Oh, technology…
With all its beautiful wonders also comes mysterious bugs.
Because just as I’m about to connect my hotspot to the TV…
They both decided that they didn’t want anything to do with each other.
But luckily…
I know how to work around this problem.
And so can you.
Continue reading to learn:
- How updating your TV can solve this problem.
- Reasons why the TV doesn’t connect to your hotspot.
- 7 quick fixes you can try to make to stop this glitch from happening.
- And much, much more…
Why won’t my TV connect to my hotspot?
Your TV won’t connect to your hotspot because too many devices are connected to it already. Other possible reasons are outdated phone software or TV firmware. And in rare cases, your data plan simply doesn’t allow non-mobile devices to connect to your hotspot.
TV won’t connect to hotspot: 7 fixes
#1: Restart your phone and TV
Bugs and glitches…
No matter how much we avoid them, they just happen.
And they’re usually the culprit when simple connections suddenly stop working.
But luckily, random software bugs are also the easiest to fix.
A simple restart or reboot is enough to fix the problem.
And if you’re wondering how restarting can fix your hotspot…
Well, it’s not really a direct fix but rather an indirect effect.
And if I were to explain it…
A restart acts as a coffee break for your devices.
As you know, your TV and phone are busy at any given moment. And as long as they’re open, they continue to be.
So when you request your TV to connect to your hotspot, for example…
It’s like…
“Meh. I’m too busy to do that.”
But by restarting your devices, you’re giving them the chance to stop all their tasks.
So, when you open them up again…
Their systems will be good as new which means…
They can focus on the 1 specific command you’re giving them:
To connect through the hotspot connection.
So to start, let’s restart your mobile device.
To restart iOS devices:
- Press and hold the volume button and the side button of your device.
- Wait for the power-slider to appear.
- When it shows up, drag the slider to the right.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- To turn your phone device on, press and hold the right-side button.
- Let go when the Apple logo appears.
To restart android devices:
- Press and hold the power button for 5-10 seconds.
- Wait for a window to pop up.
- Select Restart from the options.
- Wait for the process to finish.
After restarting your mobile phone…
It’s time to restart your TV.
And to keep it simple for you, we’re going to restart it by power cycling.
Power cycling simply means unplugging your unit.
This method works for all TV, so rest assured that you can follow along.
To power cycle your TV:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug it from the electrical outlet.
- Hold the power button on your TV for 15 seconds.
- Wait for 10 more seconds.
- Plug your TV and turn it ON again.
For more information on how to power cycle your TV, watch this video:
#2: Check if your hotspot works with other devices
Sometimes your TV isn’t the cause of the issue but the hotspot itself.
So before deciding to change anything on your TV…
Check if your hotspot isn’t the problem.
You can do this by using a different device to connect to your hotspot.
To do so:
- Turn your phone’s hotspot ON.
- Connect another device to the hotspot.
- Check if the internet works on the device you connected.
If your hotspot doesn’t work with other devices as well…
Then you need to focus your attention on your phone or your cellular service.
But if you’re thinking…
“My hotspot works. Some devices are already connected to it.”
Then the next fix might be the key to solving your problem.
Because now, you need to…
#3: Disconnect other devices from your hotspot
Compared to Wifi connections…
Hotspots have a more limited internet speed.
And if your TV knows that your hotspot isn’t fast enough…
It might reject the network.
So if you’re planning to use your hotspot to stream on your TV…
It’s wise to disconnect other devices from your connection first.
This way…
Your TV will get the maximum possible speed from your hotspot.
So remove other devices from your network…
And try connecting the TV to your hotspot again.
Editor’s pick: 6 Things To Do if Your Smart TV Slows Down the Internet
#4: Update your TV
Updating your TV firmware is crucial to having a smooth streaming experience.
But to be honest, even if we all know that…
Sometimes it can be slightly annoying to wait for updates to finish before you can watch.
So I totally relate to you if your TV isn’t updated yet.
‘Cause most of the time, mine isn’t as well.
But issues like these remind us how important updates actually are.
After all, they’re what keeps our TV system running smoothly.
On the other hand, outdated firmware can cause connectivity and connection issues.
