20 Easy Fixes: Mobile Hotspot Not Working In Windows 10 (2023)

A mobile hotspot is essential these days, especially for those who rely on the Internet for a job. A mobile hotspot is a type of technology that allows you to share your Internet connection with other devices over WiFi. This is pretty great, however as useful as hotspots are, setup mistakes might create problems connecting to the Internet.

The Wi-Fi capability of a mobile hotspot allows you to share your internet connection with other devices. In addition, in Windows 10, you may build a mobile hotspot by going to settings -> network & internet -> Mobile hotspot. Several Windows users have recently complained about being unable to switch on the WiFi mobile hotspot.

The error message is shown. We are unable to set up a mobile hotspot. Please turn on Wi-Fi on your Windows 10 PC. There are various causes for such problems, the most prevalent of which are incorrect settings or an outdated wireless network adapter driver. Let’s look more into it and try solving the Mobile Hotspot not working in Windows 10 issue.

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Is there a hotspot in Windows 10?

Yes, Windows 10 features a built-in hotspot. Windows 10 has a feature that allows you to build a mobile hotspot. If you are unable to activate the WiFi mobile hotspot, you may see a notification stating, “We are unable to set up a mobile hotspot on your Windows 10 PC.

If this occurs, it might be inconvenient, but there are several steps you can do to resolve the issue and connect to your mobile hotspot without experiencing any connection difficulties.

Before we proceed with any of these solutions, check with another device to ensure that the Internet connection you intend to utilize is operational.

Troubleshooting Your Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot

Using The Registry Editor
Check Your Wi-Fi Supports Hotspots
Connect Your Hotspot To The Internet
Examine The Wi-Fi Adapter
By Resetting The Wireless Adapter
Disabling Windows Firewall And Antivirus
Bluetooth Should Be Turned Off
Start The Internet Connection Troubleshooter
Manually Update Network Drivers
Establish A New Connection
Make Some Room
Modify Adapter Settings
Revert The Network Adapter Driver
Update All Required Drivers
Connect To The Internet Using Your Hotspot
Conduct A Clean Boot
Launch Your Computer In Safe Mode
Make Use Of A Hotspot Software App
Configure The Driver To Run In Compatibility Mode
Check Allow Connection Settings To Be Shared

Using the Registry Editor

Problems with the register can be the source of numerous problems. When registry entries are modified, they can impact the way applications run and many other operations on your computer.

Open Registry Editor by typing Regedit into the Start menu.
Choose Run as Administrator from the context menu.
Navigate to the following registry entry: HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WlanSvc\Parameters\HostedNetworkSettings\
In the right pane, right-click HostedNetworkSettings and choose Delete.

Check your Wi-Fi supports hotspots

Before attempting any solutions, ensure that your wifi adapter can enable or run a mobile hotspot on your computer.

Launch the command prompt as administrator, and then
Enter the command NETSH WLAN show drivers and hit the enter key.
Examine the line If it reads No, there is an issue since it signifies your Wi-Fi adapter does not support the mobile hotspot capability.
However, if it says yes, follow the options below to resolve the issue.

Connect your hotspot to the Internet

Press the Start button.
Choose a setting
Navigate to Network & Internet.
Select Mobile Hotspot.
Activate Mobile Hotspot
Navigate to Related Settings.
Click Alter the adapter settings (Note which adapter is linked to the Internet and which is your mobile hotspot — it is normally labeled as Local Area Connection.)
Right-click the Internet-connected adapter and choose Properties.
Go to the Sharing tab after clicking Properties.
Uncheck Allow other network users to connect using this computer’s internet connection (this step can be skipped if it is unchecked) and click OK.
Activate Properties
Check the Allow other network users to connect using this computer’s Internet connection box under the Sharing tab.
If a popup window appears stating that Internet Connection Sharing is now enabled, click OK.
Navigate to a network connection at home.
Choose the Mobile Hotspot adaptor.
Click the OK button.

