Mobile Hotspot is a useful utility that allows you to share your PC’s internet connection with other wireless devices. As useful as it may be, there are times when the mobile hotspot in Windows 11 may act up and stop working.
The problem can occur due to misconfigured configurations, outdated drivers or antivirus programs. Whatever the case, the troubleshooting tips outlined below should help you deal with mobile hotspot issues in Windows 11. So let’s get started.
1. Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter
Troubleshooters come built into Windows 11 to detect and fix various computer problems. So, you should start with the Network Adapter troubleshooter to let it fix the mobile hotspot issue for you.
Stage 1: Press Windows key + S to open Windows Search, type troubleshooting settingsand press Enter.
Step 2: Go to other troubleshooters.
Stage 3: Scroll down to find Network Adapter and click the Run button next to it to begin troubleshooting.
2. Turn Off Bluetooth
Sometimes, the Bluetooth connection on your PC is known to affect the mobile hotspot. Therefore, you should turn off Bluetooth to see if it helps. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Press Windows key + I to open settings.
Step 2: Use the left pane to navigate to Bluetooth and devices and turn off the switch next to Bluetooth.
3. Disable Antivirus Program
Antivirus programs on your computer may also block the mobile hotspot for security concerns. To rule this possibility out, disable the antivirus program on your PC and try using the mobile hotspot again. If it works, you should review the settings in your antivirus and disable the setting that is causing the problem.
If the problem persists, continue with this guide.
4. Start Mobile Hotspot Service
The Mobile Hotspot service is a small program that needs to run in the background for the hotspot to work. Ideally, this service should start every time you turn on mobile hotspot. But if this is not happening, you can try to start it manually by following the steps below.
Stage 1: Open the start menu, type Servicesand press Enter.
Step 2: Scroll down to find Windows Mobile Hotspot Services. Right-click on it and choose Start from the menu that appears.
Check if the mobile hotspot is working now.
5. Check Network Adapter
If the problem persists then you need to look at the network adapter settings on your PC to see if the problem is caused by them. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Press Windows key + I to open settings. Switch to the Network & internet tab on your left and go to Advanced network settings.
Step 2: Next, click on More network adapter options. This will open a Network connections window.
Stage 3: Right-click on your mobile hotspot’s network adapter to open its properties.
Step 4: Under Sharing, uncheck the ‘Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection’ box.
Restart your computer before using the hotspot again.
6. Update Wi-Fi Drivers
With every Windows update, the drivers on your computer are automatically updated. However, if you haven’t updated your computer for a while, the mobile hotspot issue might be occurring due to outdated Wi-Fi drivers. Here’s how to manually update them.
Stage 1: Press Windows key + S to access Windows Search. Medicine Device Manager and press Enter.
Step 2: Expand the network adapter. Right click on the WiFi driver and select Update driver.
From there, follow the onscreen instructions to update the Wi-Fi drivers on the PC.
7. Examine the Windows Registry
If you are still bothered by mobile hotspot issues, you can try to modify the Windows Registry files on your PC.
Before continuing, it is important to know that registry files are critical to the Windows operating system. Therefore, you should start with caution and spare time to back up your registry files beforehand.
Stage 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Medicine regedit and press Enter.
Step 2: Use the address bar at the top to navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WlanSvc\Parameters\HostedNetworkSettings\
Stage 3: On your right, find HostedNetworkSettings. Right click on it and choose Delete.
After that, restart your computer and see if you can use a mobile hotspot now.
8. Reset Network Settings
If nothing works, you may need to reset the current network settings on your PC as a last resort. It will remove all network adapters and restore other network settings to their default values. This includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, Network adapters and Ethernet. So, if misconfigured settings are causing the problem, resetting the network settings should help.
Stage 1: Press Windows key + I to launch the Settings app, go to the Network & Internet tab and click on Advanced network settings.
Step 2: Under Other settings, click Network reset.
Stage 3: Finally, click the Reset now button next to Network reset.
Wait for the process to finish and then restart your computer to see if the issue has been resolved.
Sharing is caring
It shouldn’t take long to fix Mobile hotspot issues on Windows. In most cases, you can fix the problem by running the troubleshooter or updating the network adapter driver. Let us know which solution did the trick for you in the comments below.
