Top 24 Ways To Fix Android Mobile Hotspot Not Working

The hotspot is one of the nicest things every Android user has on their device. It allows you to share your internet connection over Wi-Fi with others. But what if the Android hotspot fails to function?

It is undeniably valuable but may cause problems when it stops operating. This issue has existed for a long time. Users continue to report that they have encountered a mobile hotspot not functioning on Android when attempting to connect to it via other devices.

Users are curious why my hotspot is not working on android devices. If you are one of these customers and are in the same predicament, you are probably seeking answers.

So here’s some wonderful news for you: I created this article after reading through various forums and studying user reports. I’ve compiled a list of all the tried, tested, and workable ways that have assisted people in resolving the hotspot stopped functioning on Android issue.

So, let’s go through this post and figure out why this is happening on your device and how to remedy it.

What is Android Hotspot?

The mobile data on your Android phone may be wirelessly shared with devices such as a computer, tablet, or other mobile phones using Android’s native hotspot capability. The capability sends cellular data to other devices by establishing a Wi-Fi network from within your smartphone, eliminating the need for an additional transmitting device.

How does Android Hotspot Works?

Both old and modern smartphones include wireless transmitters that may function as a tiny WiFi router for data received over a cellular network. When you activate an Android hotspot, your mobile device utilizes your cellular connection as a broadband modem, distributing data to a wireless network as if it were a router.

The device you designated a hotspot will now appear in your list of WiFi providers accessible for nearby connections. When you activate your cellular data and Android hotspot, you will have internet access to connect all of your other devices.

Android Mobile Hotspot Not Working(Causes):

Mobile hotspots frequently function flawlessly on smartphones. However, this does not imply it is without flaws. Hotspots can sometimes have problems and stop responding to devices.

If your phone’s mobile hotspot is also not working, you may ask why this is happening. So, here are some of the possible causes of your Android device’s Hotspot not working issue:

• If your phone carrier is having technical difficulties, it may interfere with the operation of your Hotspot.
• If your mobile service provider does not support the Hotspot capability.
• A weak signal can also be blamed for the hotspot not working issue.
• If you have used all your daily mobile data allowance.
• If you have enabled the Power Saver or Data Saver option on your Android smartphone, you may also have this hotspot issue.
• If the recipient phone has an issue, it may fail to receive the hotspot.
• When you input an incorrect WiFi password or name.
• If the network configuration is incorrect.
• Alternatively, if your VPN service is down.

How to Fix Android Mobile Hotspot Not Working Problem?

The options listed below might assist you in resolving the Android mobile hotspot not working issue on your Android smartphone.

1. Check if your mobile internet connection is working
2. Force Restart Your Android Phone
3. Make Sure Hotspot Is Enabled
4. Switch Off And On Mobile Wi-Fi
5. Check Whether Mobile Data Is Turned On
6. Connect Your Device With Correct Wi-Fi And Password
7. Update Your Android Phone To Latest Version
8. Disable Battery Saver Mode
9. Make Sure You Have Not Exceeded Daily Data Limit
10. Turn Off Automatic Switching Of Hotspot
11.  Switch Off Smart Network Switch
12. Recreate a New Hotspot
13. Check the Bandwidth
14. Check the Receiving Device
15. Reset Mobile, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi Settings
16. Edit Access Point of Mobile Network
17. Disable VPN
18. Reboot Phone Into Safe Mode
19. Do Factory Reset
20. Take Your Device To Service Center
21. Clear Cache data
22. Force Stop and Clear Storage of the Settings app
23. Check the Limit of Connected Devices
24. Disable the Smart Network Switch or Wi-Fi assistant

Now let us go through each solution one by one:

Solution 1: Check if your mobile internet connection is working

When your mobile hotspot stops operating, you should first check to verify if your cellular data is still active. You may test your mobile data by surfing through various websites or applications on the phone designated as the hotspot.

Because most mobile data connections are metered, you may have already exceeded your ISP’s daily/monthly usage limit if you cannot browse a webpage or utilize an app.

Depending on how your carrier services are arranged, you may be able to utilize data over the limit, which may cost you more than your estimated monthly amount.

Solution 2: Force Restart Your Android Phone

Restarting your Android phone when you get an issue on the device will resolve it. Many minor faults may prevent your phone from functioning properly, but everything is repaired once the phone restarts.