Examine the Wi-Fi adapter

Click Start and type CMD into the search box.
Choose Command Prompt (Administrator)
Enter the command below

NETSH WLAN show drivers

Look for a line that reads Hosted network supported, and see if it says Yes or No.
If it reads No, this indicates that your Wi-Fi adaptor does not support the mobile hotspot capability.
In this scenario, the only method to solve it is to purchase another Wi-Fi adapter that supports it.

There are several great Wi-Fi adaptor solutions for Windows 10. The most powerful ones are compatible with all wireless routers, cover the entire house, and contain built-in wireless security encryption.

By resetting the Wireless Adapter

Enter Troubleshoot in your PC’s search box to access the Troubleshoot settings.
Scroll down the right pane to ‘Network Adapter,’ then click ‘Run Troubleshooter.’
The PC will begin scanning for any problems and may find the problem.

In some circumstances, you may have a Wi-Fi adapter that does not support the Windows mobile hotspot capability. Here’s how you can see if your adapter supports this feature:

To open Windows Search, press Win + S.
Then, enter CMD. Run as administrator by right-clicking on the Command Prompt search result.
There will be a popup box. Yes, please.
Enter NETSH WLAN show drivers on the Command Prompt. Examine the line that states Hosted network supported to determine if it says yes or no.
If it says no, your Wi-Fi adaptor does not support the mobile hotspot capability. Unfortunately, the only solution is to replace your adaptor. However, if it says OK and your devices cannot connect to your hotspot, proceed to the next solution.

Disabling Windows Firewall and Antivirus

Your mobile hotspot may be blocked by your system’s firewall, antivirus, or malware application. Turn to disable these programs and connect to your hotspot to see whether this is the source of the problem.

Turn on these applications and check which one is causing the problem and if you can connect. If you still can’t, activate the applications immediately away to keep your PC safe.

Bluetooth should be turned off

The Bluetooth connection on your PC might occasionally interfere with your mobile hotspot. Disabling it can sometimes resolve the problem. Here’s how it works:

By pressing and holding the Windows + X buttons on your Windows 10 computer, you may access Settings. Then, from the menu, select Settings.
Select Devices > Bluetooth & other devices from the Settings menu. Then, toggle it to Off.
Connect to your hotspot and test it out. If not, proceed to the next repair.
Select Settings from the Start menu.
Selecting Devices
Bluetooth should be selected.
Turn it off.

Start the Internet Connection Troubleshooter

Use the built-in Network Adapter Troubleshooter to automatically discover and resolve issues with wireless and other network adapters.

Select options by pressing Windows key + X.
Navigate to network & internet, then network troubleshooter. This will begin to identify and repair any issues preventing the network adapter from functioning properly.
When the diagnostic procedure is finished, restart your computer and try to activate the mobile hotspot again.
Press Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and then press OK.
This will launch Windows Device Manager and provide a list of all installed device drivers.
Scroll down to find and expand the network adapter.
Uninstall the device by right-clicking on the wireless adapter driver.
When prompted for confirmation, click uninstall once again, and then restart your computer.
When you restart Windows, it will automatically install the default WiFi.

Manually update network drivers

Start by right-clicking it.
Choose Device Manager.
Right-click on your network adapter and choose Network Adapters.
Choose Update driver.
Select Automatically search for updated driver software.
When all of the processes have been completed, click Close.
After you have installed the new driver, go to Start > Power > Restart.
If your computer is unable to connect to the Internet, try downloading a driver from another computer, saving it to a USB flash drive, and then manually installing it on your own computer.

