AT&T Mobile Hotspot Not Working? (Instant Fix Guide)

If you experience an AT&T mobile hotspot not working, we’re here to help. 

The AT&T mobile hotspot helps you stay connected, but sometimes, it stops working during an important video call, a gaming session, or a Netflix binge.

The drop in the connection indicates an issue with your internet. 

To get your AT&T mobile hotspot to work, check your mobile data connection and ensure your cellular network signal is strong and stable.  Also, make sure you have enough data allowance in your plan. 

Awesome, let’s explore all possible solutions. 

AT&T Mobile Hotspot Not Working – 10 Proven Methods to Fix

Here are 10 proven solutions to fix your AT&T hotspot not working issue.

Remember to follow them in order and check if your problem is solved after each. 

1. Check the Mobile Data Connection on Your Hotspot Device

If you’re having difficulties with your AT&T mobile hotspot, verify whether your mobile data connection works first.

A weak or unstable signal is often the cause of your hotspot not working as expected.

To fix this, refresh your mobile data connection. 

iPhone

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center.
2. Tap on the Plane icon to switch on Airplane mode. 
3. Wait for a few seconds.
4. Tap on the icon again to turn it off. 

Android

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings.
2. Tap the Plane icon to switch on Airplane mode. 
3. Wait for 10 seconds.
4. Tap the icon again to turn it off.

If this doesn’t work, move to a different location with better coverage. Also, contact AT&T customer support and verify network outages. 

2. Change the Default Hotspot Name and Password

Another possible scenario is someone changed your hotspot name and password without your knowledge.

Ensure you use a unique hotspot name and password to prevent this from happening.

A distinctive name and password make finding your hotspot and connecting to your other devices more accessible. 

To change the default hotspot name and password, follow these steps:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Personal Hotspot.
3. Tap on the WiFi Password field.
4. Enter a new password.
5. Tap on the Hotspot Name field.
6. Enter a new name.
7. Tap Done to save your changes.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Network & Internet.
3. Select Hotspot & Tethering.
4. Choose WiFi Hotspot.
5. Tap on the WiFi Password field.
6. Enter a new password.
7. Tap on the Hotspot Name field.
8. Enter a new name.
9. Tap Done to save your changes.

After changing the hotspot name and password, update them on your other devices. 

3. Make Sure You Have Enough Data Allowance on Your Plan

If you have a data plan with a set limit, you may have issues because you have used up all your data for the month or billing cycle.

Check your data usage and balance to verify by following these steps:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Cellular.
3. Select Cellular Data Options.
4. Tap on Data Usage to see how much you have used and how much is left. 
5. Tap on View Account to see your plan details and manage your data options.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Network & Internet.
3. Select Data Usage.
4. Tap on Mobile Data Usage to see how much you have used and how much is left.
5. Tap on AT&T Data Manager to see your plan details and manage your data options.

If you have run out of mobile data, either wait until the next billing cycle or buy more data from AT&T. Log in to your AT&T account or use the AT&T mobile app to top up your data. 

Alternative: Switch to an unlimited data plan if you use your mobile hotspot frequently. 

4. Turn Off Battery Saving Mode on Your Device

Battery saving mode is designed to conserve power by restricting your WiFi.

Bluetooth, and GPS. Although this feature prolongs your battery life, it also interferes with your AT&T mobile hotspot.

Specifically, it automatically turns off your hotspot or reduces its signal strength. 

To fix this, turn off battery saving mode on your device with these steps:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Battery.
3. Turn off the switch for Low Power Mode.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Battery.
3. Turn off the switch for Battery Saver.

Tip: Turning off the battery-saving mode increases your device’s power consumption. Ensure you have access to a charger or power source.

5. Set Your Hotspot Device to Broadcast in Dual Band

Broadcasting in a single band causes congestion and connectivity issues with your other devices.

On the other hand, dual-band broadcasting allows your hotspot to use both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

To ensure your hotspot works appropriately, set your hotspot device to dual band. Here are the steps to do this:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Personal Hotspot.
3. Tap on Maximize Compatibility.
4. Toggle it off to enable dual-band broadcasting for your hotspot.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Network & Internet.
3. Select Hotspot & Tethering.
4. Choose WiFi Hotspot.
5. Tap on Advanced.
6. Tap on AP Band.
7. Select 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz (dual band). 

Alternative: Switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz manually on your other devices if one is not working as expected. 

6. Change the Security Type of Your Hotspot to WPA2

You will also have a mobile hotspot not working AT&T issue if you have an outdated or incompatible security type.

The type of security determines how your data is encrypted and protected during transmission.

WPA2 is the most secure and compatible, so change the security type to your hotspot to it. To do this, follow these steps:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Personal Hotspot.
3. Tap on WiFi Password.
4. Tap Security.
5. Select WPA2.
6. Tap Done to save your changes.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Network & Internet.
3. Select Hotspot & Tethering.
4. Choose WiFi Hotspot.
5. Tap on Advanced.
6. Tap Security.
7. Select WPA2.
8. Tap Done to save your changes.

After making these changes, test your AT&T mobile hotspot to ensure it’s working correctly and that your devices can connect to it with the new security settings. 

7. Change the Channel of Your Mobile Hotspot

Another reason your AT&T mobile hotspot doesn’t work is crowded or overlapping channels.

The frequency band used to broadcast the signal has different channels, like 1, 6, 11, etc. If many networks use the same channel, it causes interference and congestion. 

To fix this, change the channel of your mobile hotspot to a less crowded one. Here are the steps to do this:

iPhone

1. Get the WiFi Channel app on your device.
2. Launch the app.
3. Tap on the Hotspot tab.
4. Go to the Channel setting.
5. Choose a channel you want to use.
6. Tap on Save.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Network & Internet.
3. Select Hotspot & Tethering.
4. Choose WiFi Hotspot.
5. Tap on Advanced.
6. Tap on AP Channel.
7. Select a different channel from the list. 
8. Tap Save.

Pro Tip: Avoid using channels 1, 6, and 11 as these are shared ones and overlap, so they’re likely to be congested.

8. Reset Your Hotspot’s Network Settings

As a last resort, reset your hotspot’s network settings.

Corrupted or misconfigured network settings prevent your devices from connecting to the mobile hotspot altogether.

It happens for various reasons, such as software updates, malware attacks, and user errors. 

To reset your hotspot’s network settings, follow these steps:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on General.
3. Select Reset.
4. Tap Reset Network Settings.
5. Enter your passcode if prompted.
6. Tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm.

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on System.
3. Select Advanced.
4. Choose Reset Options.
5. Tap Reset WiFi, Mobile & Bluetooth.
6. Tap on Reset Settings.
7. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password if prompted. 
8. Tap on Reset Network Settings to confirm. 

Note: Resetting your hotspot erases all network preferences. Back up important data before restoring default settings.

Quick Recap

If you encounter an AT&T mobile hotspot not working during crucial activities like video calls or gaming, check the signal strength of your mobile data connection and your data plan allowance.

Additionally, ensure you turn off the battery-saving mode.    

Dive deeper into troubleshooting your AT&T Mobile with our blog’s extensive articles.