Why is my Hotspot not Working on Android

Along with Android’s native hotspot feature, the mobile data on your Android phone can also be shared wirelessly along with other devices just like a computer, tablet, or any other mobile phone. The feature takes your cellular data and transmits it to many other devices through creating a Wi-Fi network from within your smartphone. Without even the need for any external transmitting device. In this article, we are going to talk about Why is my Hotspot not Working on Android. Let’s begin!

How Android Hotspot Works

Old smartphones as well as new ones come along with wireless transmitters that can also act as a mini WiFi router for the data it receives via a cellular network. When you guys switch on an Android hotspot, your mobile device treats your cellular connection. Just like a broadband modem and then uses the data to distribute it to a wireless network as if it were a router as well.

The device which you enabled as a hotspot will now be visible in your list of WiFi sources that are also available for connection nearby. You can turn ON your cellular data and Android hotspot, then you have got yourself internet access in order to connect all of your other devices.

How to fix Android hotspot not working problem

The following solutions can help you to solve the Android hotspot not working problem on your Android device.

Check if your mobile internet connection is working

The first thing you need to check when your mobile hotspot isn’t working is to see if your cellular data is actually available for use or not. You can also check if your mobile data is working via browsing through different websites or apps on the phone that is set as the hotspot as well.

Because most mobile data connections are metered if you guys cannot open a webpage or use an app. Then there’s a chance that you also have already surpassed the daily/monthly data limit that your ISP has set for you. Relying on how you have configured your carrier services like you might be able to use data beyond the limit. That could cost you more than your expected billing amount as well.

Turn WiFi OFF, then ON on the receiving device

In few instances, the internal WiFi modem on your phone might not be able to directly connect to a wireless network actually. Even if you have previously connected to the same network along with no problems. Turning the WiFi OFF on the receiver phone and switching it back ON might be able to solve the issue as well.

To switch your mobile WiFi OFF and ON, then swipe down on your screen from the top edge. In order to get the Quick Settings toggles and tap on the WiFi icon.

Just like that, you can also access this option via opening the Settings app on your phone. Choosing ‘Network and Internet’, and then toggling the switch adjacent to WiFi to OFF and then ON.

Change the frequency band to 2.4GHz | Hotspot not Working

Many recent Android devices allow you to connect to and create hotspots along with a 5GHz frequency band because it permits data to be transmitted faster over a wireless network.

However, some Android phones do not come along with the ability to connect to a 5GHz band. Also even if you managed to create one from one of your devices. In these cases, the 5GHz hotspot network that you created won’t even be visible on the unsupported receiving device, avoiding you from connecting to it.

If your device doesn’t really support 5GHz connections, you can also switch the Android hotspot to a 2.4GHz band. That is supported by any device which has WiFi support. You can do so vis opening the Settings app and going to Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot. On this screen, click on Advanced, then tap ‘AP band’ and choose ‘2.4 GHz band’ from the popup menu. Now try to connect your device to the hotspot network.

Restart your phone | Hotspot not Working

Modern smartphones work similarly to of computers and also most of the time, fixing an issue just needs a simple fix which is to restart the phone as well. When a device is restarted, then many low-level problems get resolved as your device’s cache and logs are clearing during the reboot process as well.

You can also restart an Android device via pressing and holding the power button on your phone and then clicking on the ‘Restart’ option that pops up on the screen.

Connect to the hotspot network and check if you are entering the correct password

Because the need for your Android hotspot only comes along with your primary internet connection fails. Then it’s important to go check if you’re actually connected to the mobile hotspot as well. You can also manually connect to a specific wireless network through going to Settings > Network and internet > WiFi and then choose the network you want to connect to.

If you guys have previously attempted to connect to the hotspot but entered an incorrect password. Then you might be unable to connect to the network as well. In order to solve this problem, open the WiFi Settings (Settings > Network and internet > WiFi), choose your network and tap on the ‘Forget’ button. This network will now remove from your ‘Saved networks’ list as well.

You can now manually connect to the hotspot via going into WiFi Settings as described above. Clicking on the wireless hotspot again and this time, then entering the correct password.

Verify if the problem is with the receiving device | Hotspot not Working

Many times it might not be the phone that’s used as the hotpot. However, the device you’re trying to connect it with that might have a problem. It could have something to do along with the device software or a hardware failure, avoiding it from connecting to the hotspot.

In order to check if the inability to connect to the hotspot is within the receiving device. Then try to connect to your Android hotspot on some other device. Such as a laptop, tablet, or another smartphone. If other devices are able to connect the hotspot, then there’s something wrong along with your receiver device.

Recreate a new Open network hotspot without password protection

Android hotspot tethering basically comes along with password protection. So that only you can connect to your device’s wireless network. And that it’s not exploited via others in your vicinity. But many times, your devices might just fail to connect to an encrypted network for no underlying reason.

Well, if your device isn’t able to connect to the hotspot even after entering the correct password. Then you should try switching to an Open network. You can do that via selecting your hotspot connection (Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot). Clicking on Security, and then choosing ‘None’ rather than ‘WPA2-Personal’.

You can also change the hotspot name to prevent any previous connection problems. Now try to connect to the new hotspot network. If your device is successfully able to connect to the open network, then you can try creating a new hotspot network along with password protection. In order to keep it from getting exploi via others around you. If not, then leave your network open.