How to Install the Network Adapter Driver Manually

If you have a.exe (executable) file, double-click it to execute it and then install the drivers.
Check a file with the.inf extension and another with the.sys extension, then perform the following:
To access the program, go to the search bar and type Device Manager.
Select Network Adapters and then navigate to the network adapter name (you may also look under Other Devices if yours isn’t shown).
Select Update driver from the network adapter’s context menu.
Choose the Browse my computer for driver software option in the Update driver wizard option.
Select Browse, and then navigate to the directory where the driver files are kept.
Next, click Ok.
When the installation is finished, click Close.

windows click hotspot mobile working device

Establish a New Connection

If you’re having problems with your mobile hotspot, disconnect your devices and reconnect to the hotspot. In most circumstances, a fresh connection will clear the authentication error and resolve the problem.

If you have trouble connecting your smartphone to your mobile hotspot.
Make certain that you input the proper password.
To get rid of the authentication problem, try deleting the existing connection and then creating a new one.
To open the registry editor, press Windows key + R, type regedit, and click OK. Navigate to HKEY LOCAL MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWlanSvcParametersHostedNetworkSettings.
In the right pane, right-click HostedNetworkSettings and choose Delete.
Restart your computer to see if this resolves the Mobile hotspot not working in Windows 10 issue.
To access the Settings app, use Windows Key+I on your keyboard.
Select Network & Internet in the Settings app.
Go to the left-pane menu and choose Mobile Hotspot.
Move to the right pane, then click Change Adapter Options under Related Settings.
Right-click your mobile hotspot adapter and select Properties from the context menu.
Select the Sharing tab, then uncheck the ‘Allow other network users to connect using this computer’s Internet connection option.

Create some space on the devices

With no visible connection, some people were able to restore the hotspot connection by freeing up space on their mobile devices.

In one situation, the user had already upgraded both the Windows device and the phone and had attempted to utilize both the wireless and wired connections without using a VPN connection.

Sometimes the most recent Windows update necessitates a reset or an upgrade of some adapters. If your mobile hotspot in Windows 10 isn’t working, try resetting your wireless adapters first. If the problem remains after resetting, try updating the driver to see if it has been resolved.

Tip: You may also select the Update driver option. Select the Update driver option instead of Disable device. It is a workaround for the mobile hotspot not working in Windows 10 problem. If Windows cannot update the driver, obtain it from the vendor and manually update it.

Modify Adapter Settings

To open Settings, press Win+I and navigate to Network and Internet.
Scroll to the bottom of the left window and choose Mobile Hotspot.
Navigate to Related Settings and choose Change Adapter Options.
Locate your mobile hotspot adapter, right-click it, and choose Properties.
Disable the “Allow other network users to connect using this computer’s Internet connection” option on the Sharing tab.
Try this remedy if your mobile hotspot isn’t working in Windows 10. If this does not resolve your mobile hotspot in Windows 10 not functioning issue, you may need to make some changes to the Windows registry.

Revert the network adapter driver

Start by right-clicking it.
Choose Device Manager.
Select Network Adapters, then click on the name of the network device.
Right-click on the active network adapter icon and open the Properties from the context menu.
Choose Properties
Go to the Driver tab.
Choose Roll Back Driver. If the button is unavailable, there is no driver to fall back on.
Select Start /Power/ Restart after reverting to the previous driver version.

Update All Required Drivers

Downloading a free driver updater for Windows will swiftly update your computer’s critical drivers. If you do not wish to install third-party software on your computer, you may update it using the Windows Update settings. Here’s how it works:

Open Settings in Windows 10 by hitting the Win + X keys and selecting Settings from the menu.
After that, go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
Then, under the Updates tab, click Check for updates.
Update for Windows
If it’s available, choose View optional updates. Then, select the Driver updates option. Then, choose the driver that needs to be updated and click Download and install.

If no optional updates are available, your critical drivers are up to date. Continue to the next fix.

Connect to the Internet Using Your Hotspot Adapter

Another solution for this problem is to connect your internet to your hotspot adapter. To accomplish this, follow the instructions below:

By hitting the Win + X keys and selecting Settings from the menu, you may access Settings.
Navigate to Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot in Settings.
Check that your mobile hotspot is turned on. Then, under the Related Settings section, click Change adapter choices.
Modify the adapter settings
Right-click on the internet-connected adapter and choose Properties. This might be your wireless or your local area network (LAN). Then choose Properties.

