Why is my laptop hotspot not working even though I have a strong internet connection?
Why is my laptop hotspot not working even though I have a strong internet connection?
I’ve been trying to use my laptop’s hotspot feature to share my internet connection with other devices, but it’s not working as expected. Despite having a strong internet connection on my laptop, the devices I connect to the hotspot either can’t find the network or they fail to connect after finding it. It’s incredibly frustrating because I need to use this feature for work and other important tasks. I’ve checked the network settings and even restarted both my laptop and the devices I’m trying to connect, but nothing seems to fix the issue. This has left me puzzled and I’m not sure what could be causing the problem.
4 Answers
For me, the hotspot issue was resolved by tweaking my firewall settings. Overly aggressive firewall rules can sometimes impede the hotspot’s functionality. Temporarily disable your firewall to see if it makes any difference. Also, never underestimate the impact of keeping your operating system updated. There might be specific patches addressing hotspot glitches. Another thing, confirm with your mobile data provider if tethering is allowed on your plan. Finally, booting your laptop in Safe Mode with Networking could also be enlightening. If your hotspot functions properly in this mode, a third-party application or security software might be interfering.
From my experience, this problem could stem from the power settings on your laptop. Many laptops disable their Wi-Fi to save battery under power-saving modes. Check the Power Options in your system settings and adjust the wireless adapter settings for maximum performance. Additionally, try resetting all network settings by navigating to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset. This restores all the network adapters back to their default configurations and might solve the problem. Sometimes simple oversight, like ensuring the correct hotspot name (SSID) and password, can also be the solution. Typos are more common than we think!
- Keep your wireless network card drivers updated. Check the laptop’s manufacturer’s website for any recent updates and install them if available.
- Utilise the Network Troubleshooter in Windows. Navigate to network settings, and find the Troubleshoot section, then initiate a scan to diagnose and potentially resolve any connectivity problems.
- Ensure your laptop isn’t in airplane mode and that all Wi-Fi settings are accurately configured; this often gets overlooked but can easily be the reason.
One probable cause might be your laptop’s network adapter settings. Try opening Device Manager, locating the network adapters, and then right-click your wireless adapter to disable and then enable it again after a brief pause. This method has worked several times for me when facing intermittent connectivity issues.