Win10 Hotspot options greyed out, can't change

david lmao 1 Reputation point
2021-04-09T20:08:33.487+00:00

I want to go online on my desktop using a hotspot from my android phone. The wifi hotspot settings are greyed out and won't allow me to change them. On my phone side, my desktop is detected just fine.

Windows Network
Windows Network
Windows: A family of Microsoft operating systems that run across personal computers, tablets, laptops, phones, internet of things devices, self-contained mixed reality headsets, large collaboration screens, and other devices.Network: A group of devices that communicate either wirelessly or via a physical connection.
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  1. Dave Patrick 426.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-04-11T00:03:59.333+00:00

    On the phone you'll need to set WiFi to OFF, the hotspot &tethering, then Wi-Fi hotspot to ON, (note the "hotspot name" below), on desktop find the wifi connection ("hotspot name") and connect to it.

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--


  2. Dave Patrick 426.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-04-11T13:53:11.85+00:00

    Sounds correct. In order for a device to connect to wifi and also provide hotspot (aka repeater) the device would need two wifi radios which most phones would not have.

    1. So on the phone you'll need to set WiFi to OFF,
    2. Then hotspot & tethering, then Wi-Fi hotspot to ON (note the "hotspot name" below) then the phone would connect via cell radio to data service (assuming one is available)
    3. Then on desktop find the wifi connection ("hotspot name") and connect to it.

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--


  3. Dave Patrick 426.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-04-11T14:41:07.827+00:00

    Phone side has no problem detecting my desktop

    hard to know what this even means

    On the desktop side my only connection is the wifi network which technically should not work because wifi and tethering cannot work at the same time

    you have this thought all crossed up. It is correct "wifi and tethering cannot work at the same time" but this is on phone, nothing to do with laptop The tethering happens on phone not on laptop. Follow the steps above and all will work out.

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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  4. david lmao 1 Reputation point
    2021-04-11T15:55:24.78+00:00

    Definitions:
    'Phone side' - I can look under the hotspot on my phone and see connected devices. If my phone is tethered, my desktop shows as being connected - unless I choose 'Allow all devices'.
    The 'desktop' side is where I am having issues. I have already selected the wifi network under hotspot in Windows Settings. It 'connects', but I can't load any web pages or connect to Steam, anything else that requires a connection.

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  5. david lmao 1 Reputation point
    2021-04-11T19:42:56.217+00:00

    Tried these suggestions, but they didn't work either:
    https://lazyadmin.nl/home-network/wifi-connected-but-no-internet-fix-it-in-5-min/

    I'm still 'Connected, secured', and the hotspot is still on, but nothing else has changed. No web pages will load, and I can't connect to anything else.

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