Stay Connected On The Go Using Mobile Hotspot

If you’ve ever found yourself without Internet access while traveling, or doing something outdoors, you know how inconvenient it can be. Fortunately, your smartphone may come equipped with a handy mobile hotspot feature. This lets you create your own web access point through your phone, so you can connect your laptop or tablet to a Wi-Fi network for uploading pictures, accessing social media, sending email or performing any other important online task you need to do when you’re away from home.

By activating the hotspot feature, your laptop or tablet can then connect to the Wi-Fi access point you create. It’s a great way to check emails, or check-in on social media! Just remember you’ll actually be using data from your monthly cellphone plan, so some tasks, like downloading videos or streaming movies or TV shows, may use more data than you expect.

To get started, call our customer support team at (888) 345-5509. We will be happy to enable this feature and walk you through the remaining setup, and answer any additional questions you have. Many Android smartphones and iPhones have the feature built right in with their software, so after it’s been enabled, you can set your device up in just a few quick steps.

Once we’ve enabled the feature for you, you’ll need to follow these steps: for iPhone, go to “Settings”, then “Cellular”. Tap “Personal Hotspot”, and then tap the slider to turn it on. For most Androids, go to “Settings”, then “Tethering & Portable Hotspot.” Again, tap the slider to turn it on. In addition, you’ll be asked to create a custom password for other devices to use to access the new connection you’ve set up.

Don’t have a smartphone or the hotspot feature? We have a portable Wi-Fi hotspot device that allows you to connect as many as 10 laptops, tablets or other devices to the Internet wherever you are. The ZTE Mobile Hotspot shares the data on your plan and provides 4G LTE Internet speeds. It includes a long lasting battery so you can connect one device for up to 13 hours—it can even last for up to 8 hours when using multiple devices.

If you spend a lot of time on the go, having a reliable Internet connection is essential. Learning to use your mobile hotspot feature—or trying our ZTE Mobile Hotspot—is a great way to make sure you’ll be able to stay online whenever, and wherever, you need to.

157 Thoughts on "Stay Connected On The Go Using Mobile Hotspot"

  1. Gaylord Livingston says

    I cannot find activation code anywhere on packaging

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Gaylord! I was able to take a look at your account, and I see we were able to help you activate your phone. If we can assist you with anything else at this time, or if we can answer any questions you may have, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting!

    • Theresa says

      Are you still there I just wanted to know how long the hott spot lasts I’ll turn it on so I can use my tablet but by the next day it’s off I have to turn it on again how does that go

      • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

        Thanks for asking, Theresa. You may have better luck if you turn it off while you aren’t using it. Otherwise it can be used for up to 15 hours depending on the number of devices connected. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a lovely day!

  2. Walter J. Murray says

    How do I set up call forwarding on my phone?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We can help you with that, Walter. Open your dialpad and enter **21*, the 10-digit number to which you want to forward your calls, and then #, then hit the send/call button. Calls made to your smartphone will then forward to the number you entered. If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We’ll be happy to assist you! Thank you for posting, and we hope you have a great day!

    • T keiningham says

      How to connect to ZTE wireless as hotspot???

  3. Tas says

    10 laptops? Wouldn’t that require an unlimited plan?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for commenting, Tas. You can connect up to that many devices at any given time, however, we wouldn’t recommend doing so as the primary form of internet. The hotspot is a great option when you’re away from home, but connecting to your home Wi-Fi network is the best way to save your data for when you really need it. We appreciate you posting today!

  4. Sylvia says

    May I use tracphone device? I have 8 of them.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Sylvia! In general, most unlocked GSM devices can be used with our SIM cards. You’ll want to verify that your device has been unlocked by consulting your previous carrier. You can learn more about using our SIM card with your device here on our website, and even see how it works with our video! The best way to know for sure that your device will work is to test it with our SIM card. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have or get a SIM card sent to you at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about our service!

  5. Wallis says

    What is the fee to activate the hotspot on the iphone, please?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Wallis! There is no charge to enable this feature on your phone if you have it. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we can assist you in setting it up. Please be mindful that this feature can use more data than other features, so it’s best to use only when a Wi-Fi network is unavailable. Thanks again for taking the time to post, and we hope you have a great day!

