Resolve Problems with Your In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot
Your vehicle’s available in-vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot®* can keep you connected on the go. An active OnStar® vehicle data plan is required to connect. This article will help you troubleshoot common connectivity and data plan issues. Symptoms / troubleshooting steps When the In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Is Not Connecting When the In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Is Disabled When the In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Performance Is Slow When Your In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Login Credentials Are Not Accepted When the In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Is Not Connecting If your connection is lost or disabled, or if you’re connected to Wi-Fi® but do not have internet access, you can verify that your OnStar vehicle data plan is active by following the steps below: Via Advisor: Press the blue OnStar button in your vehicle. Speak with an Advisor regarding your OnStar vehicle data plan status. Via Mobile App: Navigate to the Home screen. Press the Controls tab. From there, select Wi-Fi® to check your plan status. Via Web: Log in to your GM account. Press the Profile icon. From there, go to Account Overview. Select your vehicle. Scroll down and select Vehicle Settings. Within Vehicle Settings, select Wi-Fi® Hotspot.* *Note: If you do not have an active OnStar vehicle data plan, you will not be able to use your vehicle’s Wi-Fi® Hotspot, even if you have a connection. If you’re still having issues, you can follow the steps below. 1. Verify Wi-Fi® Settings (Available for select 2017 and newer model year vehicles): From your center display, press the Settings menu icon. From the Settings menu, select Wi-Fi® Settings. From there, ensure your Wi-Fi® Hotspot is enabled. Ensure your SSID and password are entered correctly. 2. Restart Your Devices Turn your vehicle off. Turn your phone or tablet off. Wait 10 seconds. Turn your phone or tablet on. Restart your vehicle. Turn off the engine. Open and close the driver’s door. Wait for the OnStar LED to go out. Restart your vehicle. Let your vehicle run for 15-20 seconds. Verify if the Wi-Fi® Hotspot is still showing as enabled in the infotainment system. Test the Wi-Fi® Hotspot signal again. 3. Forget and Reconnect to the Wi-Fi® Hotspot: Go to your phone’s Wi-Fi® settings. Tap your vehicle’s Wi-Fi® Hotspot name. Tap Forget Network OR you can remove/reconnect by selecting the hotspot again and entering the correct password. Note: You can find the hotspot name (SSID) and password on the vehicle’s center display by going to Settings > Wi-Fi® Hotspot. 4. Perform a Radio Reset: Put your vehicle in PARK. Press and hold the End Call button on your steering wheel for 10 seconds. Your vehicle infotainment system will then reboot. From there, try reconnecting to your vehicle’s Wi-Fi® Hotspot. 5. Contact an Advisor If the above steps did not resolve your issue, press the blue OnStar button in your vehicle to speak with an Advisor. When the In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Data Sharing Is Disabled If your vehicle’s Wi-Fi® Hotspot is not sharing data, you can activate it through your vehicle’s Settings menu. Here is how to do it: Press the Settings menu icon on your center display. Under the Settings menu, navigate to the Wi-Fi® Settings option. From there, toggle “Share Vehicle Data” on. If prompted, press Continue to save settings. When the In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Performance Is Slow If your Wi-Fi® Hotspot is connected to the internet, but performing slow, you can follow the steps below to troubleshoot the issue. 1. Check your OnStar Vehicle Data Plan Status: Press your blue OnStar button to speak with an Advisor to check the status of your OnStar plan. 2. Check Signal Strength: Your vehicle must be in an area with good cellular coverage. Avoid underground garages, tunnels, or remote areas. 3. Test Internet Speed: Open your web browser and go to speedtest.net. This website will measure your current Wi-Fi® speed. Typical speeds vary based on your location, signal conditions, and number of devices connected to the Wi-Fi.® 4. Reduce the Number of Connected Devices: If there are several devices connected at once to the hotspot, there may be slower connection times. Disconnect any unused phones, tablets, or laptops. 5. Restart Your Devices: Turn your vehicle off. Turn off your phone or tablet. Wait 10 seconds. Turn your device back on. Turn Off the engine. Open and close the driver’s door. Wait for the OnStar LED to go out. Restart your vehicle. Let your vehicle run for 15-20 seconds. Verify that the Wi-Fi® Hotspot is still showing as enabled in the infotainment system. Test the Wi-Fi® Hotspot signal again. 6. Turn Off Background Apps: On your phone or tablet, close any apps running in the background that you’re not using to help improve internet speed. 