slide on the toggle and all data usage.

Step 2. Enable Wi-Fi Hotspot on Android phone

In earlier posts, we have discussed how to use this feature on Samsung Android phones. Check out this tutorial to use Samsung mobile phone as Wi-Fi hotspot.

On Xiaomi Redmi phone, you can go to Settings >> Network >> More >> Tethering & Portable Hotspot. Touch the Portable hotspot here to enable it on your mobile phone.

activate portable hotspot on xiaomi redmi phones


Right below the Portable Hotspot, you can find an option called Set up portable hotspot option, see above screen. Tap on it, you will open the wi-fi hotspot properties screen as shown below.

setup portable hotspot on xiaomi redmi mobile phones

Here are the step to set up Portable Hotspot on Xiaomi:

  • SSID: give your Wi-Fi hotspot or portable hotspot a name, such as Xiaomi, Redmi, Xiaomi phone, etc.
  • Security: it should be WPA2 PSK by default without extra options. Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) is a security protocols and security certification program
  • Password: it is the password of your Android Wi-Fi hotspot or portable hotspot.

You can also find more specific instructions to set up portable Wi-Fi Hotspot on Xiaomi Redmi phones.

Step 3. Connect iPhone to Android Wi-Fi Hotspot

Tap to run iPhone Settings, turn on Wi-Fi, your iPhone will then scan for available Wi-fi networks nearby. Find and select the Android Wi-Fi hotspot name or portable hotspot from the list, then input the Android Wi-Fi hotspot password to connect iPhone to Android Wi-Fi hotspot. It is the same as you connect iPhone to any other Wi-Fi networks. Now your iPhone or iPad can get connected to internet via the Android phone’s data connection or cellular data.

Part 2. Enable Wi-Fi Hotspot on more Android phones

As we mentioned above, the tethering feature should be found almost on all Android mobile phones. We have showed you how to activate this feature on Xiaomi phone above. Following are the general steps to enable Wi-Fi hotspot tethering on more other Android smart phones.

Enable Wi-Fi hotspot tethering on a Huawei phone

First of all, go to turn on mobile data or cellular data on your Huawei mobile. Then open the Settings app on your Huawei phone. Tap on Wireless & networks, find and open the Tethering & portable hotspot menu. You should see an option for “Portable Wi-Fi hotspot”. Tap on it to access the hotspot settings. If it is the first time you use the personal hotspot feature, you may be prompted to configure your hotspot settings, including the network name (SSID) and password for your Wi-Fi hotspot. After that, toggle the switch to turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot on your Huawei phone.

Enable Wi-Fi hotspot tethering on Samsung phone

Turn on mobile data or cellular data on your Samsung mobile. Open the Settings app, tap Connections, and then tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering. Tap the switch next to Mobile Hotspot to turn it on. If it is the first time you use it, tap Mobile Hotspot, and then tap Configure.

  • Network name: View and change the name of your Wi-Fi hotspot.
  • Password: View and change the password for your hotspot network.
  • Band: Set the radio band for the hotspot. 2.4 Ghz or 5 Ghz.
  • Security: Select the hotspot’s security level.

You can also tap Advanced to edit additional settings.

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