Why is my Mobile hotspot not working?

The internet has become a core part of how we work and play, to the point where some internet-connected devices can share their connection with other gadgets. Apart from your smartphone, your Windows 10 device can also be a mobile hotspot and share its internet connection to other computers.

The Windows mobile hotspot feature is convenient and often easy to use. However, sometimes your Windows 10 hotspot will stop working or prevent other devices from connecting to it. If you are experiencing problems with your mobile hotspot in Windows 10, below are some fixes you can try.

How to Troubleshoot Your Mobile Hotspot in Windows 10

Important note: Before you try any of the fixes below, you should check whether the problem is happening only on a specific device or with all of them. If it is only happening on a single device, the device is likely the problem and not your hotspot. Also, double-check that your internet connection is working well.

If you’ve established that the problem is with your computer, follow the fixes below.

1. Try Creating a New Connection

If you are experiencing mobile hotspot issues, delete the current connection your devices have and connect to the hotspot again. In most cases, a new connection can get rid of the authentication error and solve the issue.

2. Temporarily Turn Off Firewalls and Antivirus

Your system’s firewall, antivirus, or malware program can sometimes block your mobile hotspot. To determine whether this is the cause of the issue or not, turn off these apps and connect to your hotspot. If you can connect to it, turn on these apps and see which is causing the issue. If you still can’t, turn the programs on right away to keep your system protected.

3. Disable Bluetooth on Windows

Your computer's Bluetooth connection can sometimes interfere with your mobile hotspot. Disabling it can sometimes fix the issue. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings in your Windows 10 computer by pressing and holding Windows + X keys. Then, choose Settings on the menu.
2. In Settings, choose Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Then, set it as Off.

Connect to your hotspot and see if it works. If it doesn’t, move to the next fix.

4. Check Your Wi-Fi Adapter

In some cases, you may have a Wi-Fi adapter that doesn’t support the Windows mobile hotspot feature. Here's how to check your adapter can support this feature:

1. Press Win + S to open Windows Search.
2. Next, type CMD. Right-click on the Command Prompt search result and click Run as administrator.

3. A popup box will appear. Click Yes.
4. In the Command Prompt, type NETSH WLAN show drivers. Check for the line that says Hosted network supported and see if it says yes or no.

5. If it says no, your Wi-Fi adapter doesn’t support the mobile hotspot feature. Unfortunately, the only fix for this is to change your adapter. However, if it says yes and devices still can’t connect to your hotspot, follow the next fix.

5. Update All Essential Drivers

Downloading a free driver updater for Windows will quickly update all the essential drivers on your computer. However, if you don't want to install third-party software on your computer, you can update them using Windows Update settings. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings in your Windows 10 computer by pressing Win + X keys and choosing Settings on the menu.
2. Next, click Update & Security > Windows Update.
3. Then, click Check for updates.

4. Click the View optional updates option if it’s available. Then, click the Driver updates tab. Next, select the driver you want to update and click Download and install.

If there are no optional updates available, your essential drivers are up to date. Go on to the next fix.

6. Troubleshoot the Network Adapter

Windows 10 has built-in troubleshooting tools that help find and fix issues in your device. You can use this tool to fix any problems your network adapter has. Follow the steps below:

1. Press Win + S to open Windows Search.
2. Type Troubleshoot and select Troubleshoot settings from the result.
3. On the Troubleshoot page, click Additional troubleshooters.

4. Under the Find and fix other problems settings, select Network Adapter. Then click Run the troubleshooter. This will start the detection process.

5. On the dialogue box, you will be asked what network adapter to diagnose. Choose All network adapters and click Next.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix your computer’s hotspot.

If the troubleshooter finds an issue with your network adapter, it will either propose a fix or automatically deal with it. If it can’t find any problem, do the next step.

7. Link Your Internet With Your Hotspot Adapter

Another fix for this issue is linking your internet to your hotspot adapter. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Open Settings by pressing Win + X keys and choosing Settings on the menu.
2. In Settings, go to Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot.
3. Make sure that your mobile hotspot is on. Then, click Change adapter options under the Related Settings.

4. Right-click on the adapter that is connected to the internet. This could be your Wi-Fi or your Local Area Network (LAN). Then, click Properties.

5. Next, click the Sharing tab. Uncheck the option that says Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection, and click OK. (Skip this step if it is already unchecked.)

6. Then, right-click on your mobile hotspot’s adapter. Click Properties.

7. Under the Sharing tab, check the option that says Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.

8. A popup box will appear. Click OK.
9. Under the Home networking connection, select your mobile hotspot adapter.
10. Lastly, click OK.

Connect to your mobile hotspot again and see if it is working now. Otherwise, try the next solution.

8. Perform a Clean Boot

Your startup apps can sometimes cause conflicts with other Windows services. Disabling them can fix the hotspot issue. Here’s how you can perform a clean boot:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Next, type msconfig and click OK.
3. Click the Service tab, and select the Hide all Microsoft services box. Then click Disable all.

4. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.

5. Under Startup in the Task Manager, click each program and select Disable. Make sure to do this for all the apps in this tab.
6. Close the Task Manager to return to the System Configuration window and click OK.
7. Reboot your computer.

A clean boot can reduce software-related conflicts that can be the root cause of your mobile hotspot issue. These conflicts are caused by apps and services that run in the background whenever you start your computer. Once they’re disabled, your mobile hotspot should normally work again.

Getting Reconnected With the Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot

The mobile hotspot feature of Windows 10 is a great tool. However, if you can’t connect to it when you need to, this feature is useless. By following the fixes above, your hotspot will be up and running again. If the issue persists, using third-party software may be the solution.