How to use your old Android phone as a Wi-Fi extender

If you have an old Android phone gathering dust in a drawer somewhere, you may already have everything you need to fix the dead zones in your home Wi-Fi network. Instead of buying new hardware, be it an extender, a mesh node or a more powerful router, you could just use an old Android device.

Most households have at least one old Android phone sitting forgotten somewhere, too outdated to use as a daily driver, but too functional to justify throwing it away. Before you drop it off for recycling , you should consider what it can still do for you. With nothing more than its built-in settings and a power outlet, that phone can pull double duty as a Wi-Fi extender, helping push your home network's signal into those room corners where signal is patchy at best.

You don't need any special apps, extra hardware or even advanced technical know-how. Android's built-in hotspot feature lets your phone connect to your existing Wi-Fi network and act as a repeater to broadcast it as a separate signal, thus extending coverage.

If your home has areas where the internet signal is weak, it can be quite annoying. While it's true that some things can be done — did you know there was a right way to position your router's antennas ? — it can be a nuisance until fixed. There are things you can buy, of course. Upgrading to a mesh system or getting a new router can be quite expensive, while a Wi-Fi extender can put you back about $50, depending on model. That's still money you could simply not spend by making use of tech you already have.

Your Android phone can connect to your existing home Wi-Fi network and rebroadcast the signal as a separate hotspot. You can then connect other devices, from laptops to tablets and smart TVs, to that Wi-Fi signal instead. Think of it as a signal relay, as the phone picks up Wi-Fi from your router and simply passes it along to other devices that need it. It's not a mesh system, and it won't perform as one, but it's a free and low-effort fix for weak coverage areas.

The process for this whole operation is quite straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Our starting point comes after you've already located your old Android phone, recharged it and run the latest updates.

Open Settings , go to Network & Internet > Internet . Select your home Wi-Fi network and enter the password when prompted.

Go to Settings > Hotspot and Tethering and toggle on Wi-Fi Hotspot. You can also find the Hotspot icon in the drop-down menu — you just need to know what all those Android status bar icons mean .