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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is configuring a mobile hotspot on a…
A technician is configuring a mobile hotspot on a smartphone to provide internet access to a laptop. The laptop connects to the hotspot's Wi-Fi network but cannot access the internet. The smartphone has a cellular data connection. Which of the following should the technician check first?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the assumption that a successful Wi-Fi association means the network path is complete, causing candidates to chase client-side IP or firewall issues instead of the upstream cellular data state.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The smartphone's mobile data is enabled
The smartphone's mobile data must be enabled for the hotspot to relay internet traffic from the cellular network to tethered clients. Even though the laptop successfully associates with the hotspot's Wi-Fi SSID, the hotspot acts only as a local router/NAT gateway; without an active cellular data connection on the phone, there is no upstream path to the internet. Checking mobile data first isolates the most likely single point of failure before investigating client-side configuration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The laptop's IP address configuration
Why it's wrong here
If the laptop successfully connects to the mobile hotspot, it has likely received a valid IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway from the smartphone's built-in DHCP server. An IP configuration issue on the laptop would prevent it from even establishing a local network connection to the hotspot, which is not indicated as the problem here. The issue lies further upstream, beyond the laptop's local network configuration.
- ✓
The smartphone's mobile data is enabled
Why this is correct
The smartphone's mobile hotspot functionality relies entirely on its ability to access the internet via its cellular data connection (e.g., 4G or 5G). If mobile data is disabled on the smartphone, the device itself cannot connect to the internet, rendering it unable to share any internet access with connected devices, regardless of whether the Wi-Fi hotspot is broadcasting. This is the most fundamental requirement for a functional mobile hotspot.
- ✗
The laptop's firewall settings
Why it's wrong here
While a laptop's firewall settings can certainly block specific applications or ports from accessing the internet, they are not typically responsible for a complete lack of internet connectivity when a mobile hotspot is initially configured. If the hotspot itself is not receiving internet from the cellular network, the laptop's firewall has no traffic to filter. Troubleshooting should first focus on the internet source before examining client-side filtering.
- ✗
The smartphone's Wi-Fi is turned on
Why it's wrong here
The smartphone's Wi-Fi radio must be enabled to broadcast the mobile hotspot's SSID and allow devices like a laptop to connect wirelessly. However, if the laptop can already see and connect to the hotspot, it confirms that the smartphone's Wi-Fi is indeed active and functioning as an access point. The problem is not with the local wireless connection, but rather the internet uplink that the smartphone is supposed to be sharing.
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Sync Methods
Key term
Mobile hotspot
A mobile hotspot is a feature that turns a smartphone or dedicated device into a portable Wi-Fi access point, sharing its cellular data connection with other nearby devices.
Key term
Service Set Identifier
A Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the public name of a Wi-Fi network that devices use to identify and connect to it.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.