How to tether devices with Virgin Mobile?
In order for other devices to find your phone, you need to turn your WiFi hotspot on. This differs slightly between Apple and Android phones.
If you need help with a particular virgin mobile device, our device guide can provide you with specific information for your desired mobile / tablet model.
Tethering a device to your virgin mobile will allow you to share your mobile data.
WiFi tethering
WiFi tethering essentially means you’re turning your mobile phone into a WiFi hotspot. It is creating a WiFi network that you connect to with your phone. You are able to connect more than one device, but just be careful that if you do this, your battery could drain quicker.
Bluetooth tethering
Bluetooth tethering is when you sharing the wireless connection if your device to another device, using Bluetooth. This means that it doesn’t use as much battery as WiFi tethering, but what it does mean is that you can only connect one device at a time.
USB tethering
USB tethering is sharing the internet connection of a laptop, directly through a USB cable. This means connecting your mobile to a laptop with a USB connection, so you need to have one available! It won’t drain the battery on your phone as it’ll use power from the laptop.
Tethering is ideal for when your internet connection at home goes down, or perhaps you want to help a friend who has run out of data. It’s also good for when you’re out and about, for example on a train.
To turn your WiFi hotspot on using an Android phone, go to Settings then Connections and then Mobile hotspots and tethering. When it’s switched on you will be able to see the details you need to connect including your WiFi name, password and how many devices are connected.
To tether a device to your phone, you’ll need to disconnect it from its WiFi connection (if it’s connected), then search for your device’s hotspot. Once you have found your phone, you may need to enter a password to connect.
Once you’ve connected to your hotspot, you will be automatically connected again once your device gets in range of your phone. If you want to disconnect, you can choose to forget the hotspot from your device’s WiFi screen.
To tether from iPhone, or what apple calls an iPhone hotspot, you will need to turn your WiFi hotspot on using your iPhone, go to Settings then Personal Hotspot.
When switched on, you will be able to see the details you need to connect including your WiFi name and password.
For WiFi only iPads, to access the internet you will need to use a personal hotspot on the iPhone. To do this, go to Settings then Personal Hotspot on the iPhone. Next, turn the personal hotspot toggle switch to on/green on your iPad.
Once your iPad is ready to connect to your iPhone personal hotspot, follow the steps outlined in 'how to tether from iPhone' above to get connected online.
You can turn off the personal hotspot on your iPhone by returning to Settings then Personal Hotspot and turning the toggle switch to off.
For more information on WiFi hotspots, read our how to use WiFi hotspots help guide.
Tethering a device to your virgin mobile will allow you to share your mobile data.
WiFi tethering
WiFi tethering essentially means you’re turning your mobile phone into a WiFi hotspot. It is creating a WiFi network that you connect to with your phone. You are able to connect more than one device, but just be careful that if you do this, your battery could drain quicker.
Bluetooth tethering
Bluetooth tethering is when you sharing the wireless connection if your device to another device, using Bluetooth. This means that it doesn’t use as much battery as WiFi tethering, but what it does mean is that you can only connect one device at a time.
USB tethering
USB tethering is sharing the internet connection of a laptop, directly through a USB cable. This means connecting your mobile to a laptop with a USB connection, so you need to have one available! It won’t drain the battery on your phone as it’ll use power from the laptop.
Tethering is ideal for when your internet connection at home goes down, or perhaps you want to help a friend who has run out of data. It’s also good for when you’re out and about, for example on a train.
To turn your WiFi hotspot on using an Android phone, go to Settings then Connections and then Mobile hotspots and tethering. When it’s switched on you will be able to see the details you need to connect including your WiFi name, password and how many devices are connected.
To tether a device to your phone, you’ll need to disconnect it from its WiFi connection (if it’s connected), then search for your device’s hotspot. Once you have found your phone, you may need to enter a password to connect.
Once you’ve connected to your hotspot, you will be automatically connected again once your device gets in range of your phone. If you want to disconnect, you can choose to forget the hotspot from your device’s WiFi screen.
To tether from iPhone, or what apple calls an iPhone hotspot, you will need to turn your WiFi hotspot on using your iPhone, go to Settings then Personal Hotspot.
When switched on, you will be able to see the details you need to connect including your WiFi name and password.
For WiFi only iPads, to access the internet you will need to use a personal hotspot on the iPhone. To do this, go to Settings then Personal Hotspot on the iPhone. Next, turn the personal hotspot toggle switch to on/green on your iPad.
Once your iPad is ready to connect to your iPhone personal hotspot, follow the steps outlined in 'how to tether from iPhone' above to get connected online.
You can turn off the personal hotspot on your iPhone by returning to Settings then Personal Hotspot and turning the toggle switch to off.
For more information on WiFi hotspots, read our how to use WiFi hotspots help guide.
Mobile tethering FAQs
Tethering is free to use at Virgin Mobile and is part of your data allowance.
Mobile hotspot tethering is connecting a wireless device to your phone, to share its internet connection.
It is actually safer to tether your phone rather than using a public or unsecure WiFi network. This means that the risk of sensitive, and perhaps business data cannot be seen or taken, compared to a public network.
Any data that devices use while tethered to an iPhone or Android device counts against your Virgin Mobile’s monthly data plan. To avoid going over your data allowance, it is best to tether your device for limited periods of time.
Virgin Mobile does allow you to monitor your data allowance by signing into the Virgin Mobile app or by setting up spending caps to control going over your data usage.
If more data is a top priority for you, browse our best mobile deals.
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