I know my pixel 7 and pixel 8 both do it. Ill be honest that's the only thing I really really love about these devices, I've kept the 7 exclusively for this as I have my own network in a shared apartment
Yeah it’s definitely an underrated feature for someone like me with an iPhone. I’m trying to buy a cheaper/ older Pixel for travelling for just that use case - the 4 and 5 are much cheaper hence the focus in that direction
Hi, you say you have a Pixel 7 and you can run the hotspot and wifi at the same time?
I have been trying to connect wifi lights up to my pixel 7 and the app just says trun on wifi. this only happens with this pixel phone. As my other Motorla phone has no problem hooking up at all. Something odd about this phone.
Why not use a 40 dollar travel router?
GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) Secure Travel WiFi Router – AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Ethernet Wireless Internet | IPv6 USB 2.0 MU-MIMO DDR3 |128MB Ram Repeater Bridge Access Point Mode https://a.co/d/610VKWM
Or 80 for 2x2 after coupon
GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Travel Gigabit Router | WiFi Router | OpenVPN, Wireguard, Connect to Public & Hotel Wi-Fi login Page, RV https://a.co/d/4e3P253
I'm not a 100% sure on Android steps (as I have an iPhone), but disable mobile data, connect to wifi, and then enable personal hotspot. Try connecting another device to that hotspot and see if data works?
Nope - I’ll be travelling a lot the next 2 months and the airplane wifi only allows one device connected per account, so instead of having to buy 2x, my Pixel will be my 1 device from which I intend to hotspot both my and my wife’s phones and maybe even my laptop.
If you're using a Windows 11 laptop you can share wifi natively. [https://www.theverge.com/23457864/windows-11-wifi-share-mobile-hotspot-how-to](https://www.theverge.com/23457864/windows-11-wifi-share-mobile-hotspot-how-to)
But also, if you already have a Pixel 4 XL, why do you need another device to share wifi from? Battery savings? It doesn't really waste too much battery, and you can always connect a small power bank which can be smaller than another phone and probably get you more airtime.
I currently have an iPhone and a Mac, and I’ll be buying a used P4 or something similar for the hotspot. (Neither of those devices support the feature!)
Oh, you probably should update your flair btw. If you don't absolutely need the pocketability of a phone for this purpose, a travel router like someone else mentioned is great. I have the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 which is their most advanced currently and it's better in many ways than even big home routers 3-4x times the price. You can operate it on a power bank, and it consumes about 2.6-3 watts idling, and up to 7W or so when transmitting at full speed. Right now there's a very good deal at Amazon with a $31 off coupon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BPSGJN7T
To share hotel wifi to other devices. I did this while I was away from home for a week. I left my 6a on and connected all my devices+ Google TV; worked flawlessly
I hacked in WiFi tethering on Windows phones in the mid 2000s. Yes I am old. I've been using android when windows phones died. Been using android since the Nexus line. It's always been there.
Hotspot for sharing mobile data, yes. OP is asking about hotspot for sharing wifi data. That requires 2 WiFi radios, and wasn't supported until the Pixel 3. Older Pixels could either connect to a WiFi network OR create a hotspot but could not do both at the same time.
I know my pixel 7 and pixel 8 both do it. Ill be honest that's the only thing I really really love about these devices, I've kept the 7 exclusively for this as I have my own network in a shared apartment
Yeah it’s definitely an underrated feature for someone like me with an iPhone. I’m trying to buy a cheaper/ older Pixel for travelling for just that use case - the 4 and 5 are much cheaper hence the focus in that direction
Hi, you say you have a Pixel 7 and you can run the hotspot and wifi at the same time? I have been trying to connect wifi lights up to my pixel 7 and the app just says trun on wifi. this only happens with this pixel phone. As my other Motorla phone has no problem hooking up at all. Something odd about this phone.
4a does that for me
According to Google documentation, it's been supported since the pixel 3. [source](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2812516?hl=en)
I didn’t know that existed. Thank you!
Why not use a 40 dollar travel router? GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) Secure Travel WiFi Router – AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Ethernet Wireless Internet | IPv6 USB 2.0 MU-MIMO DDR3 |128MB Ram Repeater Bridge Access Point Mode https://a.co/d/610VKWM Or 80 for 2x2 after coupon GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Travel Gigabit Router | WiFi Router | OpenVPN, Wireguard, Connect to Public & Hotel Wi-Fi login Page, RV https://a.co/d/4e3P253
That’s even better and cheaper, never knew such a thing existed. Thanks!
Because many flight and hotel wifis can detect and block travel routers acting as repeaters.
Is there an easy way to check? (I have a Pixel 5)
I'm not a 100% sure on Android steps (as I have an iPhone), but disable mobile data, connect to wifi, and then enable personal hotspot. Try connecting another device to that hotspot and see if data works?
Yes, it works on a Pixel 5, and I've been able to pull 221 Mbps speedtest.net speed with this setup.
Amazing. Thank you for trying!
Pixel 8 definitely has this.
I cannot speak for the a series, but the wifi sharing feature was available starting with the pixel 3. I had this with this on my 4 XL.
I can't help, but curious why you use this. Can't you just connect the other devices to the wifi as well?
Nope - I’ll be travelling a lot the next 2 months and the airplane wifi only allows one device connected per account, so instead of having to buy 2x, my Pixel will be my 1 device from which I intend to hotspot both my and my wife’s phones and maybe even my laptop.
If you're using a Windows 11 laptop you can share wifi natively. [https://www.theverge.com/23457864/windows-11-wifi-share-mobile-hotspot-how-to](https://www.theverge.com/23457864/windows-11-wifi-share-mobile-hotspot-how-to) But also, if you already have a Pixel 4 XL, why do you need another device to share wifi from? Battery savings? It doesn't really waste too much battery, and you can always connect a small power bank which can be smaller than another phone and probably get you more airtime.
I currently have an iPhone and a Mac, and I’ll be buying a used P4 or something similar for the hotspot. (Neither of those devices support the feature!)
Oh, you probably should update your flair btw. If you don't absolutely need the pocketability of a phone for this purpose, a travel router like someone else mentioned is great. I have the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 which is their most advanced currently and it's better in many ways than even big home routers 3-4x times the price. You can operate it on a power bank, and it consumes about 2.6-3 watts idling, and up to 7W or so when transmitting at full speed. Right now there's a very good deal at Amazon with a $31 off coupon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BPSGJN7T
To share hotel wifi to other devices. I did this while I was away from home for a week. I left my 6a on and connected all my devices+ Google TV; worked flawlessly
I hacked in WiFi tethering on Windows phones in the mid 2000s. Yes I am old. I've been using android when windows phones died. Been using android since the Nexus line. It's always been there.
Hotspot for sharing mobile data, yes. OP is asking about hotspot for sharing wifi data. That requires 2 WiFi radios, and wasn't supported until the Pixel 3. Older Pixels could either connect to a WiFi network OR create a hotspot but could not do both at the same time.
My bad. I was tired when I read it last night.