Call Casting and Instant Hotspot Available on Android Devices – Unless You’re Using a Samsung Phone

(Some) Android users are about to have a much easier time sharing the internet with their WiFi-only devices. The new internet sharing feature is currently rolling out in beta, and it works as an instant hotspot for any Android device, right down to a Chromebook, without requiring a password. It should all work smoothly, unless your primary phone is a Samsung Galaxy. If so, sorry, you’re out of luck.

Every Android mobile device should now or soon allow you to dive into Settings, Google, Devices, and Sharing, and then toggle the cross-device services option. As detailed in 9to5Googlewho first spotted the update, it should walk you through setting up device groups with different Android phones, tablets, and even a Chromebook. The feature is still rolling out and is currently in the latest beta version of Google Play Services. Users should receive the features “as soon as they’re released,” according to the feature Support Page.

Google has showcased some of these features for the first time on its I/O Developer Conference in May. Internet sharing is definitely the more useful of the two. Any of those phones or tablets in your device group can instantly connect to 5G when you’re out and about. Plus, the sharing features should let you more easily transfer calls between Android devices. For example, it should be easy to transfer a Meet call to your tablet using the app’s new cast icon. Right now, video sharing is limited to Google Meet and Gmail.

But there are a few major issues that could render the new update useless. The biggest problem is that if you’re using a Samsung phone, you won’t be able to take advantage of the new instant hotspot feature. On its support page, Google recommends Galaxy users try out the Galaxy’s Auto Hotspot feature.

Samsung’s Auto Hotspot automatically connects to devices that share your Samsung account or are already part of your Samsung account family group. I personally don’t use any other devices other than my Galaxy products with my Samsung account, so it’s not as immediately useful as Google’s internet sharing. If you’re just a big Samsung fan, then you won’t care. Otherwise, Galaxy users are missing out.

We knew about it limit since it was first announced, but it’s still a disappointment. Still, Galaxy users can already connect to Windows 11 PCs using the Phone Link app’s instant hotspot feature. It’s already useful, but this limitation is just another symptom of an increasingly A garden surrounded by a wall resembling an apple sensibilities.

Galaxy phones remain the most popular Android devices in the US, so millions of people will lose them. Samsung users can now enjoy a range of Google devices features like Circle to Search and Gemini. This manages to coexist with Samsung’s own AI features. Why can’t we share the love with instant hotspots?