Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Android Hotspot Disconnection Issues
If your Android hotspot keeps dropping the connection, you’re definitely not alone. It’s pretty frustrating trying to share your internet, only for it to cut out randomly. Sometimes it feels like your phone just gets tired of giving out Wi-Fi or Bluetooth tethering. This guide walks through some practical fixes that actually worked on a bunch of setups—because of course, Android has to make things harder than they need to be.
Most of these fixes are easy, but they can make a noticeable difference. Expect to see a more stable connection by the end, whether you’re tethering via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. And hey, some of these are just about toggling settings or restarting things, so give them a shot before jumping to more complicated stuff.
How to Fix Android Hotspot Keeps Disconnecting
Method 1: Restart Your Hotspot and Phone
First off, sometimes all it takes is just turning everything off and on again. Sounds basic, but it works surprisingly often. The goal here is to refresh the connection stack without messing around with settings for ages.
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections on some phones).
- Turn off Mobile Hotspot (or Personal Hotspot)—wait a few seconds.
- Then turn it back on. Also, consider rebooting the phone if the problem has been ongoing for a while. Sometimes, a quick restart clears out behind-the-scenes glitches.
On some setups, this toggle solves the problem right away—kind of a “refresh everything” trick that doesn’t require deeper digging.
Method 2: Adjust Hotspot Settings & Power Settings
Next, digging into the settings can help. One sneaky cause for disconnects is that your device might be set to turn off the hotspot automatically to save power. That’s annoying, because it’s like the phone forgets you’re trying to use it for tethering.
- In Settings, head over to Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.
- Tap on Hotspot, then check if there are options like Timeout or Keep hotspot active. Make sure it’s set to stay active indefinitely or at least for longer periods.
- Now, dive into Settings > Battery > Optimize Battery Usage. Find the hotspot app or toggle and disable battery optimization for it. Because of course, Windows and Android have to make it as hard as possible.
This is kind of weird, but sometimes your phone just “thinks” it should turn off the hotspot to save power—knowing your hotspot is critical, turn off those auto-shutdowns.
Method 3: Switch from Wi-Fi Tethering to Bluetooth
If Wi-Fi keeps cutting out, but Bluetooth tethering still seems stable, give Bluetooth a shot. Bluetooth might be more reliable, especially if you’re in an area with a lot of Wi-Fi interference or congestion.
- Go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.
- Enable Bluetooth and pair your device if it isn’t already.
- In Mobile Hotspot & Tethering, toggle Bluetooth Tethering on.
This method doesn’t require critical data like Wi-Fi, so it’s handy if the Wi-Fi connection is the issue. Not sure why, but in some cases, Bluetooth just hangs in there better.
Method 4: Enable Auto Hotspot and Check Data Limits
Find the Auto Hotspot feature in your hotspot settings. Turning this on can help keep the connection alive longer, especially if your phone tries to turn it off after a period of inactivity. Also, verify your carrier plan doesn’t have a data cap or a throttling feature kicking in.
- In Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & Tethering, look for Auto Hotspot or similar options and toggle accordingly.
- Check your carrier app or account dashboard for any data restrictions.
On some phones, enabling Auto Hotspot improves uptime, but results can vary depending on your carrier and phone model. It’s worth a try.
Method 5: Reset Network Settings
If all else fails, a full reset of network settings might clear out some weird corruption. It’s a bit more drastic, but it often solves stubborn disconnect issues.
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options (or similar).
- Choose Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. Confirm and wait for the reset process to finish.
This will wipe all saved Wi-Fi networks, paired Bluetooth devices, and VPNs, so be ready to set those up again. Sometimes, this is the only way to fix underlying glitches that cause hotspot disconnects.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Sometimes, firmware updates break things or introduce new bugs. Make sure your device runs the latest software—check under Settings > System > Software Update. Also, keep an eye on carrier restrictions or data caps, which might silently disable your hotspot if you go over limits. And don’t overlook simple stuff: a long press on the power button to restart can work wonders, especially after settings changes.
Wrap-up
Most of the time, toggling settings, rebooting, or adjusting power options can fix those sudden drops. If the problem keeps happening, the next step might be talking to your carrier or trying a different SIM. Wireless stuff isn’t always predictable, and some phones are just more finicky than others. But hey, at least with these tricks, there’s hope for a more stable hotspot connection.
Summary
- Restart your phone and hotspot toggle
- Check hotspot timeout and keep-alive settings
- Disable battery optimization for hotspot apps
- Switch to Bluetooth tethering if Wi-Fi drops out
- Enable auto hotspot and check carrier restrictions
- Reset network settings if needed