14 DAY TRIAL // We’ve known for a while that Microsoft was working to make Windows 11 PCs and Android devices the best buddies on the planet, so the company’s latest announcement shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
The software giant revealed that the Phone Link app is getting a new feature that will allow users to access the phone hotspot from their Windows computers.
The new option will only be available on Samsung smartphones, and needless to say, it’s now rolling out to users in the Windows Insider program.
“We’re excited to announce that you can now instantly access your mobile phone’s hotspot on your PC via the Phone Link app. The instant hotspot feature lets you securely start and connect to your phone’s Wi-Fi network without touching your phone,” the company explained in an announcement earlier this week.
“When your phone is within range it will appear in the Wi-Fi network list on your PC where a single click turns on the phone’s hotspot and connects to it. No more remembering and typing passwords or searching for hotspot settings on the phone. This provides an easier and faster way to repeatedly connect to your hotspot when you are on the go.”
Worth knowing, however, is that the feature comes with several requirements, including a SIM card with a hotspot-capable plan. Here’s the full list of requirements, as provided by Microsoft:
- Samsung device with One UI 4.1.1+
- PC must have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters
- Sim card with hotspot capable plan
- Windows 11, version 22H2 Build 22621 and higher
- Phone Link desktop app in version v1.22082.111.0 or greater
- Link To Windows phone app (pre-installed on Samsung devices) in version v1.22082.142.0 or greater. Please ensure that your app is up to date on your Samsung device.