Hopefully, resetting your phone will address the issue with the hotspot you’re using.

So simply take these steps:

• First, hold the Power button for a few seconds until the “Options” menu appears.
• Now, choose “Restart” or “Power off,” and your phone will restart.
• After that, check to see if your phone’s hotspot is operational.

Solution 3: Make Sure Hotspot Is Enabled

If you want to utilize your mobile hotspot on your laptop or another device, you must first enable your Android handset’s mobile hotspot. To enable your mobile hotspot, follow these instructions.

• Go to your Android device’s Settings and select Portable hotspot or Mobile hotspot, depending on your phone type.

• Finally, activate the option next to Portable or Mobile hotspot.

Solution 4: Switch Off And On Mobile Wi-Fi

In certain cases, your phone’s internal WiFi modem may be unable to connect directly to a wireless network, even if you have previously connected to the same network without issue. Turning off and then back on the WiFi on the receiver phone may resolve the problem.

As a result, if you merely activate Wi-Fi, the problem may resolve itself. Take the following steps:

• First, navigate to Settings > Network & Internet.
• Then, if it is not already enabled, click on “Wi-Fi.”

Solution 5: Check Whether Mobile Data Is Turned On

If your mind is still blank, try to see if mobile data is turned on. It’s simple to understand:

• First, navigate to the phone’s Settings.
• Then select Wireless & Networks or Connection.
• Now select either Mobile data or Cellular data. On some phones, you must choose “Data Usage.”
• You may also enable mobile data here. If it is already turned on, turn it off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.

Solution 6: Connect Your Device With Correct Wi-Fi And Password

Most users’ most common issue is entering the incorrect password while connecting to a hotspot. If you input an incorrect password, you may have to disconnect from the network and reconnect to resolve the Wi-Fi Hotspot is not working issue.

• Open your device’s Settings and select Wi-Fi or Network and internet, depending on your phone.
• Now, press on the hotspot network you want to connect to and choose ‘Forget network.’
• Finally, you may connect your smartphone by tapping on the hotspot network and entering the necessary password.

Solution 7: Update Your Android Phone To Latest Version

Check to see if your phone has the latest version updates. You could have trouble connecting to or sharing your mobile hotspot using an older version. As a result, you may use these procedures to see if your device is up to date.

As a result, you should upgrade your device once by following the procedures below:

• First, navigate to Settings > About Phone.

• Now, choose System updates to see if any updates are available. If an update is available, click on it to update your device.

Solution 8: Disable Battery Saver Mode

You may be unable to utilize your mobile hotspot if you enable power saving on your smartphone. Battery saving mode is a great function for preserving and conserving your device’s battery level.

This feature, however, may prohibit you from using your hotspot. Disabling the battery-saving option might help you address Mobile Hotspot not functioning on Android:

• Open your device’s Settings app and select Battery and performance or Battery Saver.
• Finally, disable the feature by turning off the toggle next to the Battery Saver.

Check to see if your mobile hotspot is operational. If not, proceed to the next method.

Solution 9: Make Sure You Have Not Exceeded Daily Data Limit

In addition to your carrier blocking internet access after a certain amount of data has been spent, your Android smartphone may is programmed to provide a warning when you’re approaching your daily/monthly data usage. 

This not only monitors your data use but also establishes a limit over which your device will be unable to connect to the internet, even if your carrier allows it.

The ability to establish mobile data limitations goes back to Android 4.4 KitKat, which means that practically all Android handsets on the market have the capability, albeit under different names. 

If your Android phone’s daily/monthly data limit has been surpassed, sharing your internet connection via a mobile hotspot will result in no internet access on the receiving smartphone.

You can check the data limit by:

• Go to device settings.
• Tap on the Network and Internet.
• Go to the Mobile Network.
• Tap on the Data warning & limit.
• Turn off the Set Data Limit.

Solution 10: Turn Off Automatic Switching Of Hotspot

When no devices are connected or when the receiving devices go into sleep mode, most Android smartphones automatically switch off the hotspot.

Even if you restart the receiving device, your Android handset may switch off the Hotspot.

To resolve the Android Wi-Fi Hotspot’s not functioning problem, perform the following steps to disable the feature:

• Navigate to Network and Internet or Portable hotspot in your device’s Settings.
• Finally, deactivate the switch next to ‘Turn off hotspot automatically.’

