Iphone hotspot won't work on laptop or computer but will on other mobile devices?

So this is really strange..


I have recently updated my Iphone 4s 64GB to iOS 7.1 which is the only change to my phone/laptop.

So today I wanted to use hotspot to go onto the internet on my Toshiba Laptop. I turned my Hotspot on and laptop connected to it normal! But once i try to go on the internet, it just says it's unable to connect. Laptop says that my phone's connected and that there's internet access but everytime I go on Chrome (mainly) or even Internet Explorer, it says unable to connect! Also, when I connect to my laptop and go on safari on my phone, it says I'm unable to connect to the internet also, but only when connected to my laptop!


I have made sure that it's not my laptop playing up as I tried connecting it to my home wifi and another fellow peers Iphone hotspot and it connects and works perfectly! I have also got my father to connect to my Hotspot using his HTC One and it works fine too! It's only when connecting it to my laptop (Via cable or wireless! I've also tried connecting my PC (I have a wifi dongle) to my hotspot but still can't get on the internet although it says Internet access!


I have also connecting to my colleges wifi using my laptop with no trouble.. It's just my PC/ Laptop and iPhone hate eachother!


I'm currently on the 3 Mobile tarrif with All-You-Can-Eat Data, and never had this trouble before! Last time I connecting my Phone to my laptop with about 6 months ago though..


Anyone else had weird trouble? Is there a fix or diagnosis?


Thanks.. Really stuck here!!


-Charotte

Level 3 Yr 2 IT student

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.1, Connecting to Laptop and PC

Posted on Mar 20, 2014 4:21 PM

Reply
62 replies

Jul 10, 2014 6:00 AM in response to Nom0nYou

My iPhone 5s 7.1.1 was always connecting to my 2009 MBPro 2009 (Latest OS)with the USB, but I forgot it today. So as per the above suggestions I changed my iPhone name to exclude the s in iPhone 5s, and I removed the 's in Stew's. I also deleted that network name on my Mac and created a new one. The Mac found it, but wouldn't connect still. Then I remembered I have trouble at home with my IP address. So I went in to Network Settings, and reset the DHCP, and set my IP address again as 192.168.2.19 which is what works at home. Presto! They connected.


Hope this helps.

Jul 20, 2014 8:36 AM in response to Pro-Tem

I haven't fixed the issue BUT.... it does work if I tether it with a USB cable to my Toshiba Laptop. Disconnect wifi on your laptop and turn on your iPhone's hotspot. Now, a friend of mine said you need iTunes installed on the laptop...I already did so don't know if that's a requirement.


This isn't the ideal solution. but it's better than nothing if you're in a situation where you really need to connect.


Thanks

Eric

Jul 28, 2014 2:02 PM in response to Nom0nYou

I had the same problem and here's is your solution:


1. Connect your phone to computer.

2. Open iTunes

3. Check the phone name on iTunes (you should see it on the upper left). Does it have an apostrophe such as "Greg's iPhone"? If so, you need to edit the name of your phone on iTunes and remove the apostrophe

4. For the tech impaired, which includes me, youtube "How to Change IPhone Name on iTunes" and you should find a quick video with easy instructions

5. Once apostrophe has been removed, disconnect phone from computer and try to connect wifi again.


This worked for me today, 7/28/14, and hopefully it will help you out too.

Oct 18, 2014 11:34 AM in response to Nom0nYou

Okay. This has been plaguing me since I purchased my Yoga Pro 2. I have an iPad and an iPhone that both have the capability of being a hotspot through AT&T. All of my Apple devices can connect but when it comes to connecting with a Windows machine I either get the Limited Connectivity, No Internet Access OR on occasions another Windows machine may or may not have this problem. My YP2 never gets internet access for longer than one page view. I tried all the solutions here to no avail until I did the solution below. This seems to have resolved it.


Go to Power Options

Change Plan Settings

Change Advanced Power Settings

Expand "Wireless Adapter Settings"

Expand "Power Saving Mode"

Change on battery AND Plugged in to "Maximum Performance"


I reconnected and it seems to work flawlessly.


I'd be curious to know if this solves others issues.

Nov 11, 2014 11:28 AM in response to Nom0nYou

Hi,


I am still struggling here on two machines. Some of the above seemed to work on other machines, but the last two so far are being stubborn. I long ago discovered the apostrophe issue when working with a MS Surface. so my iphones (company) since then have all been one word names for the phones.


in the above posts, I tried the power settings issue. This helped me on 4 of my laptops, all the Toshiba Z30 series. I have another Z30 series and a Tecra R850 series that is still giving us troubles. After completely blowing away the OS, adn only loading Itunes, i did get it to briefly find the hotspot and it seemed to work. Could surf three sites i wanted to try and got on the RDP. However after deleting a couple of programs not needed (google toolbar, toshiba backup, toshiba registration etc), it failed to work again. I tried plugging it into the iphone directly (another thought from above). again, it recognized the phone (did turn off the wifi connection) Then after sitting for a bit, it cant log back in again.


Power settings are Performance and MAX for the wifi. I had previously made sure it had all updates, including the Toshiba station updates to no avail.


Come on Apple, why is this so difficult?? i have other laptops that connect to other iphones just fine. This is universal stuff here... Very frustrating...

dave

Nov 11, 2014 2:56 PM in response to thelebowski

Hi Kevin,

under control panel, Power options, you can select from:

Balanced

High performance

Eco

Powersaver


in the past i have done a balanced and then said never/ never to going to sleep on battery or power. after looking at the information above, i went int and selected High performance. i then further selected advanced, then the WIFI settings, power saving mode and set both to Max performance. As stated previously, this worked on most of my Z30 portege's (except 1 so far) but has not worked on the R850 i am working on currently.


This is where i am in never-never land and its not a fun place to be... 😟


I discarded alot of the "sprint cards" we used to use for access to the internet in favor of the hotspot. Those i tested on worked just fine so we thought it would be a suitable replacement....getting to think not so much...😟

dave

Nov 20, 2014 6:12 AM in response to thelebowski

Hi

I work on a MSI laptop and always connected my hotspot via usb. Since the latest itunes update, my iphone would not show up in itunes or connect usb, only wifi. The itunes issue has been resolved and shows up now, but it still would not connect over usb. I have tried all of the above, to no avail. Still only connects over wifi. It is a problem for me, since my printer also runs over a wifi network and for some reason(maybe it is standard on all laptops, no idea), I can only connect one wifi connection at a time. That means, if I have to print I have to disconnect internet hotspot and connect printer network, and the other way around when I need to do the internet further. It is a bit of a hassle.

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Iphone hotspot won't work on laptop or computer but will on other mobile devices?

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