How I turned my old Android phone into a Wi-Fi extender - and fixed dead spots at home

The quest for seamless internet connectivity is a never-ending battle for many of us. Dead zones, those pesky areas where Wi-Fi signals mysteriously disappear, can be a major source of frustration. While dedicated Wi-Fi extenders and mesh systems are effective solutions, there's another, often overlooked option: repurposing an old Android phone as a Wi-Fi extender.

I recently gave this method a try, and I'm surprised by how well it works. My experiment began with a Pixel phone that usually sits idle in a drawer, used occasionally for testing new Android features. I decided to breathe new life into it by turning it into a Wi-Fi extender.

The process is straightforward and requires minimal technical know-how. First, I powered on the phone and connected it to my home Wi-Fi network. Next, I enabled Android's Wi-Fi hotspot feature, which essentially turns the phone into a mini Wi-Fi router, rebroadcasting my existing connection.

To configure the hotspot, I set a custom network name and password, making it easy for devices to connect. I also tweaked a few settings, such as enabling the hotspot to turn off automatically when no devices are connected, and selecting a frequency (in this case, 2.4 GHz) to optimize compatibility and connection speed. One crucial step was to ensure the phone didn't switch to cellular data, which could run up my mobile bill.

I disabled mobile data in the SIM settings to prevent this. The placement of the phone proved to be a critical factor in its effectiveness as a Wi-Fi extender. I had to experiment with different locations before finding the sweet spot – somewhere between my router and the area where the signal drops off.

Keeping the phone plugged into a charger ensured it stayed powered on continuously. Once set up, I connected another device to the Wi-Fi hotspot network and tested the connection speeds. The results were promising.

While the phone didn't extend my internet speed, it successfully extended my home Wi-Fi coverage, providing a usable connection in problem areas. The connection was slightly slower than my main network, but it was more than sufficient for browsing, streaming, and basic work. If you're considering this approach, keep in mind that most modern Android phones support Wi-Fi hotspot features, and the setup process is usually quick.

However, if you need reliable, high-speed performance across your home, a dedicated Wi-Fi extender or mesh system might still be the better choice.