How To: Set Up Galaxy Tab as Wi-Fi Hotspot / Access Point

Wi-Fi Hotspot is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wireless network using Wi-Fi client interface card. The hotspot usually also acts as a router for the wireless local area network (WLAN). The well-known product of wireless access point is Cisco Linksys, TPLink, DLink, Belkin, US Robotics, and more.

Nowadays most smartphones and mobile devices are also equipped with a Wi-Fi access point. Other wireless devices such as laptops, notebooks and netbooks can tether to the smartphones over Wi-Fi to access internet.

This article shows you how to set up Galaxy Tab as Wi-Fi Hotspot. It is running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread as a Wi-Fi access point. This guide should be applicable to all the devices running the same Android Gingerbread OS such as Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Ace and others.

Here is the step by step on how to setup Galaxy Tab as a Wi-Fi hotspot:

1. From the Home screen, tap Applications and then Settings

2. Tap the Wireless and network

3. Tap the Tethering and portable hotspot; tethering means you can share your device’s mobile data connection via USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

4. Tap the Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings

5. First time you have to configure the device as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot so tap the Configure portable Wi-Fi hotspot option. You can name the Network SSID, choose the Security option and set the Password then Save.

6. After configuring the device to run as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, the last step is to enable the Wi-Fi hotspot. Just tap the Portable Wi-Fi hotspot option. The tick sign should change from the grey to green color.

7. Done.

Now from your laptop, try to connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot of the Galaxy Tab. If everything works fine, you should be able to access the internet.