Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot Not Working on PC: Sharing a Laptop’s Internet With Other Devices
Windows 10 can turn a laptop into a small Wi-Fi hotspot, which is handy in hotels or when a phone needs a connection. When the Windows 10 mobile hotspot not working on PC, the switch may refuse to turn on, show “We can’t set up mobile hotspot,” or let devices connect without YY PAUS any internet.
The feature takes the PC’s existing connection and rebroadcasts it through the Wi-Fi adapter. That means the adapter, its driver, and a few Windows services all have to cooperate.
VPN software and driver updates are frequent culprits, because both change how network traffic is routed.
Why This Happens
Hotspot sharing fails for these reasons:
- The Wi-Fi adapter or its driver does not support sharing properly.
- The wrong source connection is selected, or the PC itself has no internet.
- A VPN or virtual network adapter is interfering with sharing.
- The Internet Connection Sharing service is stopped.
Some adapters cannot connect to one Wi-Fi network and broadcast another at the same time, which matters when the PC’s own connection is also Wi-Fi.
Start With These Basic Checks
Check the hotspot settings.
- Confirm the PC itself can browse the internet.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot.
- Under “Share my Internet connection from,” choose the connection that actually works.
- Select Edit to set a simple network name and a password of at least eight characters.
- Switch Mobile hotspot on and try connecting a phone.
If phones cannot see the hotspot, set “Network band” to 2.4 GHz, since some devices and adapters handle 5 GHz poorly.
Going a Step Further
If the switch is greyed out or devices get no internet, look deeper.
- Update the Wi-Fi driver from the laptop manufacturer.
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and make sure Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is set to Manual and can start.
- Disconnect VPNs and disable unused virtual adapters in ncpa.cpl.
- Run the Network Adapter troubleshooter.
- Use Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset if nothing else works.
When the PC is connected by Ethernet, sharing over Wi-Fi is usually the most reliable arrangement.
A Word of Caution
Always use a strong hotspot password, especially in public places. Shared connections use your data allowance, so watch usage on mobile broadband. Network reset removes saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN profiles, so note them first.
Final Thoughts
A failing PC hotspot is usually caused by the adapter, the chosen source connection, or VPN interference. Update the driver, select the right connection, and make sure the sharing service runs.
Once the hotspot works, note which band and connection settings succeeded, since a Windows update or driver change can occasionally reset them.