How to fix Android WiFi, Bluetooth and Hotspot not working
Got a call from a client some while back. She’d visited a hotel with free WiFi but her Android phone’s WiFi just wouldn’t turn on. Restarting the phone had no effect.
Not long after that, we began getting a tonne of Tecno, Infinix and Itel phone users complaining about the same thing. WiFi, Hotspot or Bluetooth suddenly stopped working. In many cases, all three.
What could cause an Android phone’s WiFi, Bluetooth and Hotspot to stop turning on?
Common causes of this problem include:
- Insufficient app permissions: The WiFi / Bluetooth might be force-closing or unable to come on due to insufficient permissions to launch certain system level apps
- Corrupted apks or files: The WiFi / Bluetooth apks or files might be missing or corrupted
- Third-party apps: Third-party or WiFi / Bluetooth management apps might be interfering e.g Babel Fonts apk
- Temporary OS error: The Android OS might have encountered a minor error
- Connection timeout: If no Bluetooth / WiFi network is detected within the set timeout (which might have been set too low in this case) then the WiFi / Bluetooth will automatically go off
- Hardware: The I.C might be damaged or the motherboard needs cleaning
How do I diagnose if my WiFi, Hotspot and Bluetooth not coming on is due to a software or hardware problem?
One simple test is by trying to turn on your phone’s FM Radio. If the FM Radio can come on then its most likely a software issue. If the FM Radio can’t turn on also or force closes then you’re most likely dealing with a hardware issue. This however isn’t an absolute test, especially in a situation where incompatible fonts is the cause of the problem
To confirm its a hardware issue, try changing the phone’s font manager i.e Babel fonts apk sometimes cause Bluetooth and WiFi not to come on.
How do I solve Android WiFi and Bluetooth not coming on?
Here are some fixes to try (in the order of software to hardware):
- If you have Babel fonts apk installed then uninstall its updates, freeze or use a different font manager app
- Reboot: Rebooting the phone helps clear temporary OS issues
- Battery pull: Remove the battery for 30 seconds then slot it back in and power up the phone. If the phone has an inbuilt battery then switch off the phone for 30 seconds
- Enable GPS / Location access: Try toggling on and off location access under Settings > Location access
- Uninstall third party apps: Uninstall any third-party WiFi / Bluetooth managers you have installed
- Reset app permissions: Go to Settings > Apps > All > Press menu button > Reset app permissions
- Factory reset: Boot the phone into recovery mode and do a data wipe / factory reset or navigate to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset
- Download and re-flash the Android stock ROM / firmware. I suggest you download the factory / signed version.
- Take out and clean the motherboard. Check the IC hardware to be sure its in perfect working condition and change if you suspect to be faulty
My Samsung a10s is also turning off WiFi Bluetooth and hotspot need same help
My phone is a Samsung a03 core it doesn’t turn on WiFi it disables it.
I had the same problem, I followed all the steps here apart from resetting the phone, and they didn’t fix it. I started trying to (as much as possible) clone my phone onto my second phone so I could do a hard reset. After moving my WhatsApp to the second phone, I deleted it from my first phone, which was a Samsung a20s. Some background: This phone has a small internal memory, and WhatsApp kept filling it up. Deleting WhatsApp cleared 8gb, and internal memory space went from 31/32gb to 23/32gb. The phone acted funny for two minutes and I just left it, only to come back to see that my Bluetooth was on! By itself! Tested others (wifi and hotspot) and they were back!
I don’t know what caused it. Crammed internal memory? Whatsapp bug? No idea!
My itel p15 still do the same after flashing the phone, it just giving me headache. What can i do to this?
My Infinix hot 8 wifi, Bluetooth and hotspot turns on but can’t be found in the another device pls help
Have you tried changing your frequency under their settings?
Hi my phone is Hisense T5 and it doesn’t want to turn on blue tooth and wifi I try it all to reset the settings bt still nothing
Same problem as mine. The chip for bluetooth and wifi is broken. Apparently, they shares same chip
Probably same problem as mine. The chips for bluetooth and wifi is broken.
I did everything and it is still not working.
Back up in sd card and then factory reset, spending on data to reinstall and still not working.
Its a hardware problem then
can it be resolved ?
My Infinix Note 2 just abruptly refused to turn on Wifi and Bluetooth and even FM radio assist plz
My phone is the same did you manage to fix it
How can my Gionee s10 lite start connection to iPhone
MY TECNO CX AIR WIFI And BLUETOOTH GOES OFF EVEN WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT ON, IT GOES BACK OFF. PLEASE WILL BE GLAD IF I COULD GET A SOLUTION