When you turn off this function, your hotspot will remain operational even if no devices are connected.

Solution 11: Switch Off Smart Network Switch

If you’re unfamiliar with Smart Network Switch, it works in the background to determine if your device is receiving a proper internet connection. However, it frequently causes connection problems.

Follow the steps outlined below:

• To begin, navigate to Menu > Settings > Wi-Fi.
• Now, in the top left corner, select More.
• Finally, click “Smart Network Switch” to turn it off.

Smart Network Switch is successfully deactivated after these adjustments, and hotspots may be readily connected.

Solution 12: Recreate a New Hotspot

Android hotspot tethering includes password security to ensure that only you can connect to your device’s wireless network and that others do not abuse it in your neighborhood. However, your devices may occasionally fail to connect to an encrypted network for no apparent reason.

If your device cannot connect to the hotspot despite entering the correct password, consider switching to an Open network. You may do so by:

• Activate the notification panel.
• Long press on the Hotspot symbol to activate it.
• Navigate to the Set up portable hotspot option on the Portable hotspot screen.
• If you wish to remove the password from your Hotspot connection, go to Security and choose None.

• Alternatively, to change the current password, go to the Password area and input the new password. Then, in the top-right corner of the screen, hit the Save or check button.

You may also alter the hotspot’s name to avoid any past connectivity issues. Connect to the new hotspot network now. If your device successfully connects to an open network, you may try creating a new hotspot network with password security to prevent it from being misused by others. Otherwise, leave your network open.

Open networks leave you vulnerable to someone else attempting to access your internet connection, which might result in spending more than you should for your monthly cellphone payment.

Solution 13: Check the Bandwidth

Because it allows data to be delivered quickly via a wireless network, many modern Android smartphones allow you to connect to and establish hotspots with a 5GHz frequency band.

However, even if you manage to build one from one of your devices, certain Android phones do not come with the ability to connect to a 5GHz band. In such instances, the 5GHz hotspot network you set up will be invisible to the unsupported receiving device, preventing you from connecting to it.

So, if your phone does not support the 5GHz frequency, use the 2.4GHz bandwidth instead. You may accomplish this by taking the following steps:

• Navigate to the Settings menu.
• Navigate to the Portable hotspot.
• Tap the Set up portable hotspot button.
• Select the AP band selection.

• Select the 2.4 GHz band here.

Connect your smartphone to the hotspot network now.

Solution 14: Check the Receiving Device

The problem may be not with the phone acting as the hotspot but with the device you’re attempting to connect to. It might be related to the device’s software or a hardware malfunction that prevents it from connecting to the hotspot.

To see if the problem is with the receiving device, try connecting to your Android hotspot on another device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. If other devices can connect to the hotspot, something is amiss with your receiving device.

If you try to connect your device to the hotspot from another device, the device connection does not appear in your list of Wi-Fi connections. In this case, you may try restarting your Wi-Fi to resolve the Android Wi-Fi Hotspot is not working issue. Take the following actions.

• Navigate to your device’s Settings’ Wi-Fi or Network and internet section. 
• Turn off the toggle next to Wi-Fi and then turn it back on.

We hope that toggling your Wi-Fi on and off will resolve the mobile hotspot issue on your device.

Solution 15: Reset Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile Settings

If you can’t find out why your mobile hotspot isn’t operating properly, you may reset your device’s Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth settings. Instead of resetting your entire phone, Android devices allow you to reset certain Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth settings.

• Navigate to Connection and share in your device’s Settings. 
• Some users may need to enter System Settings and navigate to the Advanced tab to access the reset options.

• Preset Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth under Connection and sharing.
• Finally, at the bottom of the screen, select Reset settings.

Once your Android device’s Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings have been reset, you may configure your hotspot connection and see whether you can connect to or share the wireless network.

Solution 16: Edit Access Point of Mobile Network

Several people have solved the hotspot not functioning issue in several forums by altering the mobile network’s access point. Many other people followed similar advice and were also able to resolve the issue.

In this approach, you will essentially adjust the APN. To modify the access point, go through the following steps:

• Navigate to the Settings page.
• Navigate to SIM cards and mobile networks.
• Select your Mobile Network.
• Then choose the Access point names tab.
• Select the New APN option.

