When your Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Mobile Hotspot stops sharing your connection, it leaves your laptop or tablet stranded. Whether other devices can't see the hotspot, fail to connect, or get kicked off repeatedly, the fixes below are your best bet to restore your personal Wi-Fi network.
Toggle the Mobile Hotspot Off and On
Head into Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering. Tap the switch to turn Mobile Hotspot off, wait a solid 10 seconds, and then turn it back on. I'd start with this one, as it's a quick refresh of the service that often clears up a temporary software hiccup on the spot.
Perform a Force Restart
Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side/Power button together for about 10 seconds. Keep holding until you see the Samsung logo appear on the screen, then let go. This force restart is more thorough than a standard reboot and can resolve deeper system processes that might be interfering with the hotspot function.
Verify Your Mobile Data is Active
Your hotspot runs on your cellular data, so that connection needs to be solid. Open Settings > Connections > Data usage and ensure Mobile data is enabled. Also, check your signal strength in the status bar. A weak signal can make the hotspot unstable or prevent it from starting altogether.
It's also worth confirming with your carrier that your specific plan includes mobile hotspot or tethering data. Some plans restrict it or have a separate data allowance for hotspot use that you might have exhausted.
Reset Your Network Settings
This is a powerful step that wipes and rebuilds all your network configurations. Go to Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings. Tap to confirm. This will erase all saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and cellular network preferences, so you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and re-pair devices afterward.
In my experience, this is the most effective software fix for persistent, weird connectivity issues on Samsung phones, including a balky hotspot.
Check for a Carrier Settings Update
These small updates from your mobile provider can fix network compatibility issues. Navigate to Settings > Software update and tap on Download and install to check for any system updates, which include carrier settings. You can also go to Settings > About phone > Software information > Service provider software version to see your current version.
Forget the Network on the Connecting Device
On the laptop, tablet, or other device that's trying to connect, go into its Wi-Fi settings. Find your Galaxy S26 Ultra's hotspot network name (SSID) in the list of saved networks and select the option to "Forget" or "Remove" it. Then, search for available networks again, select your hotspot, and enter the password fresh.
Change Your Hotspot's Name and Password
Sometimes the network identifier itself can cause a conflict. Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot. Tap on the network name (SSID) or password field to change them. Use a simple name without special characters and a new password. Save the changes and have your other devices connect to the newly named network.
Try USB or Bluetooth Tethering Instead
If the Wi-Fi hotspot is being stubborn, bypass it. For USB tethering, connect your S26 Ultra to your computer with a USB-C cable. Then on your phone, go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering and turn on USB tethering. Your computer should recognize it as a network connection.
For Bluetooth, pair your phone with the other device first in the Bluetooth settings. Once paired, go back to the Tethering menu and enable Bluetooth tethering.
Install the Latest Software Update
Since the S26 Ultra is a new device, early software bugs are a possibility. Go to Settings > Software update and tap Download and install. Installing the latest version of One UI and Android can patch known issues that might be affecting the Mobile Hotspot feature.
Review Your Carrier Plan and Contact Support
If you've tried everything and the hotspot still won't work, the issue might be on your carrier's end. Log into your carrier account online or give them a call. Verify that mobile hotspot is an active feature on your line and that you haven't hit any data limits specific to tethering. They can also check for any network outages or account blocks affecting your service.
