Mobile Hotspot Not Working on Windows 11 Fix

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Mobile Hotspot Not Working on Windows 11: Fix

Windows 11 can share your PC's internet connection with phones, tablets and other laptops through Mobile hotspot. When it fails, you'll usually see one of these:

the Mobile hotspot switch is greyed out or turns itself off,
a message such as "We can't set up mobile hotspot",
other devices can't see the hotspot, or
devices connect but have no internet.

This guide covers all four. It's about a PC sharing its connection. If your phone's hotspot is the problem, see phone hotspot connected but no internet instead.

How Mobile Hotspot Is Set Up

Open Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot. You'll see:

Share my internet connection from - the connection that has internet (Wi-Fi, Ethernet or cellular).
Share over - Wi-Fi (the default and faster) or Bluetooth.
Properties > Edit - the network name, password and Network band.
The Mobile hotspot switch at the top.

Devices join using the network name and password shown under Properties.

1. Make Sure the PC Itself Has Internet

A hotspot can only share what the PC has. Open a website on the PC. If it doesn't load, fix that first - see WiFi connected but no internet.

2. Turn Wi-Fi On and Airplane Mode Off

Mobile hotspot needs the Wi-Fi adapter, even when you're sharing an Ethernet connection.

Open Quick Settings (Win+A) and make sure Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off.
If Wi-Fi is missing from Quick Settings, restart the PC and check that the Wi-Fi adapter appears in Device Manager (step 8).

3. Pick the Right "Share From" Connection

In Share my internet connection from, choose the connection that is actually online. If you have Wi-Fi and Ethernet, or a VPN adapter, Windows may list several - picking the wrong one gives connected devices no internet.

4. Change the Network Band

Some Wi-Fi adapters can only host a hotspot on the same band they're connected on, and some older phones and devices can't see 5 GHz at all.

Under Properties, select Edit.
Set Network band to 2.4 GHz (or Any available).
Select Save, turn the hotspot off and on, and try again.

5. Turn Off VPN and Check Security Software

VPN apps and some firewalls block connection sharing. Disconnect your VPN, then test the hotspot again. If you temporarily turn off a third-party firewall to test, turn it back on afterwards.

6. Reconnect the Other Device

On the phone or laptop that's connecting:

forget the hotspot network and join again with the password,
make sure you're typing the password exactly as shown under Properties (it's case-sensitive),
turn the device's Wi-Fi off and on.

7. Check the Two Hotspot Services

Mobile hotspot depends on two Windows services.

Press Win+R, type services.msc, press Enter.
Find Windows Mobile Hotspot Service and Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
For each one, right-click and choose Restart (or Start if it isn't running).
If a service's Startup type is Disabled, double-click it and set it to Manual, then start it.

8. Update or Roll Back the Wi-Fi Driver

The hotspot relies on your Wi-Fi adapter's driver. If hotspot stopped working after an update, a driver problem is likely.

Right-click Start > Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters and right-click your Wi-Fi adapter.
Choose Properties > Driver. Try Roll Back Driver if it's available; otherwise get the latest driver from your PC or adapter maker.

Details in how to update drivers in Windows 11 the safe way.

9. Run Windows Update

Open Settings > Windows Update and install everything, including Advanced options > Optional updates for network drivers.

10. Network Reset (Last Resort)

Network reset removes and reinstalls all network adapters and sets networking back to default. You'll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and reinstall VPN software afterwards.

Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
Select Reset now and confirm. The PC restarts.

Hotspot Greyed Out on a Work PC?

On computers managed by a company or school, IT policy may turn off Mobile hotspot. The switch is then greyed out and the fixes above won't help - ask your IT team.

Still Not Working?

If the connected device gets a strange address or says "no internet", check it isn't showing an IP problem - see WiFi does not have a valid IP configuration for the Windows side. As a workaround, Share over Bluetooth is slower but uses a different path and sometimes works when Wi-Fi sharing doesn't. And if you'd like someone to look at it with you, the GetQuickTechSupport team can check it remotely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is Mobile hotspot in Windows 11?

Open Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot. You can also add the Mobile hotspot button to Quick Settings (Win+A) and turn it on from there.

Why do devices connect to my Windows hotspot but have no internet?

Check that Share my internet connection from is set to the connection that actually has internet, that the PC itself can browse, and that no VPN or firewall is blocking sharing. Then turn the hotspot off and on and reconnect the device.

Why can't my phone see the Windows 11 hotspot?

The band may be one your phone doesn't support. In Mobile hotspot > Properties > Edit, set Network band to 2.4 GHz or Any available and save.

Can I share my PC's Wi-Fi over Wi-Fi?

Often yes - many Wi-Fi adapters can connect to a network and host a hotspot at the same time. Some can't, or can only host on the same band they're connected on. If it fails, try a different band or share an Ethernet connection instead.