  6. Pat says

    I am looking for pricing on using my phone for a mobile hotspot. Where can I find that?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Pat! There is no charge to enable this feature on your smartphone if it is available. You will need one of our Connect Plans so that you’ll be able to use cellular data. Please keep in mind that using this feature may result in higher data usage, so we recommend that you use it only when you don’t have access to Wi-Fi. To get started, just give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we’ll be happy to help you. We appreciate you posting, and look forward to assisting you!

  7. Dan says

    I know what an inch is, as well as an ounce and a liter. Increments of those measures are easy to conceptualize. What is a megabyte? I keep data turned off so I won’t inadvertently break the bank.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for taking the time to ask, Dan! This can be a common source of confusion. A megabyte is a standard unit used to quantify the amount of data transferred between the cellular network and the internet. The more data required or complex the activity, the more megabytes that are used. For example, downloading one app could use about 4MB of data. Streaming a video online for one minute could use about 5MB. You can view how much data is being used by each app or feature on your phone to get a good idea of how much your preferred activities will need. I was able to take a look at your account, and I see that you’re using the Moto G LTE. To see the amount of data being used, you can open the Settings app, then go to Data Usage. Then scroll down, and you’ll see the amount used by app. If you have Wi-Fi at home, you can enjoy all of the features of your phone without using data. That way, you can conserve your data for when you’re away from home. If we can answer any other questions you may have or assist you in any way, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to post, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  8. Tim says

    Hello, I’ve recently switched from Verizon to your company. I’ve provided my own smartphone a “CAT 60” unlocked GSM that I purchased post Verizon. For some reason I’m having alot of difficulty texting pics and it won’t receive texted photos at all – doesn’t seem to download them. A phone call to customer service did not resolve the problem. Ideas?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for reaching out to us, Tim. It sounds as if there is an issue with your APN settings. We may need to assist you with inputting some information so that your device will work properly with our service. I reviewed your account, and I see that we emailed these to you. We’re happy to walk you through the process at 888-345-5509 if you like, and we can troubleshoot further if this doesn’t resolve the problem. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

  9. Lawrence H Clarici says

    I received my zte hotspot and charged it for a few hours. when i turn it on all i can get is a picture of a battery with a check mark.
    Can you help me
    Larry

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to assist, Larry! That symbol means that your battery is fully charged. You just may need to hold the power button down for a bit longer in order for it to turn on. If you continue to experience this issue, please give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we’ll be happy to troubleshoot further. Thanks for posting today!

  10. Rita Ihly says

    I have been with Consumer Cellular for many years. Initially their customer service was outstanding. Today, not so much. Long wait times, website difficult to worm through. I am so disappointed to see CC fall into ‘business as usual’, the same as so many successful early companies. Going to Target for advice is worthless. They are not knowledgeable about all the products. I used to recommend CC to many of friends and family. Now, not so much. I am a Washington subscriber, and favor supporting ‘local’ enterprises. Yet, waiting so long for help is a waste of my time. I will remain a customer until I find a better way to communicate with my needs. As I said, so disappointed.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We very much appreciate your feedback, Rita. Thank you for taking the time to post about your experience. We apologize for the wait you experienced, and we’re sorry to hear that you aren’t finding our website to be very helpful. We are currently hiring more account advisors, and we appreciate your patience as we train them. We want to provide the best possible experience to our customers, and we’re sorry to hear that wasn’t the case in your experience. Thank you for being a customer, and for reaching out to us today!

    • Rich says

      Use their call-back feature. I’ve called in occasionally and it says hold time is 15 minutes. Works every time. You don’t need to sit on hold.

      • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

        Thank you for posting, Rich! Many of our customers find that our call-back feature is quite convenient.

