Question:

Why does my laptop lose internet connection when using mobile data, but not when using wifi?

I have an Asus laptop with Windows 10. Whenever I use my phone or someone else’s phone as a hotspot, the laptop connects to the internet for about an hour, then disconnects and shows an error message. I cannot reconnect unless I restart the laptop. This problem does not occur when I use a wifi network. I have tried reinstalling Windows, but the problem remains. How can I fix this issue?

Answer:

If you are experiencing internet connection issues when using your phone as a hotspot, but not when using a wifi network, there could be several possible causes. Some of the common ones are:

• Your phone’s data plan is limited or throttled. Some mobile carriers impose a limit on how much data you can use per month, or reduce the speed of your connection after a certain amount of usage. This could affect the quality and stability of your hotspot connection. To check if this is the case, you can contact your carrier or check your data usage on your phone settings. You can also try using a different phone or SIM card to see if the problem persists.
• Your phone’s battery is low or overheating. Using your phone as a hotspot can drain your battery quickly and generate a lot of heat. This could cause your phone to shut down or enter a power-saving mode, which could interrupt your hotspot connection. To prevent this, you can plug your phone into a power source or use a cooling pad while using it as a hotspot. You can also lower the brightness of your screen or close any unnecessary apps to reduce the battery consumption and heat generation.
• Your laptop’s network adapter is faulty or outdated. Your laptop’s network adapter is the hardware component that allows your laptop to connect to wireless networks. If it is damaged, malfunctioning, or using an outdated driver, it could cause connection problems when using your phone as a hotspot. To check if this is the case, you can run a network troubleshooter on your laptop settings or use a different device to connect to your hotspot. You can also update your network adapter driver or replace it with a new one if needed.
• Your laptop’s power settings are interfering with your connection. Some laptops have power settings that can turn off or reduce the performance of your network adapter when your laptop is running on battery or in sleep mode. This could cause your hotspot connection to drop or become unstable. To prevent this, you can change your power settings to keep your network adapter on or at full performance when using your phone as a hotspot. You can also disable any power-saving features that could affect your connection, such as hibernation or fast startup.

To fix your internet connection issues when using your phone as a hotspot, you can try the following steps:

• Restart your devices. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve many connection problems. You can try turning off and on your phone, your laptop, and your hotspot feature. This can refresh your devices and clear any temporary glitches or cache that could interfere with your connection.
• Check your hotspot settings. You can check your phone’s hotspot settings to make sure they are configured correctly. For example, you can check the network name, password, security type, and band frequency of your hotspot. You can also check the number of devices that can connect to your hotspot and the data usage limit. You can adjust these settings to suit your preferences and needs.
• Check your laptop’s network settings. You can check your laptop’s network settings to make sure they are compatible with your hotspot. For example, you can check the network name, password, security type, and IP address of your hotspot connection. You can also check the network status, troubleshoot problems, and forget or reconnect to your hotspot. You can modify these settings to improve your connection quality and stability.
• Move your devices closer. The distance and physical obstacles between your phone and your laptop can affect the strength and reliability of your hotspot connection. You can try moving your devices closer to each other and away from any sources of interference, such as walls, metal objects, or other wireless devices. You can also use a signal booster or repeater to extend the range and coverage of your hotspot.

If

none of the above steps work, you may need to contact your carrier, your phone manufacturer, or your laptop manufacturer for further assistance. They may be able to diagnose the problem and offer a solution or a replacement. Alternatively, you can use a different method to connect your laptop to the internet, such as a wifi network, a USB cable, or a portable router.