Technician helping troubleshoot Motorola phone screen brightness not working

Steve H.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Motorola network marked as Public, Windows shows Public network on Motorola hotspot, sharing/printer not found, “Connected but discovery is off”

Seeing “Public network” on a Motorola connection? Common reasons + safe checks (sharing blocked, hotspot, update changes)

Technician avatar Technician
I can help you make sense of this without doing anything risky. When you see a connection marked as Public, it usually means the device is being cautious about sharing and discovery (like printers, file sharing, or seeing other devices).

Trust moment: let’s start with the safest checks first. I don’t want you changing settings that could remove saved Wi-Fi passwords or make things harder to reconnect.

Quick question to guide us: where are you seeing “Public” — on the Motorola phone itself, or on another device connected to it (like a Windows laptop)?
Customer
On my Windows laptop. I connected to my Motorola hotspot and Windows says it’s a Public network. Now my printer and shared folder don’t show up.
Technician avatar Technician
That actually fits the label. When Windows calls a network “Public,” it often turns off device discovery so you don’t accidentally share on a café Wi-Fi.

Let’s confirm one important thing: are you using the Motorola as a hotspot (phone sharing internet), or are you connecting the Motorola phone to your home Wi-Fi and then the laptop connects to that same home Wi-Fi?
Customer
It’s the hotspot. My home internet was down, so I used the phone. It connects, but Windows marks it Public.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s a classic “looks scary, but it’s a safety label” situation. Hotspots are often treated as Public by default because they’re not your usual home network.

Two safe checks (no changes yet):
1) Is your main problem that internet works but printer/sharing doesn’t?
2) Did this start after something changed — a Windows update, an Android update on the Motorola, or a new laptop profile?
Customer
The internet works. It just blocks sharing and I can’t find my printer. I think Windows updated last week.
Technician avatar Technician
That makes sense. “Public” doesn’t mean someone is inside your phone — it’s mainly about how open your laptop is to other devices on that network.

Trust moment: I’m not going to tell you to turn on sharing everywhere. We’ll only check what you need for your situation.

One more detail: are you trying to use a printer at home while your laptop is on the Motorola hotspot? (If yes, the printer may still be on your home Wi-Fi, which is a different network.)
Customer
Yes, the printer is on my home Wi-Fi. My laptop is on the phone hotspot because the home internet is down.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s the key “false alarm” piece. Even if Windows labeled the hotspot as Private, your laptop and printer would still be on two different networks (hotspot network vs home Wi-Fi network). They often can’t see each other across that gap.

So the Public label is real, but it may not be the main reason the printer disappeared.

Safe check: do you have any other device (like a second phone or tablet) still connected to the home Wi-Fi right now, and can it see or print to that printer?
Customer
My tablet is still on home Wi-Fi and it can see the printer. So the printer is okay. I just need my laptop to work while the internet is down.
Technician avatar Technician
Perfect test. That tells us your “printer vanished” is mostly because the laptop moved to a different network, not because something is wrong with the Motorola.

Now, about the label itself: Windows can set a new connection profile to Public by default. Changing the profile is usually safe, but it changes how open your laptop is on that network.

Trust moment: I don’t want you to make it less secure than you need. The right choice depends on where you use the hotspot (only at home vs also in public places).
Customer
I mostly use the hotspot at home. But sometimes I use it in the car or while traveling. I’m worried I’ll pick the wrong thing.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s a smart concern. Here’s a safe way to think about it:
• Public = sharing and discovery mostly off (safer for travel).
• Private = easier for printers/shares on the same network (better for a trusted home network).

Since your printer is on home Wi-Fi and the laptop is on the hotspot, changing the label won’t magically reconnect them — but it can affect things like “device discovery” and local sharing within the hotspot network.

Quick check: when connected to the Motorola hotspot, do you actually need to share files with another device connected to the hotspot, or is it mainly just internet access for the laptop?
Customer
Mostly internet. Sometimes I use a wireless mouse receiver and I also share files to a USB drive, not to other computers.
Technician avatar Technician
Then keeping it Public while traveling is usually the least risky choice, and it shouldn’t affect basic internet browsing.

What we can do next, safely, is identify whether Windows is treating the Motorola connection as Public because it’s “new,” because it can’t detect a typical home gateway, or because a setting like “metered connection” is involved.

Safe check: on the laptop, when you click the connected network properties, does it show options for Network profile (Public/Private) and Metered connection? You don’t have to change anything — just tell me what you see.
Customer
I see Network profile set to Public. I also see Metered connection and it’s on.
Technician avatar Technician
That combination is common on hotspots. Metered just means Windows tries to save data; it can also limit some background features.