  11. Roberta Dorosinski says

    I’m trying to figure out how to attach the lanyard to my Doro 626. Looks like it isn’t possible. Is it?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to help you with that, Roberta! Please start by removing the back cover of your phone. Once you do that, you’ll see a small hook at the bottom center of the phone. Loop the string portion of the lanyard through the hook, then replace the back cover. That’s it! If you run into any issues, we’re happy to help you at 888-345-5509. Thanks for posting, and we hope you have a lovely day!

  12. Lawrence H Clarici says

    Can not get any signal strength. The sim card was Tmobile, No reception in my house. I had the same problem with my two CC
    phones. Exchanged the sims to ATT sim and now get excellant signal
    I did the same thing with my zte hotspot replaced the sim with a ATT sim
    but still no signal. Any Ideas? All the hotspot says is limited service

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for taking the time to reach out to us, Lawrence! I was able to take a look at your account, and I see that you were able to speak with Alexis, our account advisor, regarding this issue. If we can be of any further help at this time, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509, and we can do some additional troubleshooting. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a great day!

  13. Lawrence H Clarici says

    I called the 888 number. The representative was extremely helpful. Very professionally listened to my problem, and guided me to a successful end to my problem. Kudos to the representative.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Lawrence, and we’ll be happy to recognize our team for a job well-done! We’re very glad to hear that you were able to find a resolution. We hope you have a lovely day!

  14. LaDonna says

    Hello I have the ZTE hotspot on a WIFI camera and it worked fine until I got out of range of the hotspot box even on my data it wont let me see live feed on my camera am I doing something wrong. Please help I don’t know if it’s using my data plan or not.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, LaDonna. The connection between the camera and your hotspot may have been interrupted. We recommend taking a look to make sure they are still connected. As for the amount of data being used, you should be able to see that information by checking your account usage. If we can be of any additional help, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you reaching out to us!

  15. Dan says

    Hi, I am thinking of getting an IPAD with Cellular. Can I use the same phone number as my IPHONE….Thanks

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Dan! A phone number can only be assigned to one device, but you can use iMessage across all of your devices. That way, you can send and receive messages using both your iPad and iPhone. If we can answer any other questions you may have, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to post!

  16. Connie Frese says

    Can you assist me with setting up my personal hotspot? Or do I have to call CC? I wish to set this up on all 3 of our phones. I am familiar with using this feature from my previous provider.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Connie. We need to enable some settings on our end in order for this feature to work properly, so please give us a call at 888-345-5509 at your convenience. We appreciate you reaching out to us, and we look forward to assisting you!

  17. Dorah says

    Didn’t think I could possibly love CC anymore than I do… but then you guys go and do this! So happy! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been more than a little envious of other people’s personal WiFi hotspot.

  18. Marilyn says

    On our hotspot the green lite stays lite and there are 2 blue one is in the shape of a envelope could you explain what that means. Everything is working ok

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Marilyn. The green light will remain lit when you’re connected to the LTE network, so that’s a good thing. The message icon can be used to notify you of updates or alerts. Currently, Consumer Cellular uses other methods to share this information, such as Usage Alerts sent to your cellphone via text messages, and email. Please feel free to ignore that icon. We’re happy to help you with any other questions or concerns you may have, so please call us at 888-345-5509 at your convenience. We appreciate you posting today!

  19. Shannon says

    Hi there! My phone died, and I have a WiFi iPad, so i’m considering just getting one of your mobile WiFi devices and not having an actual phone, just using that and connecting my iPad that way. Would that work? How can I get a mifi device – I can take that device with me on the road, right? SO I don’t need an actual phone, right?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for posting, Shannon. You could use our hotspot with your iPad and have internet access on the go. The hotspot does not come with the ability to make calls or send messages, so you may still want a cellphone to stay in touch. We’re happy to tell you more about the hotspot and see if it would be a good fit for your needs at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to learn more, and we hope to speak with you soon!

  20. Isaac says

    Activated me please

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for posting, Isaac! We’re happy to help you activate your new device at 888-345-5509. You can also activate it by going to the My Account section, and just look for the Activation alert. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

  21. Michael Bollinger says

    What is the cost to set up and use my mobile phone as a WiFi hot spot? Is there a monthly charge, or just usage?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to walk you through that setup process, Michael. In order to activate that feature, we need you to give us a call at 888-345-5509. A separate plan won’t be needed, it will simply count as usage on your current plan. You may find that this feature uses more data than expected, so we recommend using it sparingly. Thanks for taking the time to comment today!

