Part of:Troubleshooting mobile hotspots for remote workers
Does a hotspot work when a mobile device has no service?
Cellular service is necessary for establishing a hotspot connection. IT must know what to do when remote users are dealing with both Wi-Fi and service issues.
Remote and hybrid users can rely on hotspots for connectivity when their home internet isn't functioning. But what about when cellular service isn't available?
Mobile hotspot technology has evolved over the years to provide greater reliability and better security features. With this increased functionality, users can connect to the internet from virtually anywhere. As such, hotspots have become invaluable for those who need reliable internet access while on the go.
However, users might not always have service on the device they need to use for a hotspot connection. IT administrators should understand why hotspots can't work without service and how to troubleshoot when those issues occur.
How do mobile hotspots work?
When turned on, hotspots create a wireless LAN, acting as a wireless access point with a unique name and password. The device hosting the hotspot communicates with the cellular network carrier to establish an internet connection. Then, it shares that connection with the other devices connected to the hotspot.
Hardware, such as routers and modems; mobile devices, such as iPhones and Android phones; and desktop OSes, such as macOS and Windows, often have built-in hotspot hardware and software. There are also dedicated mobile hotspot devices, which exclusively offer hotspot functionality and come with their own data plans. In any case, hotspot hardware and software can broadcast a Wi-Fi signal that is picked up by other nearby devices. This creates a hotspot where those devices can access the internet without connecting directly to Ethernet or locally shared or secured Wi-Fi service set identifiers.
Hotspots are useful in providing secure remote Wi-Fi access when secured networks aren't available.
Hotspots are useful in providing secure remote Wi-Fi access when secured networks aren't available. They're also a great way to enable remote work and stay connected while on the go. For businesses, they provide a secure connection for employees to access corporate resources without worrying about risks on public Wi-Fi networks.
With this technology, anyone can access the internet in places where traditional Wi-Fi connections aren't available or where an organization needs its data separated from an employee's home wireless network. In some scenarios, this can even eliminate a VPN on a personal network, routing all traffic through corporate-owned data plans and hotspots.
Can a hotspot work with no service?
For activities such as local file share, a hotspot can work when a device doesn't have service. It isn't useful outside of that, however, because a hotspot relies on the cellular carrier to establish an internet connection. Without an active service plan or mobile data connection, the device hosting the hotspot isn't able to establish an internet connection or share that cellular connection with other devices over Wi-Fi.
Cellular service is critical to the functionality of a hotspot. This is true for both portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices and hotspot features on mobile phones. Without cell service, the user cannot access any of the hotspot's capabilities, including internet access, Wi-Fi calling and messaging. Therefore, users must ensure their device has an active service plan with hotspot services. Most mobile carriers provide hotspots as part of their cellular packages, usually with monthly data caps.
How to troubleshoot hotspot connection issues
If a remote user is experiencing issues with their mobile hotspot, there are a few troubleshooting steps IT admins can recommend to reestablish the connection.
Check the Wi-Fi settings
Make sure the user's device is connected to the correct Wi-Fi hotspot and the password is entered correctly. On most mobile and desktop OSes, the device hosting the hotspot sets a default password for it, but the user can change that manually. The steps to check the password of a hotspot depend on the device's OS.
On Android devices, navigate to Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering (Figure 1). Some Android versions differ in the location of this setting.
Figure 1. In Android, users can find hotspot settings under Network & internet.
On iOS devices, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot > Wi-Fi Password (Figure 2).
Figure 2. The Wi-Fi password and other hotspot settings are available under Personal Hotspot in iOS.
On macOS devices, go to Settings > General > Sharing, and verify that Internet Sharing is toggled on (Figure 3).
Figure 3. In macOS, under Sharing, turn on the Internet Sharing setting, and make sure that the password and other configurations are correct.
On Windows devices, go to Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot (Figure 4).
Figure 4. In Windows, hotspot settings are available under Network & internet.
Restart the mobile device
Sometimes, simply restarting the mobile device can help resolve issues with the wireless connection and hotspot services. Have the user turn off their device, wait a few seconds and then turn it back on.
Reset network settings
In extreme cases, resetting the network settings on the user's device can resolve issues with the wireless connection. To do this, navigate to the device's settings, and select Reset Network Settings.
Because a network reset removes all network settings, the user then has to reenter network passwords on personal networks. To reset networking settings on iOS devices, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. On Android devices, go to Settings > System > Reset options.
Check hotspot data allowance
Many cellphone plans come with hotspot services, but it's common for them to have specific limits on the amount of data available per month. The organization or user can check with their carrier to verify if they've exceeded their cellular data allowance. Carriers might block hotspot data or throttle internet service to slower 4G or 3G speeds after an overage.
Contact the service provider
If none of these steps work, the user might need to contact their service provider for further assistance. They can check for any known issues or outages in the area and help to troubleshoot the problem remotely.
Editor's note:This article was originally written by Michael Goad in June 2023. Katie Fenton updated this article in April 2025 to include more information on hotspot devices and improve readability.
Michael Goad is a freelance writer and solutions architect with experience handling mobility in an enterprise setting.
Katie Fenton is associate site editor for Informa TechTarget's Mobile Computing, Enterprise Desktop and Virtual Desktop sites.
Is an AI-powered device the next step in AI development, or a marketing gimmick? IT must explore whether the Rabbit R1 and its operating system offer...
Continue Reading
Android administrators can use Managed Google Play to deploy enterprise apps, configure permissions and more. Learn how to get started with a Managed...
Continue Reading
Part of:Troubleshooting mobile hotspots for remote workers
