To connect mobile hotspot to TV, enable the hotspot feature on your phone, then select that network from your TV's Wi-Fi settings. This lets you stream content on your television using your phone's cellular data when home internet is unavailable.
Before You Connect Your Mobile Hotspot to a TV
Before starting, confirm three things. First, your TV must have built-in Wi-Fi, most smart TVs do, but older models may not. Second, your mobile plan must include hotspot data; check with your carrier if you are unsure. Third, your phone needs good cellular reception and should be positioned no more than 50 feet from the TV for a stable signal. If a wired connection is more reliable in your setup, try connecting mobile hotspot to PC with USB instead. If you own a Roku TV, the steps differ slightly when connecting Roku TV to hotspot.
How to Set Up a Mobile Hotspot on Your Phone
Android
- Open Settings.
- Navigate to Network & internet (or Connections on some phones).
- Select Hotspot & tethering (or Mobile Hotspot and Tethering).
- Toggle on Wi-Fi hotspot (or Mobile Hotspot).
- Customize the network name (SSID) and password within these settings.
iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Cellular (or Personal Hotspot).
- Tap Personal Hotspot.
- Toggle Allow Others to Join to On.
- The hotspot name is your device name; set a Wi-Fi password of at least eight characters.
For iPhone 12 and newer models, enabling Maximize Compatibility in Personal Hotspot settings switches the network to 2.4GHz, which may improve compatibility with older TVs.
Connecting Your Smart TV to the Hotspot
General method for most smart TVs
- Using the remote, go to Settings.
- Select Network or Network Settings.
- Choose Wireless or Wi-Fi Connection.
- Select your mobile hotspot's network name (SSID) from the list.
- Enter the hotspot password and confirm the connection.
Samsung Smart TVs
- Press the remote's Home button.
- Go to Settings > General > Network > Open Network Settings.
- Select Wireless.
- Choose your hotspot from the list and enter the password.
Roku devices
- Press Home on the remote.
- Navigate to Settings > Network > Set up connection.
- Choose Wireless.
- Select your hotspot from the available networks and enter the password.
USB tethering as an alternative
If your TV supports it, you can connect your phone directly via a USB cable. Enable USB tethering in your phone's hotspot settings, then connect the cable to the TV. The TV should detect the connection automatically.
Troubleshooting Common Hotspot and TV Connection Issues
iPhone connection problems with older TVs
If your TV cannot see or connect to an iPhone hotspot, turn on Maximize Compatibility in Personal Hotspot settings. This forces the hotspot to use 2.4GHz, which is supported by older TVs. Some older smart TVs, including certain 2018 Samsung models, only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks.
Google TV or Chromecast setup requires two devices
Setting up Google streaming devices (like Chromecast or Google TV) on a hotspot may require two separate mobile devices to bypass network isolation protocols. Use one device as the hotspot and a second device running the Google Home app to complete the setup.
Streaming sticks losing connection
Powering Google streaming devices via a TV's USB port can cause voltage drops and interrupt network connections. Always use the factory power adapter plugged directly into a wall outlet.
TV cannot find the hotspot
Ensure your phone has good cellular reception and is within 50 feet of the TV. If the network still does not appear, check that the hotspot is actively broadcasting and that your phone's data connection is working. For older TVs that only support 2.4GHz, verify that your hotspot is not set to 5GHz-only, using Maximize Compatibility on iPhone or adjusting the band setting on Android can help.
Understanding how to use a phone hotspot with any device comes down to matching frequency bands and keeping the phone close to the TV. With these steps, you can reliably stream on your TV even without home Wi-Fi.
For the wider topic, see using a phone hotspot.