  22. Carol says

    Hello… After the $80 purchase price for your mobile hot-spot is there a monthly fee for usage? Thank you

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Carol, the monthly service for a hotspot device would be dependent on the plan that you select. You can view all of our plans here. All accounts are required to have a minimum talk plan in order for the service to be active, and then you can choose your monthly data amount from the available Connect plans.

  23. Joe says

    Does the ZTE mobile hotspot require another line or does it share my cellular phone line?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Joe! The hotspot will be added to your account as a new line of service, and it will share the data from your plan. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!

  24. Ashelyn Mayfield says

    How can I set up my personal hotspot

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Ashelyn, you can get your personal hotspot set up by calling us at 888-345-5510 or chatting with us here.

  25. Thom says

    Please send me one.

  26. Naiya Soetan says

    Please enable the mobile hotspot for my account.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Naiya, I see that you were able to get this enabled with our agents. If there’s anything else that you need help with, please feel free to call us back at 888-548-6490.

  27. Beverly says

    Do you no longer have a hot spot device? We live in a rural area and have no other viable option for wi-fi internet service. We’ve been using a hot spot from another carrier but recently switched to Consumer Cellular.

    • Hi Beverly, thanks for your post. We don’t currently have a hotspot device, however, we do offer the hotspot feature that the phones can use to create that internet connection. If you’d like to get that enabled, give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with us here.

  28. Nancy says

    Please bring back your hot spot device. I can use my phone for this but the little ZTE mobile hotspot is more convenient especially when using my printer.
    .

  29. Paula Jones says

    Can I use a Verizon jetpack hotspot to connect to your internet?

    • Hi Paula, thanks for your question. If the device is unlocked from Verizon and is GSM-compatible, it may work on our network. We can’t guarantee that all devices will work on our network, but we’ll do all that we can to see if we’re able to get this one working. We do also offer a hotspot feature that smartphones can access through our network as another option.

    • Bob Kierski says

      Hi Paula, In addition to installing a CC sim card in the JetPack, you also have to modify the APN. So far, I have not found a way to add a custom APN with CC information. The instructions I’ve found only have information for selecting Verizon APN’s.

  30. Brent Wilson says

    I need to setup the personal hotspot on my new iphone. I got a message saying go to my account, but there is nothing there about it.

    Can you please activate it?

    Thanks,
    Brent Wilson

  31. Judy smith says

    I’m moving in a in-law suite with my daughter. We don’t have good internet. I have consumer for cell phone. Will one hot spot do for all of us? And do you have unlimited data?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Judy, while we don’t have unlimited data, we have a variety of data plans available ranging from 500MB to 25GB, and through the end of April the 25GB plan will be including up to 55GB at no additional charge. Our service isn’t intended to replace home internet, but if your smartphone has a hotspot feature built-in, then you can contact us at 800-345-5509 or via chat here to enable the service.

  32. joe Westerfield says

    Dumb question: When I use the phone as a hot spot, what determines my data usage? Is is the amount of time I spend using Wi-Fi? Or is the number of sites I visit? Or the type of sites? (sometimes I have to view video press conferences.)

    • Hi Joe, that’s actually a great question to ask. Data usage is determined by the website and what you’re using it for. For example, streaming a video will use more data than checking your email will.

  33. Jim Connery says

    Hi, Will t-mobiles new Franklin T9 mobile hotspot work on consumer cellulars network?

    • Hi Jim, thanks for your interest! If the hotspot is unlocked from T-Mobile and is also GSM-compatible, it may work on our network. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we’ll do all that we can to see if we can get that connected for you.

  34. Maxima says

    wow looks cool and simple

  35. Jamear Hector says

    Hi

  36. Dejay says

    Could you activate my iPhone 7 mobile hotspot

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Dejay, our customer service team would be happy to help get that enabled for you if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.

