# How to Fix Mobile Hotspot Not Working in Windows 11

URL: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-mobile-hotspot-not-working-windows-11/
Published: 2026-06-16 | Author: Ankit Kumar
Tags: Windows 11, Network, Wi-Fi, Fix
Summary: Can't turn on mobile hotspot, or devices won't connect? Fix adapter sharing, metered data, firewall, and driver issues for Windows 11 hotspot.
Recommended app: Network Traffic Monitor & Analyzer — https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/network-monitor/ (Microsoft Store: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NGCWN2BKVSC?hl=en-us&cid=mytechnician-web). Optional; every step below uses built-in Windows tools.

## 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](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-wifi-keeps-disconnecting-windows-11/) instead of chasing hotspot. **No internet at all?** Start with [DNS server not responding](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-dns-server-not-responding-windows-11/).

## Symptoms
* **Mobile hotspot** toggle is missing or won't turn on.
* Phone shows **Connected, no internet** to the PC's hotspot SSID.
* Hotspot worked until a Windows or driver update.

## The Fix: Step-by-Step

### Step 1: Confirm the PC Has Internet First
Hotspot only shares what the PC already has. Open a browser on the PC and load a site. If the PC has no connection, fix [can't connect to this network](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-cant-connect-to-this-network-windows-11/) or Ethernet first.

### Step 2: Turn On Mobile Hotspot and Set Band
1. **Settings** → **Network & internet** → **Mobile hotspot**.
2. Turn **Mobile hotspot** **On**.
3. Under **Properties**, note the network name and password—or click **Edit** to set your own.
4. Set **Share my Internet connection from** to **Wi-Fi** or **Ethernet** (whichever is your active connection).
5. Under **Properties** → **Network band**, try **5 GHz** if nearby; switch to **2.4 GHz** if devices won't see the network.

### Step 3: Start the Required Services
1. Press `Win + R`, type `services.msc`, **Enter**.
2. Find **Windows Mobile Hotspot Service** → right-click → **Properties** → set **Startup type** to **Manual** → **Start**.
3. Also confirm **Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)** dependencies: **Remote Access Connection Manager** and **Remote Access Auto Connection Manager** are not **Disabled**.

### Step 4: Update the Wi-Fi Adapter Driver
The virtual hotspot adapter rides on your Wi-Fi driver.
1. **Device Manager** → **Network adapters** → right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → **Update driver**.
2. If hotspot broke after an update, **Properties** → **Driver** → **Roll Back Driver** when available.
3. Reboot and test hotspot again.

### Step 5: Reset the Network Stack
When hotspot grayed out after a Windows update:
1. Open **Terminal (Admin)** (`Win + X`).
2. Run:
   ```cmd
   netsh winsock reset
   netsh int ip reset
   ipconfig /flushdns
   ```
3. Reboot, then try enabling hotspot.

### Step 6: Allow Hotspot Through the Firewall
Windows Firewall can block shared connections.
1. **Settings** → **Privacy & security** → **Windows Security** → **Firewall & network protection** → **Allow an app through firewall**.
2. Ensure **Wireless Display** and **Network Discovery** are allowed on **Private** networks.
3. For a specific app still blocked, see [fix Windows Firewall blocking apps](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-windows-firewall-blocking-apps-windows-11/).

### Step 7: Disable Metered Connection on the Source Adapter
Metered connections can block sharing.
1. **Settings** → **Network & internet** → **Wi-Fi** (or **Ethernet**) → your connected network.
2. Turn off **Metered connection**.
3. Retry **Mobile hotspot**.

> **Hotspot drops under load?** You can [track connection drops](https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/network-monitor/) with Network Traffic Monitor & Analyzer—it timestamps every dropout so you can prove whether the PC or the shared link is failing.

## Still Not Working?
* **Hotspot option missing entirely?** Your adapter may not support hosted networks—check the manufacturer's spec sheet or try a USB Wi-Fi dongle that lists **AP mode** support.
* **Phone connects but pages are slow?** That is a bandwidth issue on the upstream link—see [speed up a slow internet connection](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/speed-up-slow-internet-connection-windows-11/).

---
Source: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-mobile-hotspot-not-working-windows-11/ — My Technician, free Windows 10/11 troubleshooting guides.
Related tool: Network Traffic Monitor & Analyzer (Network Traffic Monitor & Analyzer shows real-time bandwidth usage, active connections, and per-app network traffic on Windows 10 and 11.) — https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/network-monitor/
More guides: https://www.mytechnician.tech/llms.txt