Technician helping troubleshoot Motorola phone screen brightness not working

Steve H.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: hotspot not working, phone cannot share internet, tethering connected but no internet, Wi-Fi hotspot won’t appear, laptop won’t connect to hotspot.

Hotspot connected but no internet? Common reasons + safe checks (data plan, settings, Wi-Fi band, VPN, after updates)

Technician avatar Technician
Let’s handle this in a safe, calm way. When a phone can’t share internet, it’s usually not “broken” — it’s often a setting, a carrier limit, or the other device connecting but not actually getting data.

I want to start with the least risky checks first. I don’t want you doing resets that remove saved Wi-Fi networks or passwords unless we truly need them later.

First: what changed right before this started — a phone update, a new SIM/plan, a new laptop/tablet, or did it just start suddenly?
Customer
It started this week. I didn’t change my plan. My laptop connects to my phone’s hotspot, but then it says “No internet.”
Technician avatar Technician
That wording is important: it means the laptop can “see” the hotspot Wi-Fi, but the phone isn’t passing data through.

Two quick, safe questions:
1) On the phone itself, does the internet work normally at the same time (web pages load on mobile data)?
2) When you turn the hotspot on, does the phone show that a device is connected (like “1 device connected”)?
Customer
Yes, my phone internet works. And it does show one device connected. Still, the laptop doesn’t load anything.
Technician avatar Technician
Great — that narrows it down. If the phone has internet but tethering doesn’t, we’re looking at a hotspot/tethering permission, a VPN, or sometimes a “data saving” setting that blocks sharing.

Before touching anything: is this an iPhone Personal Hotspot or an Android Mobile Hotspot? (Just so the menu names match what you see.)
Customer
It’s Android. I’m not very confident in settings, so please keep it simple.
Technician avatar Technician
Absolutely. Simple and safe.

Trust moment: I’m not going to have you delete anything or reset the whole network. We’ll do checks you can undo easily.

On Android, the two common “silent blockers” are:
• Data Saver / background data restrictions
• A VPN or “Private DNS” type setting

Quick check: do you ever see a small key icon or “VPN” label on the phone when the hotspot is on?
Customer
I do see VPN sometimes. My grandson set it up for “privacy.”
Technician avatar Technician
That could explain it. Some VPNs allow browsing on the phone but don’t share properly through the hotspot, so the laptop connects yet has no internet.

A safe test (temporary): if VPN is ON, turning it OFF briefly is just a test. You can turn it right back on afterward.

One more check so we don’t miss something simple: does the laptop show it’s connected to the hotspot Wi-Fi with a strong signal, or does it look weak / dropping?
Customer
Signal looks strong. It just says “Connected, no internet.” It used to work fine months ago.
Technician avatar Technician
When something “used to work” and then stops, updates are a frequent trigger — either the phone or the laptop changes how it connects.

Another safe thing to check is the hotspot’s Wi-Fi type. Some devices struggle with certain bands or settings. For example, a laptop may connect to a hotspot that’s using a faster band, but then behave oddly.

On the phone, do you see an option like “Hotspot band” (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) or “maximize compatibility”?
Customer
I’ve seen 2.4 and 5. I don’t know what it means. I’m afraid to pick the wrong one.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s a fair concern. Here’s the safe way to think about it: changing the band doesn’t erase anything — it only changes how the hotspot broadcasts its Wi-Fi. If you don’t like the result, you can switch it back.

Trust moment: We’ll only try one change at a time so you can clearly see what mattered.

Before any changes, one more question: is the laptop a Windows PC, a Mac, or something else? And does any other device (like a tablet) get internet from your hotspot, or do they also connect with no internet?
Customer
It’s a Windows laptop. My tablet connects too, but it also doesn’t load pages. So it’s not just the laptop.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s very helpful. If multiple devices connect but none get internet, it points back to the phone’s tethering path — not the laptop’s Wi-Fi.