  37. Richard Teague says

    Is there a new are noble not spot if not what is the price . I have misplaced mine .

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Richard. We don’t currently have a hotspot device available, but all of the smartphones listed on our website have a hotspot feature built-in. If you have a smartphone, our customer service team would b happy to see if that can be enabled on your phone if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.

  38. Richard Teague says

    What about the tablet that I have a fire hd

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Richard, if you want to use a tablet with our service, it needs to be unlocked and GSM-compatible. We can’t guarantee compatibility, but we’ll do what we can to get it working.

  39. Simon Wray says

    Can you please send me a list of CC compatible hotspot devices. I bought one that was unlocked and GSA compatible that doesn’t work on CC’s network. Don’t want to buy another until I’m sure it will work.

    • Hi Simon, thanks for your question. We don’t have a list of compatible devices to use with our service. We can’t guarantee that a device that is purchased from somewhere else will work with our network. However, if you have a smartphone, we can enable the hotspot feature for you to use.

  40. Linda Boseman says

    Can I set up the hotspot myself or do I need to call CC?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Linda, if the hotspot feature isn’t immediately working for you, we’ll likely need to enable it on our end. You can give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.

  41. Dot Vaughn says

    Can I use my house phone as a hotspot

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Dot, a home phone can’t be used as a hotspot device. While we don’t currently have a hotspot device with our service, all of our smartphones have the hotspot feature built-in instead.

  42. Samuel Street says

    Hello, tonight my primary internet failed as it often does and I attempted to connect my iPhone as a mobile hotspot. I had the feature and slid the slider but no signal to me tablet :(.

    So I rebooted my iPhone. Now I no longer see the option for mobile hotspot and that I need to call 611 to set it up???

    The main reason I selected consumer cellular was the ability to use mobile hotspot! Now after 3 years being a loyal customer you shut my mobile hotspot off?

    Happy right now I am not!

    • Hi Samuel, I’m sorry to hear about that trouble you’re having! The tethering feature had not actually been enabled on our end which is why you couldn’t get it to turn on in the phone. At this time, I’ve gone ahead and got the feature enabled for you. To have that activate, just power the phone completely off and back on again. Once that is done, go ahead and enable the feature in the phone. If you have any trouble, give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with us here and we’d be happy to help.

  43. Josie Schmit says

    I have an Android phone and I want to set up my hotspot. I went to Settings > Wireless & networks > Tethering & portable hotspot. The USB tethering and Portable Wi-Fi hotspot functions are not enabled. Should I call consumer cellular to set this up or will it just not work with my phone or plan?

    • Hi Josie, thanks for your post. The feature does need to be enabled on our end in order to work on your phone. I would definitely recommend giving us a call at 888-548-6490 or you can also chat with us here for further assistance.

  44. George says

    I have a ZTE Axon 7. I enabled the hot spot feature as a test. It worked with Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux merely by entering the password.
    1. Would it be practical to use it for home internet?
    2. Should I use the mobile Hot spot?
    3. I have 2 lines. Should I go to 3 lines?

    • Hi George, thanks for your questions! Going over your questions, a lot of it is going to depend on what you’re using the device for. If you’re planning on doing a lot of streaming your devices then we’d definitely recommend keeping with the home WiFi network. You can use the hotspot feature on the phone as needed when you’re away from it, keep in mind we don’t have the hotspot device available. If you need to add a line for a different device then you would need to add the new line.

  45. jack vermeulen says

    Can I use a netgear hotspot that works for T-mobile on consumercellular? I want to buy another sim using that carrier.

    • Thanks for your question, Jack! If the device is unlocked from other providers, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable, it may work on our network. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we’ll do all that we can to see if we can get it connected for you.

  46. Jill says

    We have a ZTE MF833V WiFi dongle and put your T-Mobile SIM card in it. We can text but cannot use data. We have called tech support numerous times and they keep telling us to get rid of it and get a cell phone. We already have 2 cell phones, and we want to use the dongle in the car. We used this dongle on our AT&T service and it worked fine for data. Why is it not working with Consumer Cellular? Do we just need to go back to AT&T?

