A mobile hotspot problem is usually caused by one of five things: mobile data is unavailable, your carrier restricts tethering, hotspot settings are incorrect, the receiving device is incompatible, or a temporary network or software problem is blocking the connection.

Try these steps in order:

  1. Turn off Wi-Fi on your phone and confirm that mobile data can open a webpage.
  2. Turn the hotspot off and back on.
  3. Restart both devices.
  4. Check that your phone plan includes hotspot data.
  5. Forget the hotspot network on the receiving device, then reconnect with the current password.
  6. Install any pending phone software updates.
  7. Reset network settings if the problem continues.

A hotspot shares your phone's cellular data connection, not the Wi-Fi network connected to your phone. If your phone cannot access the internet over mobile data, the hotspot cannot provide internet access.

Mobile Hotspot Troubleshooting at a Glance

What happens Most likely cause What to do
The hotspot option is missing or greyed out Mobile data is off, or your carrier does not support hotspot service Turn on mobile data and check your plan
The other device cannot see the hotspot The hotspot is hidden, incompatible, or not broadcasting correctly Turn the hotspot off and on, then try compatibility mode
The other device sees the hotspot but cannot join The password is wrong, or the saved network is corrupted Forget the network and enter the current password
The device connects but has no internet Weak cellular signal, exhausted hotspot data, or a carrier restriction Test mobile data and check your carrier account
The hotspot works briefly, then stops Battery-saving behavior, poor signal, or no connected devices Keep the phone charged and reconnect
USB tethering does not work Cable, trust permission, driver, or operating system problem Try another cable or use Wi-Fi hotspot

1. Check Whether Your Phone's Mobile Data Works

Turn off Wi-Fi on the phone providing the hotspot. Open a webpage or app using cellular data.

If mobile data does not work, check the following:

  • Cellular or mobile data is turned on.
  • Airplane Mode is off.
  • The phone has a signal.
  • Your data allowance has not been used.
  • Your SIM or eSIM is active.
  • Your carrier account is not suspended.

A hotspot cannot work when the phone itself has no usable cellular internet connection. Android and Apple both use the phone's mobile data connection for tethering.

2. Check Whether Your Carrier Allows Hotspot Use

Some carriers restrict tethering, charge extra for it, or provide a separate hotspot data allowance. Your phone may therefore show an active hotspot while connected devices cannot reach the internet.

Check your carrier account for:

  • Mobile hotspot or tethering eligibility
  • Remaining hotspot data
  • A data cap or speed reduction
  • An account restriction
  • A plan change that removed hotspot access

Samsung notes that tethering data can be separate from regular mobile data. When that allowance is exhausted, another device may connect to the hotspot but still have no internet access.

If Personal Hotspot is missing on an iPhone, Apple recommends contacting your wireless provider to confirm that your plan supports the feature.

3. Fix Hotspot Settings on an iPhone

On the iPhone providing the connection:

  1. Open Settings > Cellular and turn on Cellular Data.
  2. Open Settings > Personal Hotspot.
  3. Turn on Allow Others to Join.
  4. Leave the Personal Hotspot screen open while the other device connects.
  5. Check the Wi-Fi password shown on that screen.
  6. If the other device cannot see or join the network, turn on Maximize Compatibility.

Apple says Maximize Compatibility can help some devices connect to an iPhone hotspot. It may reduce performance and Wi-Fi security.

On the receiving device, turn Wi-Fi off and back on. Select the iPhone's name, enter the current hotspot password, and try again. If the network was saved before, choose Forget This Network first.

4. Fix Hotspot Settings on Android

Android menu names vary between Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, OnePlus and other phones. The usual process is:

  1. Swipe down to open Quick Settings.
  2. Tap Hotspot.
  3. Touch and hold the Hotspot button to open its settings.
  4. Confirm that Wi-Fi hotspot is enabled.
  5. Check the hotspot name and password.
  6. Make sure mobile data is turned on.
  7. On the other device, select the hotspot name and enter the current password.

Android phones can share mobile data through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB tethering. Some carriers limit or charge for tethering, so your plan still needs to support the feature.

If the hotspot does not appear on the receiving device, move the devices closer together and restart Wi-Fi on the receiving device. If your Android phone has a compatibility or Wi-Fi band setting, try the more compatible option available on that model.

5. Fix a Hotspot That Connects but Has No Internet

A connected device can show a Wi-Fi connection while still lacking internet access. This usually means the phone is broadcasting the hotspot but cannot pass cellular data through it.

Try this sequence:

  1. Turn off Wi-Fi on the phone providing the hotspot.
  2. Confirm that a webpage loads using mobile data.
  3. Temporarily turn off any VPN on the phone or receiving device.
  4. Turn the hotspot off, wait several seconds, and turn it back on.
  5. Restart both devices.
  6. Check your carrier's hotspot data balance.
  7. Try connecting a different device.

If another device also connects without internet, the problem is probably with the phone, cellular service or carrier plan. If only one device fails, forget the hotspot network on that device and reconnect.

6. Reset Network Settings When Normal Fixes Fail

Resetting network settings can remove corrupted Wi-Fi, cellular, VPN or APN configurations.

On an iPhone, go to:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings

This removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, mobile data settings, VPN settings and APN settings.

Android phones use different menus. The option is usually under Settings > System > Reset options or Settings > General management > Reset. Look for Reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth or Reset network settings. The wording depends on the phone manufacturer and Android version.

7. Use USB Tethering as a Temporary Alternative

If Wi-Fi hotspot service is unreliable, USB tethering can provide a more stable connection.

  • iPhone: Connect the iPhone with a compatible USB cable, tap Trust if prompted, and select the iPhone USB connection on the computer.
  • Android: Connect the phone with a USB cable, open hotspot settings and enable USB tethering.

Apple recommends updating the computer, trusting the iPhone and checking the computer's network services when iPhone USB tethering fails. Google also supports USB tethering on Android, although Android USB tethering does not work with Mac computers.

When to Contact Your Carrier

Contact your carrier if:

  • The hotspot option is missing.
  • Your plan appears not to include tethering.
  • Hotspot data has run out.
  • Mobile data works on the phone but not through the hotspot.
  • The hotspot connects on several devices but none can access the internet.

Provide your phone model, operating system, exact error message and the point of failure: the hotspot is missing, cannot be found, cannot be joined, or connects without internet.