We can have the Internet pretty much anywhere nowadays. However, sometimes there may not be a Wi-Fi network available and you have to choose some alternatives to be able to navigate. One of them is to share network from mobile. And there we will also have several options. In this article we are going to explain how to share the Internet via Bluetooth and we will talk about its advantages and disadvantages .
What is Internet sharing via Bluetooth
There is the possibility of sharing Internet data from a mobile phone. For example, to be able to connect from a computer or tablet that does not have access to the network. Normally, we create a Wi-Fi network and connect to it from other devices. But there is also the option of using Bluetooth .
Basically we can say that it consists of sharing the Internet from one device to another, using Bluetooth technology. In this way we can have access to the network from devices that do not have them, such as a computer that we cannot put a SIM card on or a tablet. It will work similar to sharing it over Wi-Fi.
This is very useful when we are traveling, for example, and the only device that has access to the Internet is the mobile phone as it has 4G or 5G coverage. But if we have other devices or even go with other people who do not have a network, it is a very useful alternative to be able to navigate, be able to use messaging applications, etc.
Therefore, sharing Internet via Bluetooth is simply using this wireless network technology to be able to give Internet access to another device that you do not have. We will be able to do it on many mobiles that are compatible with this function.
Advantages and disadvantages
As always happens, there are positive and negative aspects that we must take into account. If you decide to share the Internet via Bluetooth between devices, you should be aware that it has certain limitations and, in many cases, you will have much worse results than if you share via Wi-Fi. But you will also see some advantages that can be useful at times.
Positive points
If we start with the advantages, one of them is that we are going to create a much more limited network . What does this mean? Range is going to be less. Bluetooth reaches much less than Wi-Fi and can only reach a few tens of meters at most.
This will increase security, since a possible intruder will have to be closer to the mobile with which we share the network. It will not be able to detect that connection if it is further away.
Another clear advantage is that you will be able to use it on devices that do not have a Wi-Fi card or it is damaged. If, for example, you have a laptop that needs the Internet and you use an external network adapter and you have forgotten it at home or it does not work well, as long as it has integrated Bluetooth you will be able to share a network.
One more point that we can consider positive, although with nuances, is that it will require less configuration . It is easier to activate and quickly have a connection without having to do much more. If you are interested in having access to the network without having to carry out multiple steps, it is another advantage to take into account.
For example, you will be able to connect without having to create a password as you would have to do with Wi-Fi. As the devices are linked together, there is no need to use a key. This will make the whole process faster.
drawbacks
If we go to the disadvantages section, we can say that they are more than the advantages. One of them is speed . If you want to surf the Internet fast, it is not the best option at all. Bluetooth is a much slower technology than Wi-Fi. It will be much more limited and it is not ideal for watching streaming videos or downloading large files, for example.
Another obvious negative point is the distance . You will not be able to connect devices from very far away. Maybe it will be useful if, for example, you are on a bus and you want to share the connection with the person next to you, but it would not be worth it to connect devices in a house as soon as you move away a little since it will start to go wrong or it will be cut off directly.
Power consumption is also a drawback. Although Bluetooth has improved a lot in recent years in this regard, it is still quite far compared to Wi-Fi when it comes to sharing an Internet connection. You will see that it will drain the battery more quickly than if you were to use Wi-Fi.
Beyond speed, latency will also be affected . The ping or latency is important to be as low as possible. This can affect a video call, an online game or simply browsing. You may notice cuts and that it is impossible to establish communication, for example.
On the other hand, there is also the limit of the number of connected devices . By Wi-Fi you will be able to connect several without problems. On the other hand, if you are going to share the Internet via Bluetooth, only a specific device can connect to the network.
How to share network by Bluetooth
So how can we share the Internet via Bluetooth ? The first thing you need is to have two devices compatible with this technology, although today it is common. From there, you will have to go to the device from which you are going to share data, enter Settings, Connections and go to Internet sharing and Modem. Different options will appear there and you click on Bluetooth Modem.
The next step is to use the device that needs to connect to the network. You have to go to Settings, Bluetooth and there look for the device that shares the network . It is necessary to link it and establish a connection between the two. The first device will receive a request to pair it.
It is important that on the device you are going to use to connect to the network, click on the menu that appears at the top right (next to the name of the other device) and check the Use for Internet connection box . From there, if both are compatible and everything goes well, you will start to receive an Internet connection.
To give you an idea, in our test we have shared Internet via Bluetooth from a phone to a tablet, with good coverage and speed on the phone, and when doing a speed test it has come out less than 0.50 Mbps both down and going up. However, this will also depend on the Bluetooth version you have. But logically you will not have results as if you connected via Wi-Fi.
These steps may change depending on the version you have, but this is usually the case for most mobile phones. You will simply have to look for a similar option.
Conclusions
In short, as you can see you can share the Internet via Bluetooth . It is not the best option, since the speed is going to be very limited and it has other disadvantages as you have seen. But it is an alternative on certain occasions, when you cannot share a network through Wi-Fi for some reason.
It is something that you will be able to configure in a simple way, without the need to use a password by being able to link the devices to each other. You can connect a tablet to a mobile, for example, without major difficulties. Also, pairing between devices is quite fast with current versions of Bluetooth.