How to turn your old Android phone into a Wi-Fi extender - and fix dead spots at home

Next, alteration Android's Wi-Fi hotspot feature. This creates a caller Wi-Fi web that different devices tin link to, but the telephone fundamentally rebroadcasts your existing transportation and serves arsenic a basal Wi-Fi extender.

• On astir Android phones, spell to Settings > Network and net > Hotspot and tethering, past alteration Wi-Fi hotspot.
• On Samsung devices, spell to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, past alteration Mobile Hotspot.

Also: How I usage Samsung's concealed Wi-Fi paper to earnestly amended my connectivity

In the aforesaid Wi-Fi hotspot menu, you tin set a fewer different options.

For example, you tin alteration a mounting that turns disconnected the hotspot automatically erstwhile nary devices are connected. You tin besides take a frequency, specified arsenic 2.4, 5, oregon adjacent 6 GHz, which affects compatibility and transportation speed. Some phones besides fto you alteration instant connections for devices signed successful to your Google account.

These tweaks tin marque a quality if you program to usage this setup agelong term.

Also: What is Wi-Fi 8? And wherefore velocity isn't your superior interest with the latest standard

If you're utilizing an aged phone, it apt doesn't person a SIM oregon an progressive cellular connection. But if it does, marque definite it doesn't power implicit to cellular data. You privation the telephone to stock your location Wi-Fi transportation with different devices, not usage mobile data, which could devour into your program and tally up a bill.

Go to Settings > Network and net > SIMs and crook disconnected mobile data. You tin besides region the SIM paper wholly if the telephone inactive has 1 installed.

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You don't privation to spot your telephone straight successful the Wi-Fi dormant zone.

Instead, presumption it determination betwixt your router and the country wherever the awesome drops off. It should beryllium adjacent capable to the router to support a beardown connection, but acold capable to widen sum into the anemic spot.

I had to determination excavation astir a spot earlier uncovering the saccharine spot. I besides urge keeping the telephone plugged into a charger truthful it stays powered connected continuously and doesn't unopen disconnected portion extending your Wi-Fi. Once the Android telephone is successful spot and charging, you tin link different instrumentality to the Wi-Fi hotspot web you've acceptable up.

You tin besides trial your transportation speeds, such arsenic with Ookla (owned by ZDNET's genitor company, Ziff Davis).

Also: Need to stock your Wi-Fi password? My elemental telephone instrumentality gives you an instant connection

Will this amended my location Wi-Fi speed?

No. It extends your location Wi-Fi coverage, not speed. Your transportation whitethorn adjacent beryllium somewhat slower than your main network, but it's inactive precise usable for browsing, streaming, and basal work.

Also: Slow Wi-Fi? I recovered 10 proven ways to hole your net this play (most are free)

Can immoderate Android telephone bash this?

Most modern Android phones enactment Wi-Fi hotspot features.

Will this drain my Android phone's battery?

Yes, quickly. Keep the telephone plugged successful if you program to usage it arsenic a imperishable Wi-Fi extender.

Should I conscionable bargain an extender?

If you already person an aged telephone and conscionable request basal sum successful 1 occupation area, no. If you request reliable, high-speed show crossed your home, a dedicated Wi-Fi extender oregon mesh strategy is better.