Microsoft will soon let you turn on your Mobile Hotspot directly through your Windows 11 PC. A new Windows Insider Preview Build is rolling out with support for instant mobile hotspot for Android which will let you access your smartphone hotspot settings right from the Wi-Fi device(s) list in Windows 11.
Instant Mobile Hotspot in Windows 11 – How To Use, System Requirements, and Limitations
Microsoft is rolling out the Instant Hotspot feature in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25231 to its Dev Channel. Once both your PC and Smartphone match all the basic requirements, your smartphone’s Mobile Hotspot trigger will automatically show up in your available Wi-Fi networks list.
From there you can simply click on “Connect” to activate your smartphone’s wireless network and instantly connect to it. This eliminates the need to pick up your smartphone and locate the setting manually, every time you need to connect.
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However, as I’ve mentioned earlier, both your PC and Smartphone need to comply with a few requirements and this is where things get a little tricky. First of all, this feature is only accessible through select Samsung smartphones, at least for now. Also, you can access this feature only if you’re running on the Windows 11 22H2 update.
Here’s a list of all the minimum System Requirements,
- Windows 11 22H2 Build 22621 and higher
- Phone Link desktop app, version v1.22082.111.0 or newer
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity on your PC
- A Samsung smartphone with One UI 4.1.1 or higher
- Sim card (in your phone) with a Hotspot supported plan
- The Link To Windows smartphone app (comes pre-installed on Samsung devices) version v1.22082.142.0 or newer
It is not clear if Microsoft will also release it to other Android devices later on, but because of their exclusive partnership with Samsung, it may take a while. For example, the ability to access your smartphone apps using the Phone Link app in Windows still remains exclusive to Samsung smartphones.
Source: Microsoft
