Below are several fixes for when your Windows laptop won’t connect to your mobile hotspot.
Do this from the hotspot screen in your phone’s prefs app.
If this is a USB-connected hotspot, use this time to unplug and then reattach the cable.
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Don’t have time to fix your hotspot?
There might befree Wi-Fi nearby.
Move closer to the hotspot.
Disconnect from the hotspot.
When finished,reconnect to the hotspotusing the same information you did the first time.
This will effectively delete everything Windows knows about the hotspot and then establish a brand-new connection.
suspend the option on the hotspot that will automatically disable it if no devices are connected.
power cycle your laptopand the machine delivering the hotspot.
A simple disconnect+reconnect should be one of your first troubleshooting steps for basically any tech, a hotspot included.
If you’re connecting to the hotspot over USB,ensure the laptop’s Wi-Fi is off.
Otherwise, it might connect to a different data pipe instead of your hotspot.
Turn offAirplane Modeif it’s on.
This will reestablish the connection between your laptop and the hotspot.
Seehow to turn off Airplane Mode on Androidfor directions.
Check your mobile data usageto ensure you haven’t reached the limit.
If you’ve reached your monthly allowance, mobile data might have been disabled or its speed slowed down.
you’ve got the option to usually contact your mobile operator to get more data.
Run Windows' built-in web connection troubleshooter.
Microsoft says it can help diagnose and fix connection problems.
Get there throughSettings>System>Troubleshoot>Other troubleshooters>web link and Internet.
Try a different connection method.
Most laptops can connect to a mobile hotspot via USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
See the bottom of this page for a brief overview of how they work.
Rename the hotspot and change its password.
Also, take this time to see if a password change is a solution.
The name option is on the hotspot controls page for most Android devices.
Switch the hotspot’s frequency band to 2.4 GHz.
Your laptop might not support higher frequencies like 5 GHz.
If you see the option to switch between them in the hotspot parameters, give it a try.
Some Android phones call this toggleExtend compatibility.
It’s namedMaximize Compatibilityon iPhone 12 or later.
Turning itonswitches to 2.4 GHz.
tune up your online grid drivers.
Drivers are necessary to properly communicate with your hardware, which is your internet card, in this case.
The easiest way to do this is with afree driver updater tool.
Some users report having to “forget” the data pipe and reconnect to it after updating the drivers.
See Step 3 again for help doing that.
Ensure your phone and laptop are fully updated.
Add the computer’s name and MAC address to your phone’s list of allowed devices.
For example, some Samsung Galaxy phones have anAllowed devicesection in the hotspot parameters.
it’s possible for you to add your laptop to the list by entering its name and MAC address.
Seehow to find your setup’s name in Windowsandhow to find your laptop’s MAC addressif you need help.
Reset the internet settingson your phone and your setup.
Learnhow to reset an iPhone’s internet settingsif you’re unsure how.
you might also do it on most Android phones throughSettings>System>Reset options.
Don’t forget toreset the Windows data pipe tweaks, too.
Pay close attention to what you’re resetting.
Some devices have a full factory reset option next to the online grid reset option.
Don’t reset thewholedevice or you’ll loseallyour data.
Contact your carrier,especiallyif this is your first time using the hotspot.
Seehow to fix hotspot issues on iPhoneorfix USB tethering issues in Windows.
Otherwise, you should check your web connection drives for updates.
Several things could make this message appear.
If the data pipe requires a password, check that you’ve entered it correctly.
