Phone Setup Phone Link Instant Hotspot in Windows 11 and Windows 10

This tutorial will show you how to setup Instant Hotspot in Windows 10 and Windows 11 with the Phone Link app and your linked Android phone's mobile hotspot.

With the Phone Link app on your PC linked to your iPhone or Android phone, you can instantly access the Android apps installed on your mobile device right on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. Using a Wi-Fi connection, Apps allows you to browse, play, order, chat, and more — all while using your PC’s larger screen and keyboard.

You can connect to your linked phone’s mobile hotspot by adding it to your PC’s Wi-Fi menu. Instant Hotspot provides you with a convenient way of repeatedly connecting to your phone’s hotspot without having to provide a password every time.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support is required on the PC to use Instant Hotspot with your phone's mobile hotspot.

Reference:

Starting with Windows 11 builds 25370 (Canary) and build 23466 (Dev), and build 22631.1830 (Beta) Microsoft added WPA3 support to the Phone Link instant hotspot feature for more secure connections to a phone’s hotspot. Also made fixes to respect metered connection settings, reduce duplicate profiles, and show the phone’s display name in the network list.

Mobile data charges may apply when using your phone's hotspot if you do not have unlimited mobile data or if you go over your mobile data limit.

EXAMPLE: Linked Android phone mobile hotspot available on PC Wi-Fi menu as Instant Hotspot





Here's How:

1 On your Windows 10/11 PC, open the Phone Link app.

2 Click/tap on the Settings (gear) icon. (see screenshot below step 4)

3 Click/tap on Features in the middle Settings pane. (see screenshot below step 4)

4 Click/tap on the Setup Instant Hotspot button under "Instant Hotspot" in the right Features pane. (see screenshot below)


5 Click/tap on Enable to turn on Bluetooth for your PC if it's not already turned on. (see screenshot below)


6 Perform the following steps if Bluetooth is not already turned on for your linked Android phone: (see screenshots below)

1. Click/tap on Set up in the Phone Link app on the PC.
2. Tap on Allow on your phone.

7 Perform the following steps if your linked Android phone and PC are not already paired via Bluetooth: (see screenshots below)

1. Tap on Pair on your phone to allow.
2. Click/tap on Yes in the Phone Link app on the PC to confirm.
3. Click/tap on Continue in the Phone Link app on the PC when the devices are paired.

8 On your Windows 10/11 PC, click/tap on Send notification in the Phone Link app. (see screenshot below)


9 On your linked Android phone, tap on Allow for Instant Hotspot. (see screenshot below)


10 When Instant Hotspot has been all set, you can click/tap on Open Wi-Fi or Close. (see screenshot below)

Open Wi-Fi will show your available Wi-Fi networks on the PC with the phone's mobile hotspot listed as this Instant Hotspot.

Close will just close the Instant Hotspot setup dialog.

11 You will now be able to turn on or off Instant Hotspot in the Phone Link app on your PC and phone. (see screenshots below)



That's it,
Shawn Brink