Fixing Non-Functional Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot: 5 Ways. The internet is a big part of our lives now, helping us work and have fun. Besides your phone, your Windows 10 computer can also share its internet with other devices. Sometimes, though, your Windows 10 hotspot might not work as expected, causing problems. If you’re having issues with it, here are 5 ways you can fix it.
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How to Fix Your Mobile Hotspot in Windows 10
Before you try any of the fixes below, make sure the problem is with your computer and not the device you’re trying to connect. Also, check that your internet works well.
If you’ve confirmed the issue is with your computer, try these steps:
1. Create a New Connection:
If your hotspot isn’t working, delete the current connection on your devices and connect to it again.
This can often fix the problem.
To delete and reconnect to a hotspot on Windows 10:
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
- In “Manage known networks,”select the hotspot and click “Forget.”
- Reconnect by choosing the hotspot from available networks and entering the password if required.
2. Turn Off Firewalls and Antivirus:
Sometimes, your computer’s security programs like firewalls or antivirus can block your hotspot.
Try turning them off temporarily to see if they’re causing the issue.
If they are, you can turn them back on one by one to find the culprit.
If the problem persists, keep them on for safety.
To turn off firewalls and antivirus on Windows 10:
Open Windows Security.
Go to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings.
Turn off Windows Defender Firewall.
For antivirus, right-click its icon in the system tray and choose “Disable” or a similar option. Remember to re-enable them when done.
3. Disable Bluetooth:
Your computer’s Bluetooth can sometimes interfere with your hotspot.
You can turn it off like this:
Click on your notification panel at the bottom, furthest right, of your taskbar for it to pop up.
Click on the Bluetooth icon to turn it on if it is active.
Then try connecting to your hotspot again.
4. Check Your Wi-Fi Adapter:
In some cases, your Wi-Fi adapter might not support the mobile hotspot feature. To check:
Press Win + S to open Windows Search.
Type CMD and right-click on the Command Prompt search result, then choose “Run as administrator.”
In the Command Prompt, type “NETSH WLAN show drivers” and press Enter.
Look for the line that says “Hosted network supported” and see if it says yes or no.
If it says no, you might need to change your Wi-Fi adapter.
5. Update Your Drivers:
Keeping your computer’s drivers up-to-date is essential. You can do this in two ways. You can use a free driver updater tool for Windows to quickly update all essential drivers. Or, you can do it manually like this:
Open Settings on your Windows 10 computer by pressing Win + X and selecting Settings.
Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
Click “Check for updates.”
If you see the option for “View optional updates,” click it, then go to the “Driver updates” tab. Choose the driver you want to update and click “Download and install.”
Conclusion
In summary, when your Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot malfunctions, follow these steps to fix it:
- Create a new connection by forgetting the hotspot network and reconnecting in Wi-Fi settings.
- Temporarily disable firewalls and antivirus software to check for interference. Re-enable them later for security.
- Turn off Bluetooth, as it may interfere with your hotspot.
- Confirm if your Wi-Fi adapter supports mobile hotspot functionality. If not, consider upgrading it.
- Keep essential drivers updated either using a driver updater tool or Windows Update.
These five steps should help resolve issues with your Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot and ensure smooth internet sharing.