If you use a personal hotspot, you have likely experienced other users jumping on when you don’t want them to! So if you’re wondering how to remove unwanted devices from your hotspot, this article is for you! We have the instructions to get those devices off right now.
To remove unwanted devices from a hotspot, you can change the password and keep it private, so no one can connect without your explicit permission. Or you can specifically remove and block individual devices once they have connected.
Now, if you want to learn how to see who is using your hotspot, how to change your password, and how to block devices, read on! All the information you need to get rid of unwanted devices on your hotspot is right here.
How Do I See Who Is Using My Hotspot?
The very first thing you need to know how to do is to view which devices are actually connected to your hotspot at any time.
So, here’s what you need to do:
- Navigate to your Settings menu.Select Mobile Hotspot and Tethering. If the hotspot is on, you will see a list of connected devices at the bottom of the screen.
It’s important to note that sometimes, the names of the devices are numerical and alphabetical sequences that don’t give away the make or model of the device.
However, most of the time, it will show something like “Galaxy A09-0406,” and you can tell a Galaxy phone is connected.
Now, knowing which devices are connected to your hotspot is only half the battle. The next step is figuring out how to remove the unwanted devices!
How Do I Remove Devices From My Hotspot?
Alright, let’s talk about removing unwanted devices from your hotspot!
Essentially, there are 2 ways to do this:
- Create a new and private password. Block specific devices from using the hotspot network.
Both options will only take a few moments, so you can follow the instructions below and get rid of unwelcome users on your hotspot right now.
Create a New Password
The easiest way to control who can or cannot connect to your hotspot is to create a personal and secret password that you only give out to those who you want to allow to use the hotspot.
If you don’t know what kind of device your friends and family are using to connect, it can be a challenge to figure out who is using which device name.
Using a password is a great way to ensure no unwanted guests can connect.
So, here’s how to create a new password for your mobile hotspot:
- Open the Settings menu on your device. Select Mobile Hotspot & Tethering (on some phones, you have to click Cellular first.)Click Configure.Select the option labeled Password. Enter a personal and private password. Click Save.
That’s all there is to it! Now, even devices that have connected in the past will need to use the new password if they want to pair with your hotspot!
Block Specific Devices
The next option to remove unwanted devices from your hotspot is to block specific devices.
While this process is simple, there is one factor to note: The device needs to already be connected to the hotspot in order to block it.
But if there are unwanted devices connected to your hotspot and you want to get rid of them right now, here’s what you should do:
- Open the Settings menu on your device. Select Mobile Hotspot & Tethering (on some phones, you have to click Cellular first.)The list of connected devices will appear at the bottom of the screen.Select the device you want to block.Click Block.
From now on, that device will never be able to connect to your hotspot unless you manually unblock it by following the same instructions.
Can I See What Someone Is Doing On My Hotspot?
Another question many hotspot users ask is whether or not you can see what someone is doing when connected.
While it is possible, it’s pretty tricky. In order to see what someone is doing on their own device while connected to your hotspot, you need to install a network-sharing app on their device.
So unless you have access to that device and have an understanding of tech devices, you cannot see what they are downloading, looking at, or accessing while connected to your hotspot.
The Bottom Line
So, how do you remove unwanted devices from your hotspot? You know the answer to this one by now!
But just in case you forgot, there are two ways to remove unwanted devices from using your hotspot: You can change the password or individually block devices.
Now, you can enjoy using your hotspot without others who you don’t want on it having access!