Phone Hotspot Connected But No Internet

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Phone Hotspot Connected But No Internet

Your laptop or tablet shows it's connected to your phone's hotspot, but pages won't load and Windows says "No internet". The link between the laptop and the phone is fine; what's failing is the phone's own internet, or the way it's being shared.

These steps cover iPhone and Android as the hotspot, and Windows, Mac or another device as the one connecting. Work through them in order.

Step 1: Check the Phone's Own Internet

On the phone itself, turn off Wi-Fi and open a website using mobile data.

It doesn't load either: the problem is mobile data, not the hotspot. Check that Mobile data / Cellular data is on, that you have signal, and that you haven't hit your data limit. On Android, see mobile data not working on Android.
It loads fine on the phone: carry on.

Note that a phone connected to Wi-Fi can't usually share that Wi-Fi as a hotspot; the hotspot shares mobile data.

Step 2: Check Your Plan Allows Hotspot Data

Some mobile plans exclude hotspot (also called tethering), give it a separate small allowance, or slow it right down once that allowance is used, while data on the phone itself keeps working. Look in your carrier's app or account page for a hotspot or tethering allowance. If it's used up or not included, that's your answer.

Step 3: Restart the Hotspot and Both Devices

Turn the hotspot off on the phone.
Turn Airplane mode on for ten seconds, then off again, so the phone reconnects to the mobile network.
Turn the hotspot back on.
On the laptop, turn Wi-Fi off and on, then join the hotspot again.

If that fails, restart both the phone and the laptop.

Step 4: Switch the Hotspot to 2.4 GHz

Some laptops, especially older ones, connect poorly to a 5 GHz hotspot.

iPhone 12 and later: Settings > Personal Hotspot, turn on Maximize Compatibility.
Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot, turn on Extend compatibility (the exact name can differ by Android version).
Samsung: Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot, open Configure and set Band to 2.4 GHz.

Reconnect the laptop afterwards.

Step 5: Forget the Hotspot on the Laptop

A saved profile with old settings can cause trouble, especially after you changed the hotspot's name, password or band.

Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the hotspot and click Forget.
Mac: System Settings > Wi-Fi, click (...) next to the hotspot and choose Forget This Network.

Then connect again and type the password.

Step 6: Check VPN, Proxy and DNS on the Laptop

If other devices work on the hotspot but one laptop doesn't, the laptop's settings are the likely cause.

Disconnect any VPN for a test, then turn it back on afterwards.
In Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy and make sure Use a proxy server is off (unless your workplace requires it).
Clear the laptop's DNS cache: see how to flush DNS.

If the laptop has "DNS server not responding" errors on every network, follow DNS server not responding.

Step 7: Keep the Hotspot Awake

Phones switch the hotspot off, or stop sharing, to save battery.

iPhone: keep the Settings > Personal Hotspot screen open while a device joins for the first time, and keep the phone unlocked if the laptop can't find the hotspot.
Android: in the hotspot settings, turn off any option that switches the hotspot off automatically when no devices are connected, and remove battery restrictions if your phone's maker offers them.

Step 8: Try USB Tethering Instead

A cable is often more reliable than Wi-Fi and charges the phone at the same time.

iPhone to Windows or Mac: connect with the cable, tap Trust on the phone, and make sure Personal Hotspot is on. On Windows, Apple Devices or iTunes provides the driver.
Android to Windows: connect with the cable, then turn on USB tethering in the phone's Hotspot & tethering settings (Samsung: Mobile Hotspot and Tethering).

If USB works but Wi-Fi doesn't, the problem is the Wi-Fi link between the two devices, so the band (Step 4) or the laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is the place to look.

Step 9: Reset the Phone's Network Settings (Last Resort)

This clears saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, Bluetooth pairings and mobile network settings on the phone. Make sure you know your home Wi-Fi password first.

iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Pixel: Settings > System > Reset options > Reset mobile network settings and Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi (older versions: Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth).
Samsung: Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings (names can vary by One UI version).

Still Not Working?

If your laptop has "connected but no internet" on every network, not just the hotspot, see our full guide to Wi-Fi connected but no internet. If the phone itself shows full signal but no mobile data, contact your carrier: the account or the SIM may need attention.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does my laptop connect to my hotspot but have no internet?

The laptop reaches the phone, but the phone isn't passing internet through. The usual causes are mobile data being off or weak, a plan that doesn't include hotspot data, or a VPN or DNS setting on the laptop.

Does my phone plan need to include hotspot?

Some plans limit or exclude hotspot (tethering) data, or slow it down after an allowance. Check your carrier's app or account page for a hotspot or tethering allowance.

What is Maximize Compatibility on iPhone?

On iPhone 12 and later, Maximize Compatibility makes Personal Hotspot use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which older laptops and devices can join more reliably, at somewhat lower speed.

Can I use USB instead of Wi-Fi?

Yes. Both iPhone and Android can share their connection over a USB cable, which often works when the Wi-Fi hotspot doesn't and also charges the phone.