    • Hi Jill, thanks for your post! We, unfortunately, cannot guarantee compatibility for all models of devices when switching over to our service. If the access point information is set up in the device and it’s not working for data, it may be that the device isn’t going to work with us. I’d also advise making sure the device is unlocked for data as well to allow for it to work.

  47. Julianne Howe says

    I really want to activate the personal hot spot feature on my phone but can’t get through on call line to set it up.

    • Hi Julianne, thanks for your post. I’ve gone ahead and got that enabled for you! To let it go into place, power the phone completely off and back on again. If you have any trouble, give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here.

  48. Marilyn Simpson says

    Hello, can you enable mobile hotspot on my phone please?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Consider it done, Marilyn. All you’ll need to do is power the phone off and back on. If you need help with anything else, please give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.

  49. Cheryl says

    Hi call you enable mobile hotspot for me on my phone

    • Hi Cheryl, thanks for your post. We can definitely help with that. since there’s more than one line, I’d recommend giving us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here to let us know which line you’d like that activated for.

  50. David E Rabenold says

    Moble hot spot cost

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi David, while we don’t have a mobile hotspot device available at this time, all of our smartphones have a hotspot feature built-in that can be used with our Connect plans found here.

  51. Rodney Luco says

    You are not an expert, by any chance?

  52. cal says

    can i use my flip phone as a hotspot how does this work if i can

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Cal, flip phones generally do not come with a hotspot feature built-in. All of the smartphones we currently offer do have hotspot built-in, however.

  53. Theresa Ramppen says

    Hi!! Just received my Samsung Galaxy A01….. I don’t have internet service so can you tell me how to use my phone as a hotspot, please? Thanks so very much!!

    • Hi Theresa, thanks for your post! I’ve gone ahead and enabled that for you so just power your phone completely off and then back on again. Once that has been done, set up the feature in the phone and you can start connecting devices to it. If you have any trouble or questions, just give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with a live agent here for further assistance.

  54. Beth says

    Can I stream TV on the road thru hulu with the unlimited plan? After I reach a certain. Threshold do you throttle back speed?

    • Hi Beth, thanks for your question! You can stream those on data as long as you have a cellular network connection. We do cap the data at 35GB of LTE speed data to start, but you do have the option to purchase more, up to 55GB if needed.

  55. Deborah Hamilton says

    I love my consumer cellular. I would like to have mobile hotspot enabled on my phone please. Thanks

  56. Beth Brittenbach says

    I love my CC ZTE Mobile Hot Spot. Having a separate device with its own line has many advantages. Hope CC will get smart and offer a replacement for this device. After all that means I have to keep a third line.

  57. Gayla says

    Can I use a CC phone or the ZTE home base as a hotspot to connect RING cameras? Access internet for my laptop, Kindle or TV when needed?

    Note I have a hotspot internet service but sometimes the signal fades. CC signal seems to be better so hoping it would work for the RING as it just needs reliable signal and doesn’t use much data to operate.

    • Hi Gayla, thanks for your questions! You can use your CC phone’s hotspot feature to connect other devices and use for the internet connection on different devices. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all devices that connect to it, but we can definitely give it a try! Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here and we’d be happy to help with getting that going for you.

  58. Patrick Rice says

    Hi. I’m confused. does consumers cellular offer a hot spot other then my phone or not. i do have the zte home base form my home phones. I looking for a hot spot to use in my vacation hoe for internet and roku streaming. is there anything I can use other then my phone? thank you Pat.

  59. kathy j Mathews says

    I want my mobile hotspot activated and have been on hold for 45 minutes. Can you activate it?

    • Hi Kathy, thanks for your post! Checking in on this, I see the feature has already been activated. If you haven’t already, power the phone completely off, leave it off for a few seconds, then power it back on again. If there’s anything else we can help with, let us know!

