How To Turn Your Old Android Phone Into A Wi-fi Extender - And Fix Dead Spots At Home

2 hours ago

How to move your aged Android telephone into a location Wi-Fi extender - for free

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Uses your existing Wi-Fi, not mobile data, to widen coverage.
It extends coverage, but whitethorn consequence successful slower speeds than your router.
Place nan telephone betwixt nan router and dormant area for champion results.

I person a Pixel phone that usually sits successful a drawer. I mostly usage it to trial caller Android features for work, but sometimes I find imaginative ways to usage aliases repurpose it. My latest research is fixing Wi-Fi dormant zones.

Also: Traditional Wi-Fi router vs. mesh: How to determine betwixt nan 2 celebrated networking options

You know... that 1 room aliases area of your location wherever everything buffers, drops, aliases refuses to load. Most group hole this by buying a dedicated Wi-Fi extender aliases upgrading to a mesh system. But there's different action if you're for illustration maine and person an aged Android telephone lying around. You tin move it into a Wi-Fi extender, and it useful good capable to present a usable relationship successful problem areas. The champion portion is it doesn't costs a point to try.

How to hole spotty location Wi-Fi pinch an Android telephone

What you'll need: All you'll request is an aged Android phone pinch hotspot support, entree to your location Wi-Fi network, and a charger to support nan instrumentality powered connected while successful use.

1. Connect your Android telephone to your Wi-Fi network

Next, alteration Android's Wi-Fi hotspot feature. This creates a caller Wi-Fi web that different devices tin link to, but nan telephone fundamentally rebroadcasts your existing relationship and serves arsenic a basal Wi-Fi extender.

On astir Android phones, spell to Settings > Network and net > Hotspot and tethering, past alteration Wi-Fi hotspot.
On Samsung devices, spell to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, past alteration Mobile Hotspot.

Also: How I usage Samsung's concealed Wi-Fi paper to earnestly amended my connectivity

3. Configure your hotspot sanction and password

In nan aforesaid Wi-Fi hotspot menu, you tin set a fewer different options.

For example, you tin alteration a mounting that turns disconnected nan hotspot automatically erstwhile nary devices are connected. You tin besides take a frequency, specified arsenic 2.4, 5, aliases moreover 6 GHz, which affects compatibility and relationship speed. Some phones besides fto you alteration instant connections for devices signed successful to your Google account.

These tweaks tin make a quality if you scheme to usage this setup agelong term.

Also: What is Wi-Fi 8? And why velocity isn't your superior interest pinch nan latest standard

If you're utilizing an aged phone, it apt doesn't person a SIM aliases an progressive cellular connection. But if it does, make judge it doesn't move complete to cellular data. You want nan telephone to stock your location Wi-Fi relationship pinch different devices, not usage mobile data, which could eat into your scheme and tally up a bill.

Go to Settings > Network and net > SIMs and move disconnected mobile data. You tin besides region nan SIM paper wholly if nan telephone still has 1 installed.

Also: This $30 smart router pinch a built-in VPN is nan recreation gadget I didn't cognize I needed

You don't want to spot your telephone straight successful nan Wi-Fi dormant zone.

Instead, position it location betwixt your router and nan area wherever nan awesome drops off. It should beryllium adjacent capable to nan router to support a beardown connection, but acold capable to widen sum into nan anemic spot.

I had to move excavation astir a spot earlier uncovering nan saccharine spot. I besides urge keeping nan telephone plugged into a charger truthful it stays powered connected continuously and doesn't unopen disconnected while extending your Wi-Fi. Once nan Android telephone is successful spot and charging, you tin link different instrumentality to nan Wi-Fi hotspot web you've group up.

You tin besides trial your relationship speeds, such arsenic pinch Ookla (owned by ZDNET's genitor company, Ziff Davis).

Also: Need to stock your Wi-Fi password? My elemental telephone instrumentality gives you an instant connection

6. Place your telephone betwixt nan router and nan dormant zone

Will this amended my location Wi-Fi speed?

No. It extends your location Wi-Fi coverage, not speed. Your relationship whitethorn moreover beryllium somewhat slower than your main network, but it's still very usable for browsing, streaming, and basal work.

Also: Slow Wi-Fi? I recovered 10 proven ways to hole your net this play (most are free)

Can immoderate Android telephone do this?

Most modern Android phones support Wi-Fi hotspot features.

Will this drain my Android phone's battery?

Yes, quickly. Keep nan telephone plugged successful if you scheme to usage it arsenic a imperishable Wi-Fi extender.

Should I conscionable bargain an extender?

If you already person an aged telephone and conscionable request basal sum successful 1 problem area, no. If you request reliable, high-speed capacity crossed your home, a dedicated Wi-Fi extender aliases mesh strategy is better.