Connect without a router (phone hotspot)
No Wi-Fi? Your phone opens a private hotspot, your PC joins it, and the two connect directly. No mobile data is used.
On a train or anywhere without Wi-Fi, the phone can open a local-only hotspot. It doesn’t share mobile data, so the connection is free and stays between your two devices.
Steps
Start the hotspot on the phone
Tap Hotspot on the home screen (or No Wi-Fi? Use this phone’s hotspot when setting up), then Start hotspot. Allow Nearby devices (older Android: location) if asked.
Keep the screen open
The phone shows the Network name, the Password and a QR code. The hotspot stops when you leave this screen.
Join from the PC
On the PC open Settings › General › No Wi-Fi router?, enter the Network name (SSID) and Password and click Connect. You can also join the network from the Windows Wi-Fi list.
Pair or send
The devices find each other on the hotspot. Pair them if you haven’t yet, then send as usual.
Good to know
- The PC has no internet access while it is on this hotspot.
- Turn off the phone’s regular mobile hotspot or tethering first; Android can’t run both.
- Command line:
pdb hotspot <ssid> <password>. - Trouble connecting? See Fix hotspot connection problems.