Laptop can’t search certain SSID(hotspot).

[chordarc]

I want to use Wi-Fi on my laptop via desktop’s hotspot. But my laptop cannot even find SSID. This laptop connects to other APs well.

Desktop Hotspot works well with Samsung Galaxy Note9(2018, Wi-Fi 5) and Samsung Galaxy A5(2014, Wi-Fi 4). So, I guess desktop isn’t really a problem. Anyway, I’ve updated Desktop’s driver and BIOS but this didn’t make it work. (Updated laptop’s driver except BIOS.)

Desktop Mainboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS (WI-FI)
Laptop Model name: LG 15ND540-UX50K

Desktop LAN Card: Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX200
Driver Date: 01/20/2021
Driver Version: 22.30.0.11

Laptop LAN Card: Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Driver Date: 04/05/2017
Driver Version: 18.33.7.2

Windows 10 Pro
Version: 20H2
OS Build: 19042.804

P.S. I’ve downloaded and installed the latest version of driver (05/21/2019) from Intel’s website but my laptop still indicates Driver Date as 04/05/2017. This might be the problem, right? (For example, I’ve installed a wrong driver.)
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/ko/download/28622/-7260-AC-3160

One last thing.
Desktop can’t make 5Ghz hotspot. Quite weird. I didn't change any settings in LAN Card Properties. Most of values seems ‘Auto’ or ‘Enabled’.

[Gradius · Accepted solution]

First update your BIOS:
https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/SocketAM4/TUF_GAMING_B550M-PLUS_(WI-FI)/TUF-GAMING-B550M-PLUS-WIFI-ASUS-1804.ZIP

As for AC 7260:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28621/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Intel-Wireless-7260-Family

After reboot (on desktop), check how your 5GHz band is configured on both systems.  5GHz is very demanding and easy to go into incompatibility problems, this is why your 7260 can't even see SSID from desktop.

Btw, 7260 is quite old by now, was launched Q2 2013.  Also check if your 15ND540-UX50K is fully updated, specially the BIOS.

Good luck.

[chordarc]

Hi Gradius.

Thank you for your answer. You’re a savior.

I installed the driver you linked. And it worked! I didn’t have to update BIOS for laptop.

Plus, I figured out how to activate 5GHz hotspot.

1. Update to latest drive (mine is 21.80.2.1)
2. Connect to a 5GHz wifi (you can just connect a hotspot by your phone)
3. Now you are able to enable 5GHz hotspot on PC (I can see it is Wifi6 with 1.0Gbps)

[Reference]

reddit, “Cannot enable Intel AX200 5GHz Hotspot”, https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/ezka7x/cannot_enable_intel_ax200_5ghz_hotspot/