How to Adjust Mobile Hotspot Idle Timeout via Registry on Windows 11

Quick fix: Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot turns off after 5 minutes if no devices connect. To change timeout via registry: open Registry Editor (Admin) → navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\icssvc\Settings. Find PeerlessTimeoutEnabled DWORD. Set value to 0 to disable timeout entirely. Or adjust PublicConnectionTimeout (in seconds). Restart Mobile Hotspot service.

Mobile Hotspot auto-disables after 5 minutes idle by default. Useful default for battery, but annoying when waiting for devices to connect. Registry tweak adjusts or removes timeout.

What causes this

Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot (Internet Connection Sharing service / icssvc) auto-disables after 5 minutes if no devices connect. Saves battery / mobile data. Registry controls this behavior:

• PeerlessTimeoutEnabled: 1 = timeout active, 0 = disabled.
• PublicConnectionTimeout: timeout in seconds.

Method 1: Disable timeout entirely via registry

The standard route.

1. Open Registry Editor as Admin (Win+R, regedit).
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\icssvc\Settings.
3. Right-click in right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name: PeerlessTimeoutEnabled. Value: 0.
5. OK.
6. Restart the service: open Services (services.msc) → find Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Right-click → Restart.
7. Or open PowerShell: Restart-Service icssvc.
8. Re-enable Mobile Hotspot via Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot. It now stays on indefinitely.
9. Watch battery / data; permanent hotspot consumes more.

This is the standard fix.

Method 2: Set specific timeout duration

For custom timeout (not unlimited).

1. Same registry path: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\icssvc\Settings.
2. Create DWORD: PublicConnectionTimeout. Value: timeout in seconds.
   • 300 = 5 min (default).
   • 600 = 10 min.
   • 1800 = 30 min.
   • 3600 = 1 hour.
3. Keep PeerlessTimeoutEnabled at 1 (active) for this to apply.
4. Restart icssvc service.
5. Hotspot now respects new timeout.
6. For tweaking specific values: also try PrivateConnectionTimeout for connected devices timeout.
7. For chronic disconnect after specific time: test different values to find sweet spot.
8. Reboot may be required.

This is the granular control.

Method 3: Use PowerShell automation for hotspot

For scripting and consistent state.

1. For automated hotspot management:

   # Enable Mobile Hotspot via PowerShell
   [Windows.System.Threading.ThreadPool, Windows.System.Threading, ContentType = WindowsRuntime] | Out-Null
   
   $connection = [Windows.Networking.Connectivity.NetworkInformation, Windows.Networking.Connectivity, ContentType = WindowsRuntime]::GetInternetConnectionProfile()
   
   $tetherManager = [Windows.Networking.NetworkOperators.NetworkOperatorTetheringManager, Windows.Networking.NetworkOperators, ContentType = WindowsRuntime]::CreateFromConnectionProfile($connection)
   
   # Enable: $tetherManager.StartTetheringAsync()
   # Disable: $tetherManager.StopTetheringAsync()

2. For scheduled keep-alive: Task Scheduler → trigger at idle.
3. For batch: write a script that re-enables hotspot if disabled.
4. For checking hotspot status: netsh wlan show hostednetwork.
5. For starting hostednetwork (legacy method, may not work on all adapters):

   netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyHotspot key=Password123
   netsh wlan start hostednetwork

6. For complete control: third-party tools like Connectify, mHotspot.

This is the automation route.

How to verify the fix worked

• Mobile Hotspot stays on past the default 5-minute idle.
• Connect a device after waiting > 5 minutes — still discoverable.
• Registry shows PeerlessTimeoutEnabled = 0 (or PublicConnectionTimeout with longer value).
• Service status: Get-Service icssvc — Running.

If none of these work

If hotspot still times out: Service restart needed: restart icssvc after registry change. For Wi-Fi adapter doesn’t support hosted network: netsh wlan show drivers → check “Hosted network supported.” If No: adapter doesn’t support; can’t override. For Wi-Fi 6 / 6E adapters: some don’t support older hosted network — use Wi-Fi Direct. For Bluetooth pairing tethering: separate; different setting. For cellular data hotspot: phone or eSIM provides; separate from Wi-Fi. For chronic disable: registry changes may be reset by Windows updates. Re-apply. For corporate-managed PCs: Group Policy may force hotspot off entirely. For chronic timeout regardless: third-party hotspot tools bypass Windows’s built-in.

Bottom line: Registry: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\icssvc\Settings → DWORD PeerlessTimeoutEnabled = 0 to disable timeout. Or PublicConnectionTimeout for custom seconds. Restart icssvc service.