Steps to Fix Mobile Hotspot not working on Windows 10

In addition to a smartphone, a Windows 10 device can also be a mobile hotspot and share its Internet connection with other computers.

Windows' Mobile Hotspot feature is convenient and generally easy to use. However, sometimes your Windows 10 hotspot will stop working or prevent other devices from connecting to it. If you are having problems with your mobile hotspot in Windows 10, here are some fixes you can try.

How to fix Mobile Hotspot problems on Windows 10

Important Note: Before trying any of the fixes below, you should check if the problem only occurs on a specific device or all. If the problem only occurs on one device, that device may be the problem and not your hotspot. Also, double check that your Internet connection is working properly.

If you think the problem is with your computer, follow the fixes below.

1. Try creating a new connection

If you're having issues with the mobile hotspot, remove the current connection your device has, and then reconnect to the hotspot. In most cases, a new connection can eliminate the authentication error and solve the problem.

2. Temporarily turn off firewall and anti-virus software

Your system's firewall, antivirus, or malware program can sometimes block your mobile hotspot. To determine if this is the cause of the problem, disable these apps and connect to the hotspot. If you can connect to the hotspot, enable these apps and see which is causing the problem. If you still cannot connect, re-enable these programs immediately to keep the system protected.

3. Turn off Bluetooth on Windows

Your computer's Bluetooth connection can sometimes interfere with mobile hotspots. Turning off Bluetooth can sometimes fix the problem. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Open Settings in Windows 10 computer by pressing and holding Windows key + X. Then, select Settings on the menu.

Step 2: In Settings, select Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Then set it to Off.

Connect to the hotspot and see if it works. If not, move on to the next fix.

4. Check WiFi adapter

In some cases, you may have a WiFi adapter that doesn't support the Windows portable hotspot feature. Here's how to check if your adapter can support this feature:

Step 1: Press Win + S to open Windows Search.

Step 2: Next, type CMD. Right-click on the Command Prompt search result and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: A pop-up box will appear. Click Yes.

Step 4: In Command Prompt, type NETSH WLAN show drivers. Check the Hosted network supported line and see if it is Yes or No.

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Step 5: If the result is No, it means that your WiFi adapter does not support the mobile hotspot feature. Unfortunately, the only fix for this is to change the adapter. However, if the result is Yes and the devices still cannot connect to the hotspot, follow the next fix.

5. Update all necessary drivers

Downloading the free driver updater for Windows will quickly update all the necessary drivers on your computer. However, if you do not want to install third-party software on your computer, you can update them using the Windows Update settings.

If optional updates are not available, the necessary drivers have been updated. Continue with the next option.

6. Troubleshooting with network adapters

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

Step 1: Press Win + S to open Windows Search.

Step 2: Type Troubleshoot and select Troubleshoot settings from the results.

Step 3: On the Troubleshoot page, click Additional troubleshooters.

Step 4: In the Find and fix other problems settings, select Network Adapter. Then click Run the troubleshooter to start the detection process.

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Step 5: On the dialog box, you will be asked which network adapter you want to diagnose. Select All network adapters and click Next.

Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the hotspot error on your computer.

If the troubleshooter finds a problem with your network adapter, it will suggest a fix or auto-resolve it. If it can't find any problems, go to the next step.

7. Connect to the Internet with hotspot adapter

Another fix for this problem is to link the Internet to the hotspot adapter. To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open Settings by pressing Win + X key and select Settings on the menu.

Step 2: In Settings, go to Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot.

Step 3: Make sure that the mobile hotspot is on. Then, click Change adapter options under Related Settings.

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Step 4: Right-click the adapter connected to the Internet. This could be your WiFi or local area network (LAN). Then click Properties.

Step 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).

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Step 6: Then, right click on the mobile hotspot's adapter. Click Properties.

Step 7: Under the Sharing tab, select the option that says Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.

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Step 8: A pop-up box will appear. Click OK.

Step 9: In the Home networking connection section, select your mobile hotspot adapter.

Step 10: Finally, click OK.

Reconnect to the mobile hotspot and see if it's working. If not, try the next solution.

8. Perform Clean Boot

Startup applications can sometimes cause conflicts with other Windows services. Disabling them may fix hotspot issues. This is how you can do a Clean Boot.

Clean Boot can reduce software-related conflicts, the root cause of mobile hotspot problems. These conflicts are caused by applications and services running in the background whenever you start your computer. Once they are disabled, the mobile hotspot will work normally again.

Micah Soto

Update 03 December 2021