Check if you have surpassed your daily mobile data limit

Besides your carrier restricting you from accessing the internet after you guys have consumed a significant amount of data. Then your Android device can also be configured in order to issue a warning whenever you’re closing in on your daily/monthly data consumption as well. This not only monitors your data consumption, however, also sets a limit beyond. That your device won’t be able to access the internet, also even if your carrier lets you do it.

The option in order to set mobile data limits dates all the way back to Android 4.4 KitKat. That means almost all the Android devices that you guys might see in the market come along with the feature, under different names. If you have reached your daily or monthly data limit on your Android phone. Then sharing your internet connection via a mobile hotpot will result in then no internet access on the receiving smartphone.

You can proceed to turn off this limit via going to Settings > Network and Internet > Mobile network > Data warning & limit and then toggling OFF the ‘Set data limit’ option as well.

Create an open network hotspot, connect to this network, and switch the hotspot back to a password-protected network

You can now easily create a new network as we mentioned in Solution. In order to help you protect your open hotspot, you can take this important precaution before you continue via your hotspot. This solution relies on the fact that your device is successfully able to host a hotspot network.

Here, you guys will first be creating an open network and then connect your other device to this open network as well. When the device connects to the hotspot, then head to Settings > Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot. On this screen, tap on ‘Security, select ‘WPA2-Personal’, and then also create a password for your hotspot.

Now try to connect devices to this password-protected hotspot (you don’t need to forget this network) and enter the password. That you just used to create the password-protected network as well. If the device successfully connects to this network, then your issue should be considered resolved.

Disable Battery saving mode | Hotspot not Working

Android also has a built-in battery-saving mode that turns off a lot of power-consuming features of a phone in order to run the bare essentials. The Android hotspot with battery saver mode enabled can many times affect the former’s functionality. That leaving you along with no hotspot to connect to.

It’s thus advisable to turn off Battery Saver mode on your phone whenever it is using as a mobile hotspot. In order to turn off Battery Saver on your phone, open Settings, head to Battery > Battery Saver, and click on the ‘Turn off now’ button.

Reboot your phone into safe mode

If none of the above solutions work and you guys have tried rebooting your phone normally. Then you can proceed in order to restart your phone, however, in Safe mode. Booting up your Android device in safe mode lets you check if an ongoing problem is being caused because of a third-party app. That’s because, in Safe mode, all third-party apps are disabled via default and do not start up unless opened as well.

You can also reboot your phone into safe mode via tapping. And holding the Power button until the Power menu appears. On the Power menu, click and hold on the Power off button after that you will be asked if you want to ‘Reboot to safe mode. Click on OK and let your device restart and boot into Safe mode as well.

When inside Safe mode, try to enable the Android hotspot and check if it works. Reboot back to normal Android via tapping and holding the Power button whenever done.

Try Bluetooth tethering rather

Besides WiFi tethering, Android also takes benefit of the inbuilt Bluetooth components to tether your cellular data to many other devices wirelessly. Although slower than traditional WiFi networks, also Bluetooth tethering is a also reliable alternative. If you want to use your Android device’s mobile data on many other device.

You can turn on Bluetooth tethering via opening the Settings app and heading over to Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering. Here, click on the toggle adjacent to ‘Bluetooth tethering’ in order to ON. And you will be able to share your phone’s internet connection. Through pairing it to the receiving device via Bluetooth as well.

Editing access point inside Mobile network

In one of the responses to a Pixel Phone help page, then a user suggested that they were able in order to solve the hotspot not working issue via editing the access point settings of the mobile network. Many other commenters to the post have also report that this fix work in making hotspots on their phones work.

The fix essentially also involves modifying APN type inside access point settings. In order to do that, head over to the access point settings screen on your phone via opening the Settings app and going to Network and internet > Mobile network > Advanced > Access point names. Click on the 3-dots icon at the top right and choose ‘New APN’.

Inside this ‘Edit access point’ screen, and click on the ‘APN type’ and here, enter “, DUN” inside the APN box. After this, save the new access point name via clicking on the 3-dots icon and choosing ‘Save’. This should resolve your hotspot internet as well

Reset your phone’s Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth settings

Android also lets you reset a few settings within your phone before you decide in order to erase your phone in all its entirety. Inside the Settings app, you guys can individually reset just your phone’s network settings similar to how iOS offers a dedicated option for the same as well.

You can also clear your network settings on Android via opening the Settings app, going to System > Advanced > Reset options. And choosing the ‘Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth’ option. Now, wait till Android clears your network settings, set up a new hotspot connection on your phone. And then check if the mobile hotspot is working.

Reset the device to factory settings | Hotspot not Working

If you’ve reached a scenario where none of the above solutions solve your Android hotspot problem. Then your only option is just to reset your Android phone to its factory setting as well. Bare in mind that resetting your device to factory settings will delete all of your user data. Also including your pictures, videos, settings, contacts, and many other info. So do this only if you’re out of any other option as well.

To factory reset your device, just open the Settings app, and head to System > Advanced > Reset options and select ‘Erase all data (factory reset)’.

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this “Hotspot not Working” article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

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