For Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners globetrotting with their shiny companions, their wanderlust might be hampered by a frustrating Wi-Fi hotspot glitch. Several users are reporting an error message popping up whenever they try to turn on their phone’s hotspot, causing it to automatically switch off.
The issue appears to affect people using Pixel 8 units purchased from different countries, making international travelers the unfortunate frontlines of this technological hiccup. The Google Pixel community forum has a bunch of threads with frustrated reports all within this month (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10), with some even claiming it only started after the latest January update. But a quick peak on Reddit suggests (1,2) the issue with Wi-Fi hotspot not working on the Pixel 8 has been here for months.
Luckily, the growing number of reports has recently prompted a product expert to finally acknowledge the widespread problem. Their official response confirmed the existence of a “known issue” with Pixel 8 and 8 Pro hotspots malfunctioning outside their original country of purchase. However, the light at the end of the tunnel seems faint, as no timeline for a fix was provided.
For now, the only workaround involves a dance of button presses: turning on airplane mode, restarting the phone, activating the hotspot, and finally, deactivating airplane mode. While it gets the job done, having to repeat this process every time you want to share your internet connection is far from ideal.
This hotspot hitch throws a wrench in the plans of Pixel 8 owners who rely on sharing their phone’s data when abroad. Whether it’s for work, staying connected with loved ones, or simply navigating unfamiliar streets, a functioning hotspot can be a lifeline. With Google remaining tight-lipped about a resolution, Pixel 8 globetrotters can only hope for a speedy software update to tame this hotspot tantrum and let them freely share their mobile data as they travel the world.
Hillary Keverenge
2107 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
Next article View Article
