"System Policy prohibits use as a Hotspot" when trying to turn on WiFi hotspot (option grayed out)

Question

I'm using Ubuntu 20.04 on ThinkPad x230, W540, T440p, etc.

Sometimes (appears randomly) after a reboot, I try to click on "Turn on WiFi hotspot..." under WiFi settings, but it is greyed out and when I hover over it, it says "System Policy prohibits use as a hotspot".

Why is this?

Solution 1

reported here, try switching to another settings panel (ie "Network") and then back, it seems to enable the option again for most.

Solution 2

It's only periodically disabled; to re-enable simply click on the "Network" in the left pane - making sure the OS realises you have a network connection. Then go back to WiFi and voila you have the ability to create a WiFi HotSpot. You don't have to create a separate network for this.

Solution 3

This is also happened in my machine as well. So what I did is I have created hotspot network and connected via hidden network. For that, Normal wifi setting will not give this setup. So follow these instructions 1. Press alt+f2 2.You will see a popup window where you need to type follow command to get wifi setting window

nm-connection-editor

3.You need to press + icon to create a hotspot network 4.After that, You have to select WIFI option

5. You need to change the mode to hotspot and SSID as you prefer

6. Save the setting then open wifi setting

7. select the network you have created

8. Click connect to hidden network

9. Select your network which you have created

10. After you connect your hotspot you can see below like picture Congrats you enable your hotspot

Comments

[Admin]

Same issue here on a Dell Precision 7530. I believe it might be a bug. For me, switching tabs in settings (for example, to "Network") and back makes Turn on WiFi hotspot work again.

[Admin]

Check my answer

[user9123]

This makes sense and does work for turning on the hotspot but seen clearly in step 8 is the Turn on WiFi hotspot... option still grayed out. This answer, while helpful, is unfortunately just a workaround.

[RCvaram]

@TR_SLimey, After you connected your hotspot using connect to hidden network. It will not show that you will need to do the 9th step and 10th

[RCvaram]

@TR_SLimey If you think, It helpful please upvote it

[user9123]

I just tested this and I do in fact have to do step 9 and 10 each time. "Turn on hotspot" remains grayed out. However, since this is a valid workaround and seems to provide an adequate solution, I will upvote. Nevertheless, it seems that this is simply a bug with Ubuntu which should be fixed.

[Xenhat]

Honestly shocked this worked for me, well done!

[GenError]

Sadly, in my case it did not work.

[Arjun Panicker]

This worked for me. Although I don't understand why this happens.

[Danny Sofftie]

Interesting. It works on Ubuntu 20.04

[matt]

works here as well! thanks!

[rhoitjadhav]

Lol, it really worked. can you anyone tell me what really happened here?

[Marvo]

Two years later, this is still the working solution in Ubuntu 21.10. Thank you!