If you are living in a large home and experiencing Wi-Fi connectivity issues across rooms, a Wi-Fi extender or repeater is an excellent choice to strengthen and expand the reach of your network. Instead of buying a brand new Wi-Fi extender, you can repurpose an old and spare Android phone using it to broaden the reach of your Wi-Fi network across your home. In this tutorial, I'll show you how you can convert an Android phone into a Wi-Fi extender or repeater. There are several ways to do it, and we'll look into all of the available options. You can even use your current Android phone for the same. Let's get started!
If you are using an old version of Android, some of the features mentioned below may not be available. Android 9+ is what I recommend as the bare minimum to effectively apply the methods given below.
Remember, there's a limit to the reach of the Wi-Fi signal extended by an Android smartphone. It can work flawlessly for up to 15 meters or so, but not more. So make sure you have realistic expectations.
Prerequisites: What You’ll Need
Before we move ahead, let's quickly take a look at the minimum requirements to use this feature on an Android phone. Here's the checklist:
- You must be running at least Android 9 (Pie) or above.
- A good and stable Wi-Fi connection.
- There should be an inbuilt Wi-Fi hotspot feature in your smartphone.
- A phone charger to keep your phone up and running throughout the day.
Now, let's dive into the details check out all the methods to convert an Android phone into a Wi-Fi extender.
Method 1: Use the Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot + Wi-Fi Sharing (No Root)
From Android 9 and onwards, there's a builtin feature to create a local Wi-Fi hotspot using your existing Wi-Fi conection, your phone is already connected to.
Almost every latest smartphone have this feature differing only in the way it is accessed in the settings menu. Let's see how to use this feature.
Follow the steps given below to use this feature.
Step 1: Connect Your Android Phone to the Main Wi-Fi Network
Go to the Settings → Wi-Fi option and scan the available networks. Pick your primary Wi-Fi network and connect to it.
Step 2: Enable Wi-Fi Sharing (i.e., Repeater Mode)
Once the primary network has been connected, it's time to enable Wi-Fi sharing and create a new hotspot for other devices to connect to. Here's how to do it on popular smartphone brands.
- On a Samsung Smartphone:
- Go to the Settings → Connections → Mobile Hotspot and Tethering option.
- Tap on the Mobile Hotspot option.
- Open the menu and find the Wi-Fi sharing option. Tap on it to turn it ON.
- On Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO Smartphones:
- Go to the Settings → Portable Hotspot → Wi-Fi Sharing option.
- Here you'll find the Wi-Fi Bridge mode. Enable it and it's done.
- On a OnePlus Smartphone:
- Go to the Settings → Wi-Fi & Network → Hotspot & Tethering → Wi-Fi hotspot option.
- Here, you'll find an option similar to Share Wi-Fi connection. Tap on it and activate it.
- On a Realme Smartphone:
- Go to the Settings → Connections & sharing → Personal hotspot option.
- Toggle it on to activate the local Wi-Fi hotspot.
Make sure to give an easily recognizable name (SSID) to your Wi-Fi hotspot with a strong password. Only share its connection details with trusted members.
Now your Wi-Fi hotspot is ready, extending the Wi-Fi signal of your primary network.
Step 3: Connect Other Devices
Once your local Wi-Fi hotspot is ready, you can connect the devices to this extended network. Whether it's your laptop, a desktop PC, or other smartphones, use the login credentials of this Wi-Fi network and enjoy its extended reach.
Method 2: Use a Third-Party App (If Native Support Is Missing)
If an inbuilt Wi-Fi hotspot facility is not available in your smartphone, you can use a 3rd-party app for the same. Here are some of the best apps you can use to extend your primary Wi-Fi network.
NetShare – No-root Tethering: It is one of the most popular apps that creates a Wi-Fi hotspot acting as a repeater or extender for your primary Wi-Fi network.
- Simply install and start the app. Thereafter, tap on the Start WiFi Hotspot option.
- Configure it by assigning your preferred password. It'll create a new Wi-Fi hotspot using a proxy or VPN bridge.
- Now you can connect other devices to it using the password assigned to this new hotspot.
This app shares your phone's internet with other devices on the same local network, like a signal booster.
Things to Be Aware Of
If you are going to use your spare phone as a Wi-Fi extender, here are some things you must know to make the experience better for everyone using the boosted network signal.
- Be aware that keeping a Wi-Fi hotspot 'ON' throughout the day and sharing it with other devices drains the battery quickly.
- If you plan to use it for an entire day, keep the phone plugged in to avoid battery drainage and uninterrupted connectivity.
- Placement of your extender phone is important. Keep it at the place where the signal is weakest to augment it, extending the network's reach effectively.
- Remember, the strength of the signal may not be as strong as a hardware repeater device, but it's good enough for daily home use.
Conclusion
Turning your Android phone into a Wi-Fi repeater is a clever and cost-effective way to solve signal problems. Whether you're using built-in features or third-party apps, it's a great way to breathe new life into an old phone.
So what are you waiting for? Grab that spare Android phone of yours and use it to expand the reach of your Wi-Fi network in your home.
