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.
I cannot find activation code anywhere on packaging
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!
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
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!
How do I set up call forwarding on my phone?
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!
10 laptops? Wouldn’t that require an unlimited plan?
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!
May I use tracphone device? I have 8 of them.
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!
What is the fee to activate the hotspot on the iphone, please?
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!
I am looking for pricing on using my phone for a mobile hotspot. Where can I find that?
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!
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.
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!
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?
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
Thank you for posting, Rich! Many of our customers find that our call-back feature is quite convenient.
I’m trying to figure out how to attach the lanyard to my Doro 626. Looks like it isn’t possible. Is it?
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
Hi, I am thinking of getting an IPAD with Cellular. Can I use the same phone number as my IPHONE….Thanks
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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?
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!
Activated me please
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!
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?
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!
Hello… After the $80 purchase price for your mobile hot-spot is there a monthly fee for usage? Thank you
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.
Does the ZTE mobile hotspot require another line or does it share my cellular phone line?
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!
How can I set up my personal hotspot
Hi Ashelyn, you can get your personal hotspot set up by calling us at 888-345-5510 or chatting with us here.
Please send me one.
Hi Thom, thank you for your post! If you would like to order service with us you can do so by giving us a call at 888-345-5509 otherwise, you can also sign up by visiting our website here.
Please enable the mobile hotspot for my account.
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.
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.
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.
.
Hi Nancy, we appreciate you taking the time to post your feedback on this. I have gone ahead and sent your suggestion up so that we can review it internally for moving forward. Thank you!
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.
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.
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
Hi Brent, thanks for your post! It looks like you were able to speak with an agent about this and get that feature enabled. If you need help with anything else just let us know!
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?
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.
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.
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.
wow looks cool and simple
Hi
Hi Jamear! Just let us know if you have any questions about our service!
Could you activate my iPhone 7 mobile hotspot
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.
Is there a new are noble not spot if not what is the price . I have misplaced mine .
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.
What about the tablet that I have a fire hd
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.
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.
Can I set up the hotspot myself or do I need to call CC?
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.
Can I use my house phone as a hotspot
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hello, can you enable mobile hotspot on my phone please?
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.
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.
Moble hot spot cost
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.
You are not an expert, by any chance?
Hi Rodney, thanks for your question! Any of our agents can help you with your questions regarding our service if you have any.
can i use my flip phone as a hotspot how does this work if i can
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.
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.
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.
I love my consumer cellular. I would like to have mobile hotspot enabled on my phone please. Thanks
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.
Hi Beth, thanks for your feedback on this! We have gone ahead and passed that suggestion along to be looked into for the future. Thanks!
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.