If your goal is simply “use the internet safely,” you might not need to change the profile at all. If you’re trying to make the laptop behave more like it does at home (discovery on), then the profile matters — but only for the devices on the same network.

Trust moment: don’t rush into broad sharing changes. The safest next step is deciding what you actually need while the home internet is down: internet only, or internet plus device discovery on the hotspot network.
Customer
I mainly need internet. But I’d like to understand why it suddenly shows Public. I didn’t choose it.
Technician avatar Technician
Totally fair. It can change for a few ordinary reasons: Windows treats a hotspot as a “new network,” an update resets the profile choice, or Windows decides it’s not a trusted home network because it’s a phone connection that can move locations.

The safe takeaway is: “Public” is usually a protective label, not a warning that the Motorola is unsafe.

If you want, the next diagnostic step is simply checking whether Windows is remembering the network profile for that hotspot name, or whether it keeps treating it as a new connection each time — that’s where the “why does it keep switching” answer usually lives.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted next step when a Motorola-related connection shows as Public: treat it as a device-sharing profile label first, then do a few safe checks to confirm what it’s affecting.

What usually helps most (safe, no “wipe” steps):
• Confirm the issue is sharing/discovery (printers, shared folders) and not internet access.
• Check whether the printer/device is on a different network (home Wi-Fi) while your laptop is on the Motorola hotspot.
• Review Windows network properties (Public/Private + Metered) so you understand what’s being limited.
• Keep larger resets (forgetting networks / network reset) as a last resort, only if the connection itself becomes unstable.

Why a Motorola hotspot (or connection) may show up as Public

Slow internet can start suddenly after an iOS update, a router hiccup, or a settings change like VPN or Low Data Mode. It can also happen when the iPhone is on the edge of Wi-Fi range, or when cellular coverage is weaker than the signal bars suggest. Sometimes the phone connects to Wi-Fi but the Wi-Fi itself has a slow moment, so everything buffers. If the issue is only on one app, it may be the app’s connection — but if all apps are slow, it’s usually network conditions or a device setting.

What to check first if sharing stopped (printers, shared folders, “can’t find device”)

Start with safe comparisons. Turn Wi-Fi off briefly to see whether cellular data is faster (or vice-versa). If Wi-Fi is the issue, test closer to the router and restart the router. If both Wi-Fi and cellular are slow, check for a VPN, Low Data Mode, or other privacy/network features that route traffic differently. Only consider deeper steps (forgetting a network or resetting network settings) once you’ve confirmed the basics and you have your passwords available.

Motorola network marked as Public — gentle troubleshooting tips for seniors

Most slow connections come from Wi-Fi range, router issues, VPN/Low Data Mode, or a recent update changing behavior.

Best approach: test one thing at a time. First, check whether the problem is Wi-Fi or mobile data. Restart the router and try closer to it. Look for VPN or Low Data Mode, which can quietly slow browsing and apps. Save “network reset” steps for later so you don’t accidentally lose saved Wi-Fi details.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. Avoid making multiple system changes at once. For device-specific steps, consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech or the manufacturer’s support before making decisions.

Additional troubleshooting options

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FAQ

Why did my Motorola-connected network suddenly change to Public?

This often happens after a Windows update, when a hotspot is treated as a new network, or when Windows resets network profile choices. It’s usually a safety label, not a sign of hacking. Public mainly reduces sharing and device discovery. Internet browsing can still work normally.

Did this happen because of an Android update on my Motorola phone?

It can, but the Public/Private label is usually controlled by the device you’re using (often Windows), not the phone. An Android update may change hotspot behavior or the hotspot name, which can make Windows treat it like a new connection. That can trigger the default “Public” profile. The safest step is to confirm what changed first.

Is “Public network” a settings issue or a hardware problem?

It’s almost always a settings/profile label. Hardware problems usually look like dropped connections, Wi-Fi not turning on, or no internet at all. Public vs Private mostly affects sharing and discovery. If your internet works, hardware is unlikely.

Can I check this safely at home without losing saved Wi-Fi passwords?

Yes. You can view network properties and confirm what is being blocked without resetting anything. Avoid network resets unless you’re prepared with passwords. If your printer is on home Wi-Fi and your laptop is on the hotspot, they may not see each other anyway. A quick “same network or not” check often clears up the confusion.

Sources

Filed under: VPN, Network Blocks & Policies

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