  60. Ngasha says

    My Netgear hotspot has died, leaving me without WiFi. In order to get signal, the WiFi device has to hang against the front window. If I try using a phone for a hotspot, I can also tell that will lead to family quarrels and a broken front window. Is my only option to buy a new hotspot and HOPE your sim will work with it? Can I use an old smartphone as a hotspot device and use it with signal boosters around the house?

    • Hi Ngasha, thanks for your questions. We don’t currently offer a hotspot so if a new one is needed you are welcome to use a smartphone and have that feature enabled on it to connect other devices to. We don’t offer boosters for service so if you purchase one via a third party, we can’t guarantee the compatibility for that device.

  61. cecil e vananden says

    i am looking into buying data router what is a good one to use with your data plan?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for the consideration, Cecil. We don’t offer mobile hotspot devices at this time, but all of our available smartphones come with the hotspot feature built in. You can check out the phones here, and our plans here.

  62. Ken says

    I have been with CC now for two to three years and it works for me. My wife an travel a lot on extended trips of 6-8 weeks. I have been using my i phone as a hotspot but this last summer I had to run up the data plan to 35-55 from my base of 10. It was readjusted when we returned back tot he 10 g. I had a Verizon Jetpak prior to joining CC that worked well with that company. It was recalled and replaced with their Orbic Speed 4G LTE mobile hotspot device. Is this device compatible with CC and how do I find out since it is a Verizon hotspot?

    • Hi Ken, thanks for your question. If the device is completely unlocked from all other providers, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable, it may work on our network. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we’ll do all we we can to see if we can get it connected for you.

  63. Dan says

    Please allow customers to activate this feature online. Having to phone a human and wait on hold for >30m is ridiculous, in 2022. The whole process can be done with software.

  64. Karee says

    My hotspot isn’t in my phone anymore… please help I could not set it up through my account

  65. S Stewart says

    My Moto G Power (XT2041-6) uses Android 11. I just this morning downloaded and installed the latest Android security and Google Play System updates dated December 1, 2020 (Software Version RPMS31.Q1-54-13.3-7). Immediately thereafter, my mobile hotspot and USB tethering functions would not work. They are my only means of connecting to the Internet. Consumer Cellular reps earlier today had no solution other than a factory reset. I’m searching the Web with a borrowed WiFi connection but cannot yet find a fix (although I can find other Android users with different carriers who have encountered this problem with Android 11). If you can recommend any source of information that might help me restore these functions, please do. Thanks!

    • Hi there, thanks for your post. That’s definitely frustrating! I see you were able to speak with one of our agents about this issue, if you’re continuing to have trouble with us, definitely let us know and we’d be happy to look into this more!

  66. Mark Douglas Stegeman says

    What unlocked 4g wifi hotspot would be compatible with the Consumer Cellular network? I have the hotspot from CC from 2017, but was told it will not work after switching to 4g (even though it does have 4g printed on the faceplate of the hotspot). Just asking for recommendations in case I should choose not to use the wifi feature of my new CC cell phone.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Mark, while that hotspot is 4G, it needs to be VoLTE-capable to work, which it is not. If you want to bring over a hotspot device, it will need to be unlocked, GSM-compatible, and VoLTE-capable. However, if you have a smartphone, you may already be able to use hotspot with that instead of needing an additional line. We’d be happy to check if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.

  67. Mark Douglas Stegeman says

    Hi Nicole, I did just buy a new phone from CC and called up the Rep. and she turned on the hotspot for me. It works great, just as well as the standalone hotspot! I really appreciate your help. I think CC is a great company and you’re pretty great yourself Nicole, thank you.

  68. Blake Morgan says

    My hotspot quit working as well. Moto G 2021 phone. I had CC reset the hotspot and I even tried a resetting the password. It won’t work anymore. Maybe the problem is Android 11 …

  69. bob says

    Do you still sell a hotspot device? Did not see one on your web site! I need a 4GLTE or 5G hotspot. As convenient as using my 4G phone for that function, it drains my batteries. Also, what networks does CC use, I travel a lot and would want the fastest data speeds possible with a mobile hotspot or when using the phone. Want to test 5G Networks before I buy a 5G phone and find out it doesn’t work at 5G speeds. Can a customer change the network, can’t wait for CC customer service every time I travel, thanks! (Noticed T-Mobile when I was doing a speedtest) Does CC get slower TMobile priority and speeds I might get a TMobile Home Internet or hotspot if CC doesn’t have one, thanks!)

