Check the hotspot switch on your phone after the drop. If it is off and no devices were connected, look for the hotspot’s idle shutoff setting. On Pixel, turn off Turn off hotspot automatically. On Galaxy, choose a longer period under Turn off when no device connected for.
01Pixel: turn off automatic hotspot shutoff
Section linkOpen Settings → Network & internet → Hotspot & tethering → Wi-Fi hotspot. Turn off Turn off hotspot automatically if you want the hotspot to stay available between connections. Turn off the hotspot manually when you are done to save battery.
02Galaxy: give the hotspot more time
Section linkOpen Settings → Connections → Mobile Hotspot and Tethering → Mobile Hotspot. Tap the information section, then open Advanced and tap Turn off when no device connected for. Pick a longer interval from the options on your phone. Menu labels and available options may vary by device or carrier.
03Test with the connected device awake
Section linkConnect your laptop or tablet to the phone’s hotspot, keep it awake, and check that it stays connected past the point when it usually drops. If the hotspot stays on during this test but turns off after the other device disconnects, the idle timeout is the first setting to revisit.
04If the switch stays on, check the connection
Section linkCheck whether the laptop or tablet is still on the hotspot network. If it lost Wi-Fi and cannot see the network, try the 2.4 GHz band if your phone offers it. If the device is connected but pages will not load, open a page on the phone using mobile data. If the phone loads it and the connected device still cannot, check whether your carrier plan includes tethering.