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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

Nov 11, 2014 3:44 PM in response to isguy007

The connecting for a minute or two.. then stopping... that's what mine was sometimes doing.


Long shot... but is this the wifi adpater on your R850? There's a setting there about the transmit power....

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/cs-006205.htm


I found that site from reading this one....

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/wireless-networks/85714-toshiba-laptop-wireless-pr oblems.html


The above problem wasn't the same as ours... but thought it was worth mentioning....

Apr 12, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Nom0nYou

I have the same exact problem. Did you find a solution? My iPhone is connected to my Toshiba laptop. But when I try to connect to Google or whatever, nothing happens. Just says "this page can't be displayed". I have no problem using my phone's hotspot with my iPad or iPod.


I spoke with Verizon and my account is definitely setup.


I have and iphone 5s on 7.0.6 and my laptop is a Toshiba Portege z30.


Thank

May 10, 2014 8:52 AM in response to Nom0nYou

Same problem. Have been successfully hotspotting to iPads but tonight needed to hotspot to new Toshiba laptop. It says it's connected but then any attempt at using a browser (on laptop) says not connected to the Internet. tried both wifi and Bluetooth on our iPhone 4, and Bluetooth (only) on separate iPhone 3GS, with same results (typing this fine on iPad connected to same iPhone 3GS)

Any solutions to this problem?

May 28, 2014 1:34 AM in response to Pro-Tem

I too am having this issue. To be clear, the iPhone is on 3G and another iPhone (my wife's) is able to connect to its hotspot and access the internet even though her own phone has no phone connection - only access to my phone's hotspot.


When I try to connect a laptop or iMac to the same hotspot, it shows as connected but there is no internet connection; no web or email.


I would assume that if the contract was barring tethering then no device should be able to connect? I have always used the phone's hotspot when traveling so this is a new issue and one that really troubles me.


I am not sure if this is an Apple issue or phone network/carrier one?


Does anyone have any thoughts?

Andrew

Jun 20, 2014 7:06 AM in response to Nom0nYou

i run IT for a company. we have several of these Toshiba laptops and we are having the exact same problem on multilpe laptops with mulitple phones. This is very frustrating as the laptop can connect to any other hotspot without issue. The hotspot can connect to other devices - have only tried other apple devices though so not sure it its an apple incompatiblity or not.


We have been to the apple store. they even replaced the phone. They still couldnt get it to work. in our case if you run the diagnostics, it says something about the gateway being wrong. makes the correction. the system connects for about 2 seconds and then goes back to not connected.


Apple. please help!

Jun 20, 2014 10:43 AM in response to isguy007

I am having the same problem except using Dell computers. When a staff person has an iPhone and turns on her hotspot it shows up and works fine on our iPads, but on the PC's it connects for a few seconds then defaults back to our access points in our buildings (we are not using the hotspots in the buildings I was just testing the phone). I had her reset the network settings on the iPhone and that did not solve the problem. The weird thing is that we have 7 or 8 other iPhones and none of them are having this issue. I have read the VPN settings could be causing this issue but have not had a chance to get ahold of the phone in question. I would love to find the answer and solve this problem.

Jun 26, 2014 5:45 PM in response to Nom0nYou

One of two laptops seemed to get resolved, or so I am told. He had taken the phone and the laptop to the Apple store. in the end, they gave him a new phone. Seemed to work on and off there, but not really.


was talking to another user that had a 5s on an older IOS. asked him to see if the laptop could connect. it did. when dealing with his phone before sending him to the other person, I noted that the name of the iphone had an " ' s" at the end of the name. I told him to remove the " 's " and space. I found when trying to attach a Surface to my iphone once, I couldn't make it work. when I realized the special character existed, I removed it and all the sudden the Surface could attach to the iphone. Relayed that to the individual I was supporting. He relayed that to the person having the issue with the Toshiba. HIs phone had the 's at then end of the name. They removed it and now his laptop is in fact working. So, that might be a fix for some. However it didn't fix the other laptop. I am getting another one of these laptops soon in the office. I can then finally look at it first hand.

Jun 27, 2014 6:31 AM in response to TonesNotes

I had issues all morning trying to connect my work laptop as my home internet is faulty with a 72 hour turnaround (but thats for another thread!)


so after 2 hours of looking at all the settings and much huffing and puffing i noticed the name of my phone on the network connection on my laptop had a few dubious characters (that were not previously there when i have used in the past)


So, I changed my name in my iphone settings - re-started the iphone and hey presto, it was back to normal and i am now able to work again. happy days!


This may not be the issue for everyone but very strange that this is the first time i have used the hotspot on my work laptop since the IOS upgrade and that was the fix.


Hope this helps someone.

Jun 27, 2014 10:55 AM in response to Nom0nYou

now this is for all those people who are seeing the iphone 'connected' on their laptops but still cannot browse.

after you have made sure that the internet is working fine on the handset, simply delete the network name from your laptop and then restart the hotspot on the iPhone. on the laptop once you have detected the device connect to it and it should prompt you to ENTER password/security key, enter the password from the iPhone and click on connect. That should work, if not then check with your service provider

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

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