How to Disable Mobile Hotspot on Android

How to Disable Mobile Hotspot on Android Devices.

Learn how to turn off the mobile hotspot on your Android phone. If you’ve been sharing your internet with other devices and want to stop – to save battery or mobile data – this guide shows you how.

I’ll show you this on a Sony Xperia 1V running Android 15, but the steps work on Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, and most other Android phones.

How to tell if your hotspot is on

Before turning it off, you need to know if it’s actually running. Look at the top of your phone screen – the status bar.

If you see a hotspot icon next to your signal bars (looks like two interconnected circles or a small dot with arcs), your hotspot is active. When the hotspot is on, your phone is sharing its mobile data connection with other devices.

Also, when your hotspot is on, Wi-Fi is usually disabled. You can’t be connected to Wi-Fi and share your connection at the same time on most phones.

Why turn off your hotspot?

Good reasons to disable your hotspot:

• Save battery – Hotspot uses a lot of power. Turning it off extends your battery life.
• Save mobile data – Any device connected to your hotspot uses your data plan. Turn it off to stop accidental data usage.
• You’re done using it – You shared internet with a friend or laptop, and now you’re finished.
• You want to use Wi-Fi again – With hotspot off, your phone can reconnect to Wi-Fi networks.

Method 1: Turn off hotspot from Quick Settings (fastest way)

This is the quickest method. Takes about two seconds.

Step 1: Swipe down from the top of your screen
Swipe down once to see your notification shade. Swipe down twice to open the full Quick Settings panel.

Step 2: Find the Hotspot button
Look for an icon labeled “”Hotspot,”” “”Mobile hotspot,”” or “”Portable hotspot.”” The icon usually looks like two interlocking circles or a dot with curved lines around it.

If you don’t see it right away, swipe left or right to see more Quick Settings tiles. You might also need to tap the pencil icon (??) or “”Edit”” to add the Hotspot tile to your Quick Settings panel.

Step 3: Tap the Hotspot button
If the hotspot is on, the button will be highlighted or lit up. Tap it once. It will turn off and the highlight will disappear.

Step 4: Check that it’s off
Look at the status bar at the top of your screen. The hotspot icon should be gone. Also, your Wi-Fi should reconnect automatically if there’s a known network nearby.

That’s it. Your hotspot is now disabled.

Method 2: Turn off hotspot from Settings

If you can’t find the Quick Settings button or prefer using the main Settings app, use this method.

Step 1: Open Settings
Find the Settings app on your phone. It looks like a gear icon.

Step 2: Go to Network & Internet
Tap on “”Network & internet”” or “”Connections”” depending on your phone brand.

Step 3: Tap on Hotspot & Tethering
Look for “”Hotspot & tethering”” or just “”Mobile hotspot.”” Tap it.

Step 4: Turn off the portable hotspot
You’ll see a switch next to “”Portable hotspot”” or “”Wi-Fi hotspot.”” If it’s on, tap the switch to turn it off.

Step 5: Check that everything is off
On the same screen, make sure other sharing options are off too:

• Bluetooth tethering
• USB tethering (if your phone is plugged into something)
• Ethernet tethering

Method 3: Long press on the Quick Settings button

This is a shortcut to the full hotspot settings.

Step 1: Swipe down to open Quick Settings

Step 2: Long press (press and hold) on the Hotspot button instead of just tapping it

Step 3: This opens the full Hotspot settings screen where you can turn it off with a switch

What happens when you disable the hotspot

Once you turn off the hotspot:

• All connected devices disconnect – Any laptops, tablets, or other phones using your internet will lose their connection.
• Wi-Fi turns back on – Your phone will automatically scan for and reconnect to known Wi-Fi networks.
• Battery drain stops – Your battery will last longer.
• Data usage stops – Other devices stop using your mobile data plan.

Why does my hotspot turn on by itself?

If your hotspot keeps turning on without you doing it, check for:

Automatically turn off hotspot – Some phones have a setting that turns the hotspot on when you connect to certain devices (like your car). Look in Hotspot settings for “”Auto turn on hotspot”” or “”Auto share”” and turn it off.

Other apps – Some apps can turn on your hotspot. Check if any automation apps (like IFTTT or MacroDroid) have rules set up.

Connected devices – Some Samsung phones have a feature that lets other devices with your Samsung account turn on your hotspot. Check Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot > Advanced for “”Auto turn on hotspot.””

What’s the difference between hotspot and tethering?

People use these words interchangeably, but they’re slightly different:

• Wi-Fi hotspot – Your phone creates a Wi-Fi network that other devices connect to wirelessly
• Bluetooth tethering – Shares internet over Bluetooth (slower but uses less battery)
• USB tethering – Shares internet through a USB cable (fastest, charges your phone at the same time)

How to limit who can use your hotspot

If you often use your hotspot but want more control, you can:

• Change the password – Go to Hotspot settings and set a new, stronger password
• Limit connected devices – Some phones let you set a maximum number of connections (like 2 or 3 devices max)
• Set a data limit – Some phones let you set a warning when your hotspot has used a certain amount of data

Quick summary

To disable mobile hotspot on Android:

Fastest way (Quick Settings):

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice
2. Tap the Hotspot button
3. Done – it’s off

Via Settings:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Tap Hotspot & Tethering
4. Turn off the Portable hotspot switch

To confirm it’s off:

• The hotspot icon is gone from your status bar
• Your phone reconnects to Wi-Fi
• Other devices can no longer see or connect to your hotspot

That’s all there is to it. Turning off your hotspot saves battery and stops other devices from using your mobile data. Use Quick Settings for speed, or go into Settings if you need to check or change other options.