The basic approach: use your phone as a bridge

Most hotel WiFi networks block gaming consoles because they require you to accept terms of service or log in through a web page — something a PS5 cannot do on its own. Your phone can accept those terms, and then you can share that connection back to your PS5 through a personal hotspot. This works because your phone acts as a middleman between the hotel network and your console.

The process takes about ten minutes and requires only that your phone has a working data connection — either from the hotel WiFi itself or from your mobile carrier. You do not need to buy anything or contact the hotel's IT desk.

Key Takeaways

  • Hotel WiFi blocks PS5 because it requires you to log in through a web page, which the console cannot do — your phone can accept those terms for you.
  • You share your phone's internet connection to the PS5 by turning on your phone's personal hotspot and connecting the console to it as a wireless network.
  • Your phone needs either a working hotel WiFi connection or mobile data; if you use hotel WiFi on your phone, the PS5 will connect through your phone to that same network.
  • The PS5 will see your phone's hotspot as a regular WiFi network and will not know it is actually connected through your phone.
  • This method works for downloading games and playing online, though speeds depend on your phone's signal and the hotel's network quality.

Step 1: Get your phone connected to the hotel network

Open your phone's WiFi settings and select the hotel's network name from the list. Your phone will either connect when ready or prompt you to open a web browser. If a browser window opens automatically, look for a login page or a button that says "Accept" or "Agree to Terms." Tap it. If no browser opens, open Safari (iPhone) or Chrome (Android) and visit any website — this usually triggers the login page.

Once you see the login page, enter your room number or email address if required, accept the terms of service, and tap the button to connect. Your phone should now show the hotel WiFi as connected in your settings. Test it by opening a web page or app to confirm you have internet.

Step 2: Turn on your phone's personal hotspot

On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap Cellular, then Personal Hotspot, and toggle it on. You will see a blue bar at the top of your screen when the hotspot is active. The network name will be something like "James's iPhone" and will have a default password you can change if you want.

On Android: Go to Settings, tap Network & Internet (or Connections), then Hotspot and Tethering, and toggle Personal Hotspot on. The network name is usually your phone's name, and you can set a password in the same menu.

Leave your phone in this state — do not lock it or put it to sleep, as this may pause the hotspot. Keep it nearby while you set up the PS5.

Step 3: Connect the PS5 to your phone's hotspot

On your PS5, go to Settings, select Network, then Set Up Internet Connection. Choose WiFi, and your phone's hotspot should appear in the list of available networks. Tap it and enter the password (the one your phone is broadcasting, not the hotel password). The PS5 will connect and should show "Connected" in the network settings.

Do not worry if the connection shows as "Partial" or "Limited" at first — this is normal. The PS5 may ask if you want to test the connection; you can skip this or let it run. Once the PS5 shows it is connected to your phone's network, you are done with setup.

What to expect once you are connected

Your PS5 will now use the internet through your phone, which is using the hotel WiFi. read speeds will be slower than a direct connection because the data passes through your phone first. Expect speeds between 5 and 25 Mbps depending on how many people are using the hotel network and how far you are from the router. This is fast enough to read games (though large games may take several hours), stream video, and play online multiplayer.

Your phone will get warm while the hotspot is active, especially if the PS5 is downloading. This is normal. If your phone's battery drains quickly, plug it in while you use the hotspot. The hotel WiFi connection on your phone may drop if you leave the room or move too far from the router — if this happens, your PS5 will lose internet too, so stay in range.

Troubleshooting common problems

The PS5 cannot find your phone's hotspot: Make sure your phone's hotspot is actually on — check for the blue bar on iPhone or the hotspot icon on Android. Restart the hotspot by toggling it off and back on. On the PS5, go back to the network settings and select "Scan for Networks" to refresh the list.

The PS5 connects but has no internet: This usually means your phone lost the hotel WiFi connection. Check your phone's WiFi settings to confirm it still shows the hotel network as connected. If not, reconnect to the hotel WiFi and accept the terms again. Wait 30 seconds, then check the PS5 network settings — it should regain internet automatically.

The connection keeps dropping: Move your phone closer to the hotel router, or move the PS5 closer to your phone. Walls and distance weaken the hotspot signal. If the hotel WiFi itself is unstable, there is not much you can do — try connecting during off-peak hours (late night or early morning) when fewer guests are online.

When to use mobile data instead of hotel WiFi

If the hotel WiFi is very slow or keeps disconnecting, you can use your phone's mobile data instead. Turn off WiFi on your phone entirely, leaving only cellular data on. Then turn on the hotspot. The PS5 will connect to your phone's hotspot and use your mobile data plan instead of the hotel network. This works well if you have unlimited data or a large monthly allowance, but be aware that downloading a full game can use 50 to 100 GB, which will quickly exhaust most mobile plans.

Use this method only for smaller downloads or online play, not for installing large games. If you do choose mobile data, monitor your phone's data usage in your carrier's app to avoid unexpected overage charges. Some carriers offer temporary data increases or day passes that may be cheaper than overages if you plan to read a large game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the hotel know I am using a hotspot?

No. From the hotel's perspective, only your phone is connected to their network. The PS5 is invisible to them because it connects through your phone, not directly to their router. You are not violating any terms of service by doing this.

Can I use this method with other devices like a laptop or tablet?

Yes. Any device that can connect to WiFi can connect to your phone's hotspot the same way the PS5 does. You can connect multiple devices at once, though each one will share your phone's bandwidth and may slow down the connection.

What if my phone does not have a hotspot option?

All modern iPhones and Android phones have this feature. If you cannot find it, your phone may be very old or your mobile carrier may have disabled it. Contact your carrier to ask if they can turn it on, or ask the hotel if they have a wired ethernet connection you can use with a USB adapter instead.

Do I need to do this every time I turn on the PS5?

No. Once you connect the PS5 to your phone's hotspot, the console will remember that network. The next time you turn on the hotspot, the PS5 should reconnect automatically. You only need to repeat the setup steps if you forget the password or delete the network from the PS5's settings.

Will this work if the hotel requires a login every time I connect?

Yes. Your phone will handle the login each time it reconnects to the hotel WiFi. The PS5 does not need to log in again — it just connects to your phone's hotspot, which is already authenticated with the hotel network.