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Personal Hotspot Not Working

Direct answer

First check whether the phone itself has working mobile data. A hotspot shares that connection; a connected laptop with no internet is a different failure from a hotspot that cannot be turned on.

Last checked · See sources ↗

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01

Before changing settings

  • Test a website on the phone with Wi-Fi off. If mobile data also fails, troubleshoot cellular service first.
  • Check that your plan and carrier permit hotspot or tethering; the feature may be unavailable on some plans.
  • On the receiving device, confirm whether the hotspot appears, connects but has no internet, or disconnects after a while.
02

Safe connection checks

  • Turn the hotspot off and back on, then reconnect the receiving device using the current hotspot password.
  • Restart both devices and update the phone through its official updater if an update is available.
  • On iPhone, check Settings > Personal Hotspot. Apple documents a Maximize Compatibility option when another device cannot join, with a possible performance trade-off.
  • On Android, use the Wi-Fi hotspot control in Quick Settings; Google notes that menu names and support vary by device and carrier.
03

If a connection still fails

  • If the connection drops, compare what happens while the screen is awake and whether the receiving device switches to another saved Wi-Fi network.
  • Test one other receiving device to separate a phone-side failure from a laptop or tablet problem.
  • Do not reset all network settings as a first step: that removes saved network and related connection settings.
  • Contact the carrier when mobile data works but hotspot is missing or the plan may restrict tethering.

Sources & verification

Last checked: . Official guidance is the primary source. Steps can differ by model, carrier and software version.

  1. If Personal Hotspot is not working ↗Apple Support · 2026-09-26 · PH2-APPLE-HOTSPOT
  2. Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android ↗Google Android Help · 2026-09-26 · PH2-GOOGLE-HOTSPOT

Keep going

Mobile Data Not WorkingWi-Fi Not Working