  70. Bob says

    Thinking about replacing Cable and wired Internet also, thanks!

  71. jose says

    how to connect iphone 6s consumer cellular hotspot to laptop for internet

    • Hi Jose, thanks for your question! We would need to make sure the hotspot feature is enabled for the phone to have it be available. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here for further assistance with this process.

  72. jose says

    i have hotspot password but no consumer cellular wireless network connection in my list of network connections please help

  73. Dolores Kalayta says

    I have been struggling with trying to get a hotspot on the Moto g power Android phone. I have been in contact with support, but so far have made no progress. As a result, I am seriously considering replacing my ZTE mobile hotspot with a new one. I found a hotspot on amazon. Description follows:
    VSAVABFFV 4GLTE Mobile Router with SIM card slot unlocked Portable with WIFI Hotspot Devices.
    Does any one know if this is compatible with Consumer Cellular? Is anyone currently using this Hotspot?
    Thank you for any information you can provide.

    • Hi Dolores, thanks for your question. If you’re having trouble with the hotspot feature on your device, we’d be happy to look into this for you to get you up and running. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here for further assistance with this. If you are thinking about getting a device from a third-party seller such as Amazon, you will need to make sure it can take a physical SIM card, is unlocked completely, and VoLTE capable. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all devices, but we will do all we can to see if we can get it connected for you.

  74. Dakota harrison says

    needing a hotspot for gaming, my wifi is trash. i have hughs net.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Dakota, we don’t have a hotspot device but all of our current smartphones have the hotspot feature built-in. You can find them all here.

  75. PK says

    What hotspot speeds does CC offer?

    • Hi PK, thanks for your question! We don’t have set speeds for hotspot features because it’s going to depend on your phone’s service strength for the data network. The better your connection is, the better your speeds will be.

  76. Chuck says

    My phone tethering feature was working. Got a new sim card to port a new number from verizon to change my cc number. Now when turning on tethering I get an error message that there is a nrtwork error and to call 611
    Spent 2 hours on the phone with customer service who could not resolve. Tethering was working on original SIM card. Now it’s not working with new sim card and phone number. I need someone to fix the broken network issue as I need the tethering feature.Perhaps a new SIM card and walk through all network settings with me
    I’d like to keep service but if CC can’t provide tethering I will need to change carriers
    Thanks

    • Hi Chuck, I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you’re having with that feature. We’d be happy to continue to look into that for you and help get that resolved. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with a live agent on our website here to follow up on this.

  77. Dan says

    Wanted to leave a comment here as far as sharing internet via hotspot.
    I have a nokia XR and when I had the hotspot turned on my connected devices could get internet. As I troubleshot the issue, I found the issue

    FIX: to share internet on nokia XR20, type DUN at the end of the ‘APN type’ field under APN setting. turn on and off airplane mode and reconnect.

  78. Sherise says

    I don’t see a mobile hotspot device available on your website. Can I purchase a device elsewhere and use it on my Consumer Cellular Plan?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Sherise, while we don’t offer a hotspot device all of our smartphones have the hotspot feature built-in so that a separate device isn’t needed. If you want to bring over a separate hotspot device, it will need to be unlocked, GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable, as well as have the option to edit the APN settings so it can be configured for our network.

  79. Paul Ward says

    I’m trying to understand the effect of allowing my grandson to use the hotspot I enabled on my phone. Will my bill change? Data usage go up? What will be the effect? He wants to Pokemon with me but doesn’t have WiFi when we go out to Pokemon stops. Thanks for hepling.

    • Hi Paul, those are some great questions and I’m happy to go over them. The hotspot can cause usage to increase on the phone for data if he’s connecting something to that hotspot feature. The usage can cause the bill to increase but if you’re keeping an eye on the usage via your online account, you can keep it so the bill doesn’t change.