Windows not discovering mobile hotspot

Fongbai · 09 Oct 2020

Hello everyone,
I have been connecting my mobile hotspot with my laptop wifi for more than 3 months, but recently I faced a problem.
My laptop is unable to discover my mobile phone's hotspot. But my laptop can discover other mobile phone's hotspot.

Again, my mobile hotspot is discoverable by any other devices except my laptop.

I have done the following things but it failed to solve the problem:
1. I clicked "forgot" my mobile hotspot network under wifi settings/mange known network in my laptop.
2. I have uninstalled my laptop's wifi driver and reinstalled a new one.
3. I have checked for updates and installed all the updates shown in my laptop.
4. I have factory rest my phone.

I use Windows 10 in my laptop.
Anyone who can suggest me anything about the problem?

Bastet · 09 Oct 2020

Is the Phone Android or iOS (Apple)?
Have you tried leaving the mobile hotspot screen open on your phone while scanning/connecting the the laptop?
Is the phone connected to the laptop via Bluetooth?

Fongbai · 10 Oct 2020

My phone is Android.
I have tried leaving the mobile hotspot screen open on my phone while scanning/connecting the the laptop. But it doesn't work.
Bluetooth connection is fine.
I even tried reinstalling my Windows 64 bit, but surprisingly problem is not solved.

I am wondering why my laptop detects mobile hotspot except my mobile hotspot.
And why my mobile hotspot is discoverable by any device except my laptop.

Try3 · 10 Oct 2020

Perhaps you have switched your phone's mobile hotspot to a frequency band that your wifi adapter cannot detect.

Check your phone's controls & manual for switching between 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz/5.8GHz. Choose 2.4GHz as that is the most likely to be detected by common computer wifi adapters.

Then find out if the phone's hotspot can be switched to 5.0GHz/5.8GHz and, if so, which it is.
Then find out what your computer's wifi adapter can detect. Do not accept any explanation that merely says 5GHz. You must find out if it is capable of detecting 5.0GHz or 5.8GHz.

I also have a fairly new HP and it can only detect 2.4GHz & 5.0GHz but not 5.8Ghz.

Denis

Fongbai · 10 Oct 2020

My android phone is switchable between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and I tried using both these two frequencies but my laptop didn't discover it.
But my laptop can discover other android phone's hotspot of 2.4 GHz.
I have been connecting the same mobile with my laptop since past 3 months and there was no problem until recently the problem arised.

Try3 · 10 Oct 2020

I think you have already answered both of the other points I would have checked so I have nothing else useful to suggest -
- Your computer can detect other 2.4GHz networks/hotspots
- Other computers can detect your phone's 2.4GHz hotspot

I have deliberately altered some Windows settings to hide unwanted local networks [not just stop any connection to them but hide them from appearing in the list of available networks]. But you have not been taking similar measures or you would have said so.

As a final check, see if your phone's mobile hotspot appears in the list of detected networks using
NirSoft WiFiInfoView

Best of luck,
Denis