Hotspot and tethering are quite often very useful. Users can share their network with other people or their own devices when the need arises. Some of them (some that I personally know) can’t live without it. This makes things worse when the hotspot is just not working on Android. Learn how to tackle hotspot issues head-on with the instructions we provided below.
Why is my hotspot not working?
Hotspot issues are everything but rare these days for so many OEMs having trouble transitioning from one major Android version to a newer one. However, the problem might also be on your side. Check your network connection first, then try removing the password and stick to the 2.4GHz AP Band.
1. Check your network connection
The first and the most obvious thing to check is your network connection. Whether you are using the mobile hotspot to share Wi-Fi (extend) or Mobile data, it’s important to confirm that everything is working in that department.
Firstly, open any connection-dependent app and confirm that everything is in order. If it is, move to the next step. On the other hand, if you are experiencing connectivity issues, try these steps:
- Restart your device and Wi-Fi router/modem.
- Disconnect from the network and connect again.
- If using mobile data, make sure that you have available data. Also, reset your APN and make sure that your preferred network type is set to a recommended value (usually LTE or 3G).
- Reset Network Settings.
2. Disable Bluetooth and NFC temporarily
Even though this is a long shot, it might help. You can give it a go and disable Bluetooth and NFC to reduce interference. Some users said that enabling Airplane mode and disabling it helped them resolve the problem.
Either way, give it a try and see for yourself. If you are still unable to utilize a mobile hotspot and other devices are unable to connect, make sure to check the next step.
3. Remove WPA2 password
Another long shot but removing the password protection might resolve the problem. If you are unsure how to disable the password on the Mobile hotspot, check the instructions below:
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Expand options and select Hotspot & tethering.
- Tap Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Tap Security.
- Select None.
4. Change AP band to 2.4 GHz
Even though your device supports the 5 GHz AP band, chances are that the receiving device doesn’t. So, make sure to switch to a 2.4 GHz AP band and give it another try.
If that doesn’t help, give Bluetooth tethering a go. Here’s how to change the AP band in Hotspot settings on Android:
- Navigate again to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Tap on the AP Band and select the 2.4 GHz band.
- Turn on the hotspot again and look for improvements.
5. Try Bluetooth tethering
Finally, if the hotspot is still not working on your Android, make sure to give Bluetooth tethering a try. This technology allows connection sharing via Bluetooth and it is an alternative to regular Wi-Fi sharing.
You can find the option in the Hotspot & tethering menu. Also, there’s always a possibility that your device has an underlying issue and that bug is preventing the hotspot from working. As noticed by so many users that experienced problems after half-baked updates. Therefore, make sure to update the firmware on your device and hope that the OEM has fixed the issue.
With that, we can call it a wrap. Have the instructions we provided helped you address the problem? Tell us in the comments section below.
