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Mobile Hotspot Not Working in Windows 11? 9 Fixes




If Mobile hotspot is not working in Windows 11, first identify which part has failed. The hotspot may refuse to turn on, another device may not see it, or a phone may connect but report no internet. Those symptoms have different causes, so changing every network setting at once usually wastes time.

Start with the quick checks, then follow the section that matches your problem. Save open work before using the driver reinstall or network reset steps.

Quick checks before changing advanced settings

  1. Confirm the Windows PC can browse the web before sharing its connection.
  2. Restart the PC and the phone, tablet, or other device trying to connect.
  3. Turn Airplane mode on for ten seconds, turn it off, and enable WiFi again.
  4. Disconnect an active VPN temporarily and test the hotspot again.
  5. Open Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot instead of relying only on the Quick Settings button.

If the Windows PC itself is online but pages do not load, fix the source connection first with our guide to WiFi connected but no internet in Windows 11. A hotspot cannot share a connection that is already offline.

Why the Windows 11 mobile hotspot stops working

Windows can share a WiFi, Ethernet, or cellular connection over WiFi or Bluetooth. Problems commonly occur when the wrong source connection is selected, the receiving device does not support the chosen band, a network driver is damaged, or a VPN or security filter interferes with Internet Connection Sharing. Power saving can also turn off the wireless adapter after the computer sleeps.

1. Select the correct connection to share

Microsoft's current hotspot settings let you choose both the source connection and how it is shared.

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot.
  2. Under Share my internet connection from, select the connection that actually has internet access, such as Ethernet or WiFi.
  3. Under Share over, choose Wi-Fi for the normal hotspot experience.
  4. Turn Mobile hotspot off, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again.

On the other device, forget the old hotspot profile, search again, and enter the password shown in Windows.

2. Change the hotspot network band

A hotspot can be visible on one device but missing on another when the receiving device does not support the selected band.

  1. On the Mobile hotspot page, expand Properties and select Edit.
  2. Set Network band to 2.4 GHz for the broadest compatibility.
  3. Save the change and restart the hotspot.

Use 5 GHz only when both devices support it and are close together. If Windows offers an Any available option, it is reasonable to test that after 2.4 GHz.

3. Recreate the hotspot name and password

A saved connection on the phone or tablet can retain an outdated password or security profile.

  1. Select Edit under Mobile hotspot Properties.
  2. Enter a simple, unique network name.
  3. Create a password with at least eight characters and avoid unusual symbols during testing.
  4. Save, then forget the previous hotspot on the receiving device and reconnect.

Do not publish or share the hotspot password in screenshots.

4. Run the Windows Network troubleshooter

Open the Get Help app and search for network troubleshooter. Run the recommended Network and Internet diagnostics and apply repairs that match the detected problem. Microsoft recommends this automated troubleshooter early in the Windows 11 networking workflow.

Restart the PC after the troubleshooter completes. If the source WiFi connection keeps dropping, use our separate Windows 11 WiFi disconnecting guide before testing the hotspot again.

5. Update or reinstall the WiFi adapter driver

The hotspot depends on the wireless adapter even when the internet source is Ethernet. A damaged or incompatible driver can make the toggle fail or cause connected devices to drop.

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update and install available updates. Check Advanced options > Optional updates for a network driver.
  2. Visit the PC manufacturer's support page for the exact model and download its current WiFi driver.
  3. Open Device Manager > Network adapters.
  4. Right-click the wireless adapter and select Update driver.

If the problem began immediately after a driver update, open Properties > Driver and use Roll Back Driver when available.

For a clean reinstall, download a backup driver first. Then uninstall the wireless adapter in Device Manager and restart Windows. Windows normally detects the hardware and reinstalls a driver. If the adapter is absent entirely, follow our missing WiFi adapter troubleshooting guide.

6. Disable wireless adapter power saving

Use this fix when the hotspot turns off after sleep or works only while the laptop is connected to power.

  1. In Device Manager, double-click the WiFi adapter.
  2. Open the Power Management tab.
  3. Clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
  4. Select OK and restart the PC.

Some modern adapters do not expose that tab. If it is missing, skip the setting rather than applying an unverified registry edit.

7. Check connection-sharing services

Internet Connection Sharing is provided by the Windows SharedAccess service. The Mobile Hotspot service also participates in the user-facing hotspot feature.

  1. Press Windows + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Find Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
  3. If it is stopped, select Start. If it is running, select Restart.
  4. Find Windows Mobile Hotspot Service and restart it if it is running.

Do not set unrelated networking services to Disabled. Windows manages several service startup modes automatically, and forcing every service to Automatic is not necessary.

8. Test without VPN and third-party network filters

A VPN, proxy, firewall suite, virtual machine switch, or traffic-filtering application can alter the connection Windows is trying to share.

  1. Disconnect the VPN and turn off any manual proxy under Settings > Network & internet > Proxy.
  2. Temporarily pause only the third-party network-filtering feature and test.
  3. If the hotspot works, update or reinstall the conflicting application.

Re-enable security protection after the test. Do not leave the firewall disabled as a permanent fix.

9. Reset Windows networking as a last resort

Network reset removes installed network adapters and restores their settings after restart. Microsoft recommends it only after simpler fixes have failed.

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
  2. Select Reset now and confirm.
  3. After restart, reconnect the host PC to the internet and configure Mobile hotspot again.

You may need to reinstall VPN clients or virtual networking software afterward. Known networks can also return as Public profiles, so review sharing settings before transferring files.

When a device connects but has no internet

If the phone connects to the hotspot but cannot browse, confirm the host PC still has internet access and that the correct source connection is selected. Then disconnect VPN software, restart Internet Connection Sharing, and reconnect the phone. A sign-in page, workplace network policy, or cellular plan can also prevent tethering even though the local WiFi connection succeeds.

When the hotspot does not appear on another device

Switch the band to 2.4 GHz, shorten the hotspot name, and forget any old profile on the receiving device. Check whether that device can see other WiFi networks. If it cannot, our guide for no WiFi networks found in Windows 11 can help isolate its own adapter problem.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not manually enable sharing on several adapters at the same time.
  • Do not uninstall the only working network driver before downloading a replacement.
  • Do not use Network reset before recording VPN and network settings.
  • Do not assume the host PC is online merely because the WiFi icon is visible.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Windows 11 Mobile hotspot keep turning off?

Power saving, an unstable WiFi driver, sleep, or a source connection that repeatedly disconnects can stop the hotspot. Check adapter power management and install the correct OEM driver.

Why is my laptop hotspot connected but showing no internet?

The PC may be sharing the wrong adapter, or a VPN, proxy, firewall filter, or source-network restriction may block shared traffic. Verify the selected source connection before resetting Windows networking.

Can Windows share Ethernet over WiFi?

Yes. Microsoft supports sharing a WiFi, Ethernet, or cellular connection through Mobile hotspot. Select Ethernet under Share my internet connection from and WiFi under Share over.

Will Network reset delete my files?

No. It resets network adapters and settings, not personal documents. It can remove VPN and virtual-adapter configurations, so keep their setup details before proceeding.

Final thoughts

When Mobile hotspot is not working in Windows 11, match the repair to the symptom. Select the correct source connection, test 2.4 GHz, recreate the receiving device's saved profile, and update the wireless driver before using a full network reset. This order fixes common causes while preserving custom network settings for as long as possible.

Official references

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