Common, safe suspects to rule out next:
• VPN active on the phone (even if browsing works on the phone)
• Data Saver / battery saver limiting shared data
• A carrier setting that blocks tethering on your plan (it can start suddenly, even without you changing anything)

Do you see any message when you turn hotspot on, like “contact carrier,” “tethering isn’t available,” or does it turn on with no warning?
Customer
No warning. It turns on normally. Just no internet on the other devices.
Technician avatar Technician
Understood. In that case, the safest “diagnostic ladder” is:

1) Verify the phone is using mobile data (not accidentally trying to share a weak Wi-Fi connection). Some phones have a “Wi-Fi sharing” or “use Wi-Fi for hotspot” behavior that can confuse things.
2) Temporarily test with VPN off (just long enough to see if tethering starts working).
3) Check whether Data Saver or battery saving features are restricting background data and tethering.

If you’re comfortable answering one more: when hotspot is on, does the phone itself still browse normally on mobile data, or does it slow down / act odd?
Customer
The phone still browses fine. It’s just the shared connection that fails.
Technician avatar Technician
That pattern fits a tethering block (often VPN or a restriction). If you want the safest next move, it’s to test one thing at a time in this order: VPN status, then Data Saver/battery limits, then compatibility options like hotspot band.

If those don’t change anything, the next level is usually carrier-related tethering permission or a deeper network refresh — but I’d only consider that once you’ve checked the simple items and you have any needed passwords written down.

You’re doing the right thing by approaching this carefully. Most people get stuck because they change five settings at once and can’t tell what helped.
Customer
Thank you. I can try turning off VPN briefly and checking Data Saver. I’m relieved it may not be the laptop at all.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted first fix for mobile phone cannot share internet: confirm the phone has working mobile data, then rule out common “sharing blockers” (VPN and data limits) before any resets.

What usually helps most:
• Confirm mobile data is working on the phone while hotspot is enabled (not just Wi-Fi).
• Check whether a VPN is active and use a brief off/on test to see if tethering starts passing data.
• Look for Data Saver / battery saving restrictions that can limit background data sharing.
• If devices connect but show “no internet,” consider hotspot compatibility settings (band / compatibility mode) as a safe diagnostic.
• Keep network resets and deeper changes as a later step only if safe checks don’t change anything.

Why hotspot can connect but still show “no internet”

A hotspot has two parts: the phone creates a Wi-Fi network, and then it shares your mobile data through it. Sometimes the first part works (devices connect) but the second part fails (no data passes through). This can happen after updates, when a VPN is running, when Data Saver is strict, or when the carrier blocks tethering on the plan. It can also happen if the phone is trying to share a weak connection or if compatibility settings don’t match the device you’re connecting.

What to check first: phone settings, carrier limits, or the device you’re connecting?

Start by confirming the phone itself can browse on mobile data while hotspot is on. If the phone browses but other devices can’t, focus on “sharing blockers” like VPN and Data Saver rather than the laptop. If only one device fails, it may be that device’s Wi-Fi behavior or saved network profile. If all devices connect but have no internet, it’s more likely a phone setting or carrier tethering permission.

iPhone internet very slow — 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 hotspot stop working all of a sudden?

This often happens after a phone update, a carrier change on the account, or a new VPN/data-saving setting. Sometimes the phone still has internet, but tethering is blocked. If devices connect to the hotspot Wi-Fi but show “no internet,” the issue is usually on the phone side. Try to change only one thing at a time so it’s easy to spot the cause.

Did this happen after an Android or iPhone update?

Yes, updates can change network behavior or apply stricter background limits. It’s common for a VPN or Data Saver to interfere with sharing after an update. Start by confirming mobile data works on the phone while hotspot is on. If that’s fine, check for VPN and data restrictions next.

Is this a settings issue or a hardware problem?

Most of the time it’s a setting or a carrier restriction, not hardware. Hardware issues usually show up as Wi-Fi not turning on at all, overheating, or constant signal drops. When the hotspot name appears and devices can connect, the phone’s radio is usually functioning. The missing piece is often “sharing” permissions or a blocker like VPN.

Can I check this safely at home without resetting everything?

Yes. You can safely confirm mobile data is on, check whether VPN is active, and review Data Saver/battery restrictions. You can also compare whether one device fails or all devices fail, which helps narrow the cause. Avoid full network resets as a first step because they can remove saved Wi-Fi networks and other settings. Save that for later only if simple checks don’t change anything.

Sources

Filed under: Hotspot, Tethering & Sharing

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