- Download and install DriverFix.
- Allow the tool to scan your PC for missing and out-of-date device drivers.
- Inspect the detailed report the tool will offer once scanning finishes.
- Choose the device driver you want to update. (You can also bulk update all outdated drivers.)
DriverFix
Save precious time and effort by safely updating all your drivers with this simple tool, and reset your Mobile Hotspot connection.
3. Use a hotspot software app
Another simple, and automatic, the solution would be to use a dedicated app such as Connectify Hotspot that can turn your Windows 10 device into a hotspot.
What this program does is to extend the range of your wireless signal in your home by combining several Internet connections, either wired or wireless.
This facilitates Internet access for all devices without you having to resort to additional hardware.
When using Connectify Hotspot, you basically eliminate networking issues since it and bridges other devices.
You also get real-time network usage monitoring as well as firewall protection for each connected device.
4. Troubleshoot Network Adapter
- Click Start
- Go to the search field box and type Troubleshooting
- Select Troubleshooting from the search results
- Click View all on the left pane
- Click Network Adapter
- Click Next
- The detection process to identify any issues will begin
- Select the network adapter to diagnose.
This is an automated, built-in Windows tool that finds and fixes common Network Adapter settings issues on your computer.
It will also check whether the Network Adapter drivers are updated or not, and give you a clue on the hardware failures related to the Network Adapter.
5. Check the Wi-Fi adapter
- Click Start
- Type CMD in the search field box
- Select Command Prompt (Administrator)
- Type the following command
NETSH WLAN show drivers - Press Enter
- Check for a line saying Hosted network supported and check if it says Yes or No.
If it says No, there is a problem because it means your Wi-Fi adapter doesn’t support the mobile hotspot feature.
In this case, buy another Wi-Fi adapter that supports it as there’s no other way of fixing it.
On this note, we recommend Club Invitation, a Wi-Fi extender that you might not have heard of, nevertheless ane extremely powerful one.
It doesn’t require any setup, just for your to click the WPA button on your router and then the power button on the extender, and your Wi-Fi connection will spike instantly. The mobile hotspot issue will simply disappear.
- Extremely powerful
- Wide coverage
- 2-step setup
- Might interfere with your antivirus
6. Update network drivers manually
- Right-click Start
- Select Device Manager
- Select Network Adapters
- Right-click on your network adapter
- Select Update driver
- Click Search automatically for updated driver software
- Once the steps are complete, click Close
- After installing the updated driver, click Start >Power > Restart
Windows can’t find a driver for your Network adapter? We’ve got the right solutions for you.
If your computer cannot connect to the Internet, download a driver from a different computer, save it to a USB flash drive, then manually install it on your own computer.
How to manually install the network adapter driver
- For a .exe (executable) file, double click on it to run the file then install the drivers
- For individual files, check a file with .inf extension and another with .sys extension then do the following:
- Go to the search box and type Device Manager to open the app.
- Select Network adapters and go to the network adapter name (you can also check under Other Devices if yours isn’t listed there)
- Right-click the network adapter and select Update driver
- Click Browse my computer for driver software
- Select Browse then the location where the driver files are stored
- Click Ok then Next
- Once the installation is complete, click Close
After installing the updated driver, click Start> Power > Restart.
7. Roll back the network adapter driver
- Right-click Start
- Select Device Manager
- Select Network Adapters then click on the network adapter name
- Right-click on the network adapter
- Select Properties
- Select the Driver tab
- Select Roll Back Driver. If the button is unavailable, then there’s no driver to roll back to.
- After rolling back to the previous version of the driver, select Start /Power/ Restart.
Driver updates are sometimes incompatible with system specifications and lead to errors, including connectivity issues. So the natural solution is to uninstall these updates.
If you successfully rolled back your driver, now you’ll have to prevent Windows from automatically updating it. To do that, check out this useful guide.
8. Create a new connection
If you still have mobile hotspot issues, or issues connecting your device to your mobile hotspot, try and delete the current connection, then create a new one to get rid of the authentication error.
