To fix a Chevy Wi-Fi hotspot that is not working, put the ignition in Run or Accessory, enable the hotspot, and check that your vehicle data plan is active. Reconnect using the hotspot’s current name and password, then restart the vehicle and phone if the connection still fails.
Try another phone, tablet, or laptop after checking the vehicle settings. If that device connects, focus on the original device; if multiple devices fail, continue with the vehicle connection checks.
The short version
- Power and settings: Keep the ignition in Run or Accessory and confirm that the hotspot is enabled.
- Plan and data: Check your plan status and enable Share Vehicle Data on vehicles with that setting.
- Restart: Follow the vehicle shutdown sequence, including waiting for the OnStar light to go out.
- Compare devices: Try another phone, tablet, or laptop before resetting a device’s network settings.
| Check or fix | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Vehicle power and range | The hotspot is not reachable |
| Dashboard hotspot controls | You need to enable the network or check its password |
| Mobile app hotspot controls | Your compatible vehicle offers app controls |
| Account website controls | Your linked vehicle offers online hotspot settings |
| Plan activation or purchase | A purchase is pending or you need vehicle data |
| Plan status check | You need to confirm your vehicle data service |
| Vehicle data sharing | Your vehicle exposes the sharing setting |
| Vehicle and phone restart | Basic settings are correct but the connection fails |
| Reception and congestion | The connection is slow or unreliable |
| Another device | You need to isolate a device-specific failure |
| OnStar connectivity refresh | The vehicle connection still fails |
| Google built-in reboot | Your Chevrolet has Google built-in |
| Voice credential retrieval | Your vehicle supports the OnStar voice command |
| Redesigned app navigation | The app layout differs from the hotspot instructions |
| App installation or update | You need access to hotspot-management tools |
| Companion app troubleshooting | The app crashes or controls fail to load |
| App clearing or reinstallation | App failures persist and the operating system has not already been updated |
| Account access or vehicle linking | Your account or vehicle is inaccessible |
| Vehicle software update | Your Chevrolet supports over-the-air updates |
| Update eligibility or dealer assistance | Consent or installation prevents an update |
| iPhone or iPad Wi-Fi settings | Only that device fails to connect |
| Apple saved-network removal | You need to rejoin with current credentials |
| Apple automatic connection control | Your device repeatedly joins the unusable hotspot |
| iPhone or iPad VPN troubleshooting | Other devices connect successfully |
| iPhone or iPad network reset | Simpler device checks have failed |
| Pixel connection refresh | Your Pixel will not connect |
| Pixel date settings or network reset | Earlier Pixel checks have failed |
| Pixel Wi-Fi diagnostics | You have an eligible Pixel 11 in the US |
| Phone hotspot conflict | Your device cannot use Wi-Fi and its own hotspot simultaneously |
Check vehicle power and hotspot credentials
Put the ignition in Run or Accessory and keep your connecting device within approximately 50 feet of the vehicle. Operating controls vary by Chevy model.
On select 2017 and newer Chevrolet vehicles, tap Wi-Fi® Hotspot on the center display and enable the hotspot. Inspect its network name and password, then connect your device using those credentials. If you change the name or password, reconnect your devices with the updated details.
For a compatible connected vehicle, open myChevrolet, then select Controls > Wi-Fi® to enable the hotspot or manage its credentials. Available controls depend on vehicle equipment and your plan. If your app has a different layout, use the redesigned app navigation under the hotspot controls section below.
Confirm your data plan and data sharing
Check your plan status by opening myChevrolet and selecting Home > Controls > Wi-Fi®. If a purchase is pending activation, press the blue OnStar button and ask an Advisor to activate it. An Advisor can also arrange a vehicle data plan for an eligible hotspot-equipped vehicle.
On vehicles with the data-sharing setting, open Settings > Wi-Fi® Settings on the center display. Enable Share Vehicle Data, then tap Continue if prompted.
You can also purchase a plan through your GM account or the mobile app. Sign in only through GM’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.
Restart the vehicle and your phone
Switch the vehicle and phone off, then wait 10 seconds. Restart the phone. With the vehicle’s engine still off, open and close the driver’s door and wait until the OnStar LED goes out.
Restart the vehicle and wait 15 to 20 seconds. Check that the hotspot is enabled again, then try connecting your phone.
For a Chevrolet equipped with Google built-in, put the vehicle in Park to reboot the infotainment system. Hold End Call for approximately 20 seconds, continuing until the center display switches off. Leave any intervening service menu untouched, and allow approximately 5 to 10 seconds for the welcome screen and restart.
That steering-wheel procedure applies specifically to Chevrolet systems with Google built-in. For other infotainment systems, use the vehicle restart sequence above and continue with the connection checks.
Improve reception and try another device
Move into an area with open cellular coverage, then try the hotspot again. Disconnect unused devices and close unused background apps to reduce congestion. You can check the connection’s speed at speedtest.net.
Try connecting another phone, tablet, or laptop to the Chevrolet hotspot. If that device works, use the device-specific checks below. If multiple devices fail, continue with the vehicle software and OnStar steps after checking power, plan status, and hotspot settings.
Fix a connection that fails on one device
On a current iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Wi-Fi, turn on Wi-Fi, and select the Chevrolet network. In Settings, turn off Airplane Mode. On software exposing Connectivity Assist under Wi-Fi, turn it off while troubleshooting; restart the device if Wi-Fi is grayed out.