WIFI characteristics

Then, select the Sharing option. Uncheck the Allow other network users to connect using this computer’s internet connection box, then click OK. (If it is already unchecked, skip this step.)
Then, right-click on the adapter for your mobile hotspot. Select Properties.
Check the Allow other network users to connect using this computer’s Internet connection box under the Sharing tab.
There will be a popup box. Click the OK button.
Select your mobile hotspot adapter under the Home networking connection.
Finally, click OK.
Connect to your mobile hotspot again and check to see whether it is operational again. Otherwise, proceed to the next solution.

Conduct a Clean Boot

Your launch apps may occasionally clash with other Windows services. Disabling them may resolve the hotspot problem. This is how to execute a clean boot:

To open Run, press Win + R.
Then, type msconfig and press OK.
Select the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox on the Service tab. Then click the Disable all button.
Navigate to the Startup tab and click the Open Task Manager button.
In the Task Manager, right-click each program and select Disable. Make a point of doing this for all the apps in this tab.
Return to the System Configuration window by closing the Task Manager and clicking OK.
Start your computer again.
A clean boot can help to decrease software-related conflicts, which may be the fundamental cause of your mobile device’s problems.

Launch your computer in Safe Mode

Press the Start button.
Select Settings to access the Settings window.
Select Update and Security.
From the left pane, select Recovery.
Navigate to Advanced startup.
Click the Restart Now button.
From the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
Navigate to Startup Settings and choose Restart.
When your computer restarts, a menu of options will appear.
To start your computer in Safe Mode, press 4 or F4.
If the mobile hotspot problem does not appear in Safe Mode, your default settings and basic drivers are not to blame.

Make use of a hotspot software app.

Another easy and automated method is to utilize a specific app, such as Connectify Hotspot, which may transform your Windows 10 device into a hotspot.
This application works by merging various Internet connections, either wired or wireless, to enhance the range of your wireless signal throughout your home.
This enables Internet connectivity for all devices without the need for extra hardware.
When you use Connectify Hotspot, you effectively remove networking troubles since it bridges other devices.
In addition, you receive real-time network use monitoring and firewall protection for each connected device.

Configure the driver to run in compatibility mode.

Visit the manufacturer’s website to obtain the most recent driver.
Put it on your hard drive.
Select the driver installation file by right-clicking it.
Go to the Properties menu and choose
Select the tab Compatibility.
Select the checkbox next to Run this program in Compatibility mode.
Choose the appropriate operating system from the drop-down menu.
The driver will be installed and tested before being used.
Restart the computer to see whether the problem has been resolved.

Check Allow connection settings to be shared

Select Settings from the Start menu.
Navigate to Network & Internet.
Choose Network and Sharing Center.
Click the Change Adapter Settings button.
Right-click the Ethernet connection and choose Properties.
Choose Properties
Select the Sharing option.
Uncheck the Allow sharing of the connection checkbox.
Reboot the mobile hotspot.
Allow other network users to connect by following these steps:
Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.
Click the network from which you connect to the internet under View your active networks, and then click Properties.
Select the Sharing option.
Permit the other users to connect using your computer’s network connection.
Click the OK button.

Conclusion

These are some of the solutions that might help you if your mobile hotspot isn’t working in Windows 10. A hotspot is a terrific tool for on-the-go users, but it is useless if you can’t connect when necessary. Try these remedies if your Windows 10 Mobile hotspot isn’t operating correctly.

Windows 10’s mobile hotspot capability is an excellent utility. However, if you cannot connect to it when necessary, this function is ineffective.

Your hotspot will be back up and running after completing the abovementioned adjustments. If the problem persists, utilizing third-party software might be the answer.