• Navigate to the APN type option and type the DUN into the field.
• Tap the More button and then choose the Save option.

Solution 17: Disable VPN

Using a VPN service on your phone may potentially disrupt your mobile connection. You should disable your phone’s VPN before using or enabling the hotspot.

• Navigate to the Settings app.
• Select Connection & sharing.
• Then select the VPN.
• Disable the VPN service.
• Now, enable the hotspot and verify that it is operational.

Solution 18: Reboot Phone Into Safe Mode

It might be due to a third-party program if you can still not resolve the hotspot that stopped working issue on Android. Several third-party apps are notorious for interfering with the device’s other features.

If this is the case with your phone, rebooting it safely could assist. Rebooting the phone safely prevents all third-party applications from starting until you manually launch them. In this manner, you can determine if this is the cause of your Android phone hotspot not working.

To do so, press and hold the Power button until you see the Power menu on the screen, then release it. Now, hold down the Power off button > you will be prompted to Reboot to Safe Mode > press the OK button. Safe mode will now be enabled on your phone.

Enable the hotspot after entering Safe Mode and verify that it is operational. If it works, locate the offending program and remove it.

Solution 19: Do Factory Reset

If none of the above options work, you can restore your smartphone to factory settings. When you reset your smartphone to factory settings, all your device settings are restored to default, and you lose all of your data.

As a result, before using this approach, we recommend backing up all of your images, contacts, movies, and other vital items. To factory reset your smartphone, follow these instructions.

• Navigate to your device’s Settings and then to the About phone section.
• TapBackup and reset, then scroll down to Erase all data (factory reset).
• Finally, at the bottom of the page, hit Reset phone and input your password to confirm.

Solution 20: Take Your Device To Service Center

When you factory reset your phone, it becomes a new device, at least in software. So, if your smartphone cannot function as a simple hotspot device, the issue is hardware-related, and there is nothing you can do about it.

If this is the case, we recommend visiting an Authorized Repair Center of your phone’s manufacturer, who will be able to determine the exact location of the problem.

Solution 21: Clear Cache data

Some users have reported that emptying the Settings app’s storage may also aid in resolving the hotspot issue on your Android smartphone. This user suggests that you force stop the Settings app before clearing its storage by:

• Heading to Settings
• Then Applications and notifications.
• Then See all apps and 
• Select the ‘Settings’ app from the list.

Solution 22: Force Stop and Clear Storage of the Settings app

This solution worked for several people who were able to resolve the Mobile Hotspot not working on Android error:

• The first approach is to shut the Settings app completely. To do so, navigate your device’s Settings and the Apps area.
• Tap Manage applications, choose the Settings app from the list and tap Force stop at the bottom of the screen.
• The screen will close when you Force stops the app.

• Repeat the preceding steps to launch the Settings app from the Apps area.
• Tap on Storage under the app details section.
• Finally, at the bottom of the screen, select Clear data to clear the storage.

Connect your mobile hotspot to your smartphone to test if this way may resolve the mobile hotspot issue.

Solution 23: Check the Limit of Connected Devices 

You may monitor the number of devices that can connect to your mobile hotspot on your device. If you set the restriction to 1 or 2 and then attempt to connect a third device to your mobile hotspot, you will be unable to access the wireless hotspot network.

To determine the number of devices that may connect to your mobile hotspot, follow these steps:

• Open your device’s Settings and select Portable hotspot or Network and internet.

• Tap on Connected devices, then Limit of connected devices to see how many devices may connect to your mobile hotspot.

Solution 24: Disable the Smart Network Switch or Wi-Fi assistant

Some Android smartphones include a smart network switch feature automatically switches to mobile data if your Wi-Fi connection is unreliable. This feature may cause connectivity troubles and may be the cause of your mobile hotspot not operating properly.

To repair the hotspot not functioning on an Android phone, deactivate the smart network switch by doing the following steps:

• Open the Settings app on your smartphone and select Wi-Fi.
• Scroll down and select the Additional settings option. Some users will see the option ‘More’ in the top-right corner of the screen.

Conclusion

The hotspot problem on Android phones is a prevalent issue that can develop for various causes. Users fear it because they don’t know what to do or how to remedy it, even if there are some straightforward solutions. 

We hope this advice was useful and that you were able to resolve the mobile hotspot not functioning on the Android issue.

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