Forgetting the Chevrolet network removes its saved connection details. On a current iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Wi-Fi > Edit, then tap More Info beside the Chevrolet network. Tap Forget This Network, tap Forget, and rejoin using the hotspot’s current password.
Removing the saved network on a current Mac forgets its connection details. Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced, select More Options beside the network, then select Remove From List and click Forget. Rejoin using the current password. Managed-device restrictions can prevent removal; consult IT before changing a managed device.
If other devices connect but your iPhone or iPad uses VPN or security software, Apple recommends removing that software and retesting. Consult IT before changing a managed device. Uninstalling VPN or security software removes that software from your device. Uninstall it, restart the device, and retest Wi-Fi; if this resolves the problem but you need the software, contact its provider or VPN manager.
Keep an iPhone or iPad network reset as a last resort, and consult your network administrator first for a managed device. Resetting network settings removes saved network credentials and resets cellular, VPN, and APN settings. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone or Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset, then tap Reset Network Settings.
On a Pixel, turn Wi-Fi off and back on, then turn Airplane mode on and off. Some of Google’s connection troubleshooting steps require Android 8.1 or later.
Forgetting the hotspot removes that saved network from your Pixel. Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet > Saved networks, select the Chevrolet hotspot, and tap Forget. Rejoin using the current hotspot password.
On a Pixel 7a or another device that cannot run Wi-Fi and its own hotspot simultaneously, disable the phone’s hotspot before connecting. On a Pixel exposing these labels, open Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot, then turn off Use Wi-Fi hotspot. Connect to the Chevrolet network again.
On Pixel versions with these labels, open Settings > System > Date & time and enable Set time automatically. If the connection still fails, you can reset networking. This resets your Pixel’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings. Open Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, then tap Reset settings.
Restore access to the hotspot controls
If the app crashes or its controls fail to load, force-close myChevrolet and reopen it, then sign out and back in. Try a working internet connection, update the app and phone operating system, disable the phone’s battery-saving mode, and restart the phone.
To update the app, search for myChevrolet in your phone’s app store and install an available update. To install the app, use Chevrolet’s official app download page and follow its Apple or Google store link. These steps address access to the management tools and may not repair the vehicle modem.
In the redesigned app, start from Home and tap More to reach additional controls and Vehicle Settings. For vehicles without additional remote commands, use Settings, the gear icon. Use the Account menu to select the correct vehicle.
If account access is the problem, use the email address supplied to the dealer. Select Forgot Password for a forgotten account password, which is separate from the hotspot password. If your vehicle is missing, link it through the online vehicle profile or contact an OnStar Advisor.
For a linked vehicle that offers online hotspot settings, sign in to your GM account. Select your initials, then Account Overview, and choose your vehicle. Under Owner Resources, select Vehicle Settings, then select Edit in the Wi-Fi® Hotspot section.
If app failures persist, Chevrolet includes clearing or reinstalling the app among its troubleshooting steps. Chevrolet says to skip this step if you have already updated the operating system.
Clearing app data removes its stored data, and uninstalling removes the app. On Android devices with these labels, open Settings > Apps, select myChevrolet, then open Storage and tap Clear Cache and Clear Data. Return to app information and tap Uninstall, then reinstall from Google Play. Android paths vary by manufacturer.
The iPhone procedure offloads and then deletes the app from your phone. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage, select myChevrolet, then tap Offload App followed by Delete App. Reinstall from the App Store.
Check for vehicle software updates
On a Chevrolet that supports over-the-air updates, open Settings > Updates > Check for Updates on the center display. Depending on your system, use Settings > System > Vehicle Software > Updates or Settings > Software Information > System Update instead.
The vehicle cannot be driven during update installation. Follow the installation prompts on your display; most updates require Park and the vehicle switched off. An update is a possible software remedy, with no guarantee that it will resolve your hotspot failure.
A secure home Wi-Fi network or phone hotspot can provide the connection for a vehicle update. If updates are unavailable because connected-service terms were declined, contact an OnStar Advisor to resolve consent. Ask a servicing dealer to install eligible updates if the over-the-air installation fails.
Ask OnStar to troubleshoot the connection
If the hotspot still fails after these checks, press the blue OnStar button and request connectivity troubleshooting. An Advisor may be able to refresh the vehicle’s connection remotely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you retrieve the hotspot password with a voice command?
On vehicles supporting the OnStar voice command, press the Voice Command button and say Wi-Fi settings to retrieve the hotspot credentials. Compatibility depends on your infotainment system.
How do you stop an Apple device from repeatedly joining the broken hotspot?
Open the saved Chevrolet network’s settings using the Apple-device path above, turn off Auto-Join, then disconnect from the network. This lets you use another connection without repeatedly joining the unusable hotspot, but it does not repair the vehicle connection.
Do you need a paid hotspot plan to update the vehicle software?
A paid hotspot data plan is not required for over-the-air vehicle updates. The mobile app can report update status, but it cannot schedule or install vehicle updates.
Does a Pixel have a built-in tool for diagnosing Wi-Fi problems?
On Pixel 11 phones used by US subscribers in the US, open Settings > Device health & support > Wi-Fi diagnostics. Connectivity health provides overall connection insights.