Can’t set up a new mobile hotspot connection? Fix the issue quickly with this guide
9. Temporarily turn off firewalls and antivirus
A firewall, antivirus, or malware program, sometimes block mobile hotspots.
If this is the cause of the issue, turn off either of the three then try to visit the website you wanted.
Ensure you turn these programs back on immediately after you’re done to prevent hackers, viruses, and worms from damaging your system.
10. Disable Bluetooth
- Click Start
- Select Settings
- Choose Devices
- Click Bluetooth
- Set it as Off.
If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.
Bluetooth settings are missing on Windows 10? Get them back in a few quick steps.
11. Run the Internet connection troubleshooter
- Click Start
- Type Troubleshooting in the search field box
- Select Troubleshooting from search results
- Click View all on the left panel
- Select Internet connections
- Click Next to run the troubleshooter.
If the troubleshooter can’t load or fails to complete the process, check out this guide to find solutions to the problem.
12. Install driver in compatibility mode
- Download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website
- Save it on your local disk
- Right-click on the driver set up file
- Click Properties
- Click Compatibility tab
- Check the box next to Run this program in Compatibility mode
- Select the Operating System from the drop-down list
- The driver will install, then check its functionality.
- Restart the computer and check if the issue persists.
13. Link your Internet sharing with your hotspot adapter
- Click Start
- Select Settings
- Go to Network & Internet
- Click Mobile Hotspot
- Turn on Mobile Hotspot
- Go to Related Settings
- Click Change adapter options (Take note which adapter is connected to the Internet, and which one is your mobile hotspot – usually listed as Local Area Connection)
- Right-click the adapter connected to the Internet
- Click Properties, then go to Sharing tab
- Uncheck Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection (you can skip this step if it is already unchecked) and click OK.
- Open Properties
- Under the Sharing tab, check to Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
- If a popup says Internet Connection Sharing is currently enabled, click OK
- Go to a Home networking connection
- Select the Mobile Hotspot adapter
- Click OK.
Check if your mobile hotspot is working now. Otherwise, try the next solution.
14. Perform a Clean Boot
- Go to the search box
- Type msconfig
- Select System Configuration
- Find the Services tab
- Select Hide all Microsoft services box
- Click Disable all
- Go to Startup tab
- Click Open Task Manager
- Close Task manager then click Ok
- Reboot your computer
You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try and check if the mobile hotspot problem persists.
Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces conflicts related to software that can bring up the root causes that lead to your mobile hotspot not working on Windows 10.
These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start up and run in the background whenever you start Windows normally.
Can’t open Task Manager? Don’t worry, we’ve got the right solution for you.
15. Start your computer in Safe Mode
- Click on Start button
- Select Settings – the Settings box will open up
- Click Update & Security
- Select Recovery from the left pane
- Go to Advanced startup
- Click Restart now
- Select Troubleshoot from the Choose an option screen, then click Advanced options
- Go to Startup Settings and click Restart
- Once your computer restarts, a list of options will come up.
- Choose 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode
If the mobile hotspot problem isn’t there while in Safe Mode, then your default settings and basic drivers are not contributing to the issue.
Safe mode is not working? Don’t panic, this guide will help you get past the booting problems.
16. Check Allow sharing connection settings
- Click Start
- Select Settings
- Go to Network & Internet
- Select Network and Sharing center
- Click Change adapter settings
- Right-click Ethernet connection
- Select Properties
- Click the Sharing tab
- Uncheck Checkbox to Allow sharing the connection
- Restart mobile hotspot.
Allow other network users to connect using the steps below:
- Go to Network and Sharing Center
- Under View your active networks, click the network you connect to the internet from
- Click Properties
- Click the Sharing tab
- Select Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection
- Click OK.
Let us know if any of the solutions we shared worked for you. If you have any other questions, leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.
This post was written by Milan Stanojevic and was first posted to WindowsReport
