Key takeaways
- A hotspot usually stops working because of a disabled setting, battery or data saver mode, a software glitch, or a plan limit, and rarely because the phone is faulty. Restarting the phone and the connecting device, then turning the hotspot off and on again, often fixes the issue.
- If a hotspot connects but there's no internet, the first test is to open a web page on the phone itself with WiFi switched off. If the phone can't load a page, the problem is mobile data, not the hotspot.
- If Personal Hotspot is greyed out or missing on an iPhone, turn on Mobile Data, update iOS, then check that the plan includes hotspot use.
You're about to join a video call, the WiFi has given up, and your phone's hotspot has picked this exact moment to do nothing.
The good news is that a hotspot not working is rarely a sign that something's broken. It's usually a single setting, a saver mode or a plan limit. Here's how to work out which one, quickly, whether you're on an iPhone, an Android phone or trying to get a laptop online.
New to hotspots? Our guide to what a mobile hotspot is covers the basics.
Hotspot not working? Match what you're seeing to the likely fix
Hotspot problems look similar but have different causes. Find your symptom first.
| What you're seeing | Likely cause | First thing to try |
|---|---|---|
| The Personal Hotspot option is greyed out or missing on an iPhone | Mobile Data is off, iOS is out of date, or the plan doesn't include hotspot use | Turn on Mobile Data, update iOS, then check the plan details |
| A laptop or tablet can't see the hotspot | The phone's hotspot screen isn't open, or the connection type is hard for the device to pick up | On an iPhone, stay on the Personal Hotspot screen and turn on Maximise Compatibility. On Android, choose the 2.4 GHz option if it's offered |
| The hotspot connects but there's no internet | The phone has no mobile data, a VPN is getting in the way, or the plan limits hotspot data | Open a web page on the phone itself with WiFi switched off |
| The hotspot keeps switching off | Battery Saver or Data Saver is on, or an automatic switch-off setting is turning the hotspot off | Turn off Battery Saver and Data Saver, then check hotspot settings for an automatic switch-off option |
| The device won't join and keeps asking for the password | The saved network on that device is out of date or the password has changed | Forget the network on that device, then rejoin using the password shown in the phone's hotspot settings |
| The hotspot worked yesterday and now doesn't, with no changes made | A temporary software glitch or a recent update | Restart both devices, then check for software updates |
Five quick fixes when your hotspot stops working
- Restart the phone and the device you're trying to connect.
- Check you have signal and that mobile data is on. Switch WiFi off on the phone so you know it's using mobile data.
- Turn the hotspot off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
- On the connecting device, forget the hotspot network and join it again with the password shown in the phone's hotspot settings.
- Check for software updates on both devices and install any that are waiting.
iPhone hotspot not working: settings to check
- Go to Settings, then Personal Hotspot, and make sure Allow Others to Join is on.
- Stay on the Personal Hotspot screen while the other device connects, as the hotspot can go quiet if the screen closes.
- Turn on Maximise Compatibility if it's there. It makes the hotspot easier for laptops and older devices to find, at the cost of some speed.
Android hotspot not working: settings to check
- Turn off Battery Saver and Data Saver, as both can switch the hotspot off or slow it down.
- Open the hotspot settings and choose the 2.4 GHz band if you see the option. It's slower but easier for laptops and older devices to detect.
- If you use a VPN, switch it off and test again.
- Menu names vary between phone brands. If you can't find the hotspot settings, search for "hotspot" in Settings.
Personal Hotspot greyed out or missing on iPhone
If you can't tap the Personal Hotspot option, or it isn't in Settings at all, work through these in order:
- Make sure Mobile Data is turned on. Without it, the option is often greyed out.
- Restart the iPhone.
- Update iOS to the latest version.
- Check that your plan includes hotspot use. Apple says to confirm that your provider has enabled Personal Hotspot and that your plan supports it.
- As a last resort, reset network settings.
Connected but no internet, or a laptop that won't connect
Hotspot connected but no internet
This one is annoying because everything looks fine. The laptop says it's connected, and nothing loads.
Try this order:
- On the phone, switch WiFi off and open a web page. If it doesn't load, the problem is the phone's mobile data, not the hotspot.
- Turn off any VPN on the phone and on the connecting device, then test again.
- Forget the hotspot network on the connecting device and rejoin it.
- Turn the hotspot off and on, then restart both devices.
- Check your plan details for a hotspot data limit or speed cap. Some plans slow hotspot traffic down after a certain amount.
If the phone itself can't get online, our guide to mobile data not working is a better place to start.
Laptop can't find or join the hotspot
- Turn WiFi off and on again on the laptop, then refresh the list of networks.
- Forget the hotspot network on the laptop, then join again and re-enter the password.
- Keep the phone's hotspot screen open while the laptop connects (on an iPhone, stay on the Personal Hotspot screen).
- Try Maximise Compatibility on an iPhone, or the 2.4 GHz option on Android, because some laptops struggle to detect faster connection types.
- Restart the laptop and install any pending system updates on both Windows and Mac.
When your hotspot is doing a full-time job
If you're reaching for your hotspot every week because home broadband is down, you're between broadband installations, or your office is a train carriage, it may be time to hand that job to a data SIM. A data SIM fits in a tablet, a laptop with a SIM slot, or a portable WiFi device, so your phone's battery and data allowance stay free.
With SMARTY, a phone hotspot works on any plan with your full data allowance, and data only plans roll monthly with no contract. Our guide to mobile broadband covers who it suits and when a fixed line is the better call.
FAQs
Why is my hotspot not working even though I have data?
A hotspot can fail even when mobile data works if hotspot sharing is disabled, Battery Saver or Data Saver is enabled, or the plan limits hotspot use. Restarting both devices and toggling the hotspot off and on again clears most temporary glitches.
Why is my Personal Hotspot greyed out on iPhone?
Personal Hotspot is usually greyed out on an iPhone when Mobile Data is off, iOS is out of date, or the plan doesn't include hotspot use. Turn on Mobile Data, update iOS, and check your plan details before resetting network settings.
Why does my hotspot keep turning off?
A hotspot keeps turning off when Battery Saver or Data Saver is on, or when an automatic switch-off setting turns it off after no devices connect for a while. Turning off both saver modes and checking hotspot settings for an automatic switch-off option usually stops it.
