The Problem

Mobile hotspot is grayed out, says We can't set up mobile hotspot, or your phone and tablet connect but get no internet. Windows shares your PC's existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection over a virtual adapter—if the upstream link, driver, or firewall is wrong, hotspot fails even when normal browsing works.

Wi-Fi drops on the PC itself? Fix Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting. Clients connect but no web pages? Compare with fix no internet secured.

Symptoms

Hotspot toggle flips off immediately.
Other devices see Local Area Connection xx* but report No internet.
Hotspot worked until a Windows or network driver update.

The Fix: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Check Upstream Internet First

The PC must have working internet before it can share it.

Open a browser on the PC—confirm sites load on Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Settings → Network & internet → note which adapter says Connected (that is your share from source).

Step 2: Turn On Mobile Hotspot Correctly

Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot → On.
Share my internet connection from → pick Wi-Fi or Ethernet (whichever is actually online).
Properties → choose 2.4 GHz if older phones fail on 5 GHz; set a simple WPA2 password (8+ characters).

Step 3: Update Network and Wi-Fi Drivers

Device Manager → Network adapters → update the Wi-Fi adapter and any Virtual / Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct entries. Reboot. Laptops: install the combo driver package from Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.—not a generic unknown driver site.

Step 4: Reset Network Stack

Open Terminal (Admin):

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /flushdns

Reboot, enable hotspot again, and test with one phone for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Firewall and Metered Connection

Windows Security → Firewall → allow Mobile Hotspot if a third-party firewall blocked it.
Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → your network → Metered connection → Off on the connection you share from (some builds limit sharing when metered).

Step 6: Registry-Free Service Check

Win + R → services.msc → Windows Mobile Hotspot Service → Running, startup Manual or Automatic. Restart the service if Mobile hotspot won't stay on.

Step 7: Ethernet to Wi-Fi Sharing (Desktop)

If you share Ethernet to Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi adapter must support hosted network / hotspot (most modern Intel and Realtek do). USB Wi-Fi dongles often fail here—use a known-good internal adapter or share over Bluetooth as a test.

Prove whether the PC or router is at fault: If hotspot clients work but home Wi-Fi is flaky, fix the router path. If the PC drops its own Wi-Fi while hosting, Advanced Network Monitor logs disconnect times so you can show a pattern to your ISP or IT.

When Hotspot Is Blocked by Policy

Work and school PCs often disable hotspot via Group Policy. You will see the toggle missing or gray—no consumer fix without admin rights. Use a phone hotspot or ask IT.

Can't join any network at all? Fix can't connect to this network.

How to Fix Mobile Hotspot Not Working in Windows 11