And this may be the reason why you can’t connect your TV to a hotspot network.
But don’t worry.
Updating TVs is extremely easy.
And to make it even easier for you…
I’ve crafted separate guides for:
- LG Smart TVs.
- TCL Smart TVs.
- Sony Smart TVs.
- Samsung Smart TVs.
Note: No matter what type of TV you have, you need to be connected to the internet to perform a firmware update. So before proceeding, ensure that your TV is connected to Wifi.
Updating 2 types of LG Smart TV
For webOS:
- Tap Smart/Home on your remote.
- On the upper-right of your screen, click Settings.
- Select All Settings.
- Click General.
- Scroll down to the bottom and click About this TV.
- Choose Check for updates.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
For Netcast:
- Press the Smart/Home on the remote control.
- At the bottom-left, select Settings.
- Navigate to Others > Software Update.
- Turn the Software Update ON.
- Check the box on the screen to allow automatic updates.
- Select Check Update Version.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Fun fact: For Netcast TVs, you may choose to hide the progress of your firmware update. So, you can continue using your TV while the update is ongoing.
To update a TCL Smart TV:
- On your remote, press Home.
- Hover over the Settings icon and click it.
- Scroll down and choose More Settings.
- From the options, select Device Preferences.
- Click About > System Update.
- On the window that pops up, select Network Update.
- Once an available software update shows up, click OK.
Updating 3 Sony Smart TV models
Google TV models:
- Tap the gear icon or Quick Settings on your remote.
- On your screen, select the settings icon.
- Head to System > About > System software update.
- Turn the Automatically check for updates option ON.
For Android TV models:
- Press Help or Home on your remote.
- If you only had Home, select Help on your screen now.
- Find Status & Diagnostics and select it.
- Choose System software update.
- Turn the Automatic software download ON.
For other Sony TV models:
- Select Help on the upper-right corner of your screen.
- Click Customer support > Software update.
- Select Network if it’s available.
- Click Yes or OK.
To update a Samsung Smart TV:
- Click Home on your remote.
- Head to Settings.
- Find and click Support.
- Choose Software Update > Update Now.
- Wait for the process to finish.
- Select OK to exit.
And while you’re waiting for your TV update to complete…
I recommend that you also…
#5: Update your mobile device
New network features and fixes are also included in your phone’s system updates.
So not keeping up with the latest software version…
Could eventually cause your network connections to stop working.
Just like what you’re experiencing now.
“But other devices can connect to my hotspot.”
If that’s the case, then your phone isn’t the problem.
But still…
I recommend updating it while you’re at it.
Doing so avoids more potential complications in the future.
Note: The exact process may vary depending on your mobile device model. But most can be updated by following these steps.
To update Android devices:
- Open your phone and connect it to Wifi.
- Go to the Settings app.
- Head to System > System update.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version.
To update iOS devices:
- Turn your device ON.
- Plug it into power and connect it to Wifi.
- Head to Settings > General.
- Select Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install.
After the update finishes…
Try to open your hotspot again and connect your TV to it.
If the problem persists…
#6: Check your data balance
Depending on your data plan…
You might not have unlimited cellular data on your device.
And if you’ve run out of data…
Then your hotspot will automatically not work.
So it’s important to double-check if you still have enough data balance to connect your TV.
You can do this by:
- Calling your service provider.
- Checking through your service provider’s app.
- Checking your data consumption in your phone settings.
Further reading: Can You Use Your Mobile Hotspot for Alexa? 9 Simple Steps
#7: Factory reset your TV
If the 6 fixes above didn’t work for you…
It might be time to factory reset your TV.
A factory reset reverts all your TV settings and data to their state when it’s brand new.
Simply speaking, this reset erases all your TV’s memory of you.
Which is unfortunate…
But sometimes also necessary.
If you don’t know how to do this, don’t worry.
Here’s how you can factory reset different TV models:
Bonus: Contact your Service provider
If all of these fixes couldn’t fix your hotspot issue…
Contact your service provider.
Although rare…
Some cellular plan doesn’t allow hotspot connections of non-mobile devices, including TVs.
Check with your service provider, as this could be the case for you.
And even if it’s not…
They might be able to assist you further with your hotspot connection issues.