7. Perform a Radio Reset Put your vehicle in PARK. Press and hold the End Call button on your steering wheel for 10 seconds. Your vehicle’s infotainment system will then reboot. From there, try reconnecting to your vehicle’s Wi-Fi® Hotspot. When Your In-Vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot Login Credentials Are Not Accepted If you’re attempting to enter your login credentials for your vehicle’s Wi-Fi® Hotspot and you’re getting messages like “Incorrect Password” or “Unable to Join Network,” follow these steps: 1. Double-check the Wi-Fi® Hotspot Name and Password: You can find the hotspot name (SSID) and password on your vehicle’s center display by going to the Settings menu and selecting Wi-Fi® Hotspot. Make sure you’re entering the exact password, including upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, and not including extra spaces before or after. 2. Forget the Network and Reconnect: Go to your phone’s Wi-Fi® settings. Tap your vehicle’s hotspot name. Tap Forget Network or remove/reconnect using the correct password shown on the center display. 3. Restart the Device and Vehicle: Turn off your vehicle. Turn off your phone or tablet. Wait 10 seconds. Turn your device back on. Turn off the engine. Open and close the driver’s door. Wait for the OnStar LED to go out. Restart your vehicle. Let your vehicle run for 15-20 seconds. Verify that the Wi-Fi® Hotspot is still showing as enabled in the infotainment system. Test the Wi-Fi® Hotspot signal again. 4. Try Connecting with a Different Device: If the hotspot name and password are correct but your device still won’t connect, try using a different phone, tablet, or laptop. If the second device connects successfully, the issue may be with the device’s settings. You may need to contact the device manufacturer or your wireless carrier or visit the place of purchase for further support. If no devices can connect, the issue may be with the vehicle’s hotspot settings. Please call an Advisor for assistance. Q&As How can I check if my OnStar vehicle data plan is active? If your Wi-Fi® Hotspot is not connecting, it is possible your OnStar vehicle data plan is inactive. To ensure it is active, press your blue OnStar button to talk to an Advisor. They may send a signal to your vehicle to refresh connectivity. How can I renew my OnStar vehicle data plan? To renew your OnStar vehicle data plan, you can contact an OnStar Advisor by pressing your blue OnStar button. Or, you can check your data plan status and renew an existing plan through your vehicle’s app on the center display or through your vehicle’s mobile app.*How to stay connected using your in-vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot
The in-vehicle Wi-Fi® Hotspot* helps you stay connected while you’re on the road. After it’s set up, you can use data to stream apps and connect up to 7 devices (depending on your vehicle) to the hotspot. You’ll need an active OnStar® vehicle data plan to use it. To purchase an OnStar vehicle data plan, press your blue OnStar button to speak to an Advisor or use your vehicle’s mobile app.* How to set up your hotspot You can set up your hotspot in three ways: Via Mobile App Open the app and tap Controls. Scroll down and tap Wi-Fi®. Here, you can: Update your Wi-Fi® name and password. Turn the hotspot on or off. Via Web Click your initials in the upper-right corner. Choose Account Overview. Select your vehicle. Scroll down to Vehicle Settings (under Owner Resources). Click Edit in the Wi-Fi® Hotspot section. Via Center Display (Available for select 2017 and newer model year vehicles) Tap the Wi-Fi® Hotspot icon on your center display. You can personalize your hotspot name, which is also known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). You can set a new password. You can also turn the hotspot on or off. How to connect devices to the hotspot Here’s how to connect a device to the hotspot: Make sure your vehicle is on or in accessory mode. Find the Wi-Fi® settings on your device. Choose your vehicle’s hotspot name. If you don’t know your hotspot’s name, try one of these: For select 2017 later model year vehicles up, check your vehicle's Settings menu for the Wi-Fi® name. For 2016 and earlier model year vehicles, press the Phone button on your OnStar controls and say “Wi-Fi® Settings” after the prompt. Or, simply push the blue OnStar button and ask for help. Enter your hotspot password. Your device should now be connected to the vehicle’s hotspot. Q&A Do I have to be inside the vehicle to use the hotspot? No. You can connect devices from within 50 ft. outside the vehicle. However, the vehicle must be on or in accessory mode to use the hotspot. What kinds of devices can I connect to the hotspot? You can connect up to 7 compatible devices, including phones, laptops and tablets. How do I buy data for my vehicle's hotspot? To buy data for your vehicle’s hotspot, push your blue OnStar button to talk to an Advisor. You can also shop for plans by visiting your GM account online or through your vehicle’s mobile app. How can I reset my SSID and password? Tap the Wi-Fi® Hotspot icon on your center display to open the Settings menu. From there, you can change your Wi-Fi® settings, including updating your SSID or password. You can also use your vehicle’s mobile app or press the blue OnStar button in your vehicle and talk to an Advisor. Why isn't my data plan active? If you recently purchased an OnStar Data Plan and it is not active, your plan may be pending. Contact an OnStar Advisor by pressing your blue OnStar button to get instructions on how to activate it.Built-in Wi-Fi® Hotspot FAQ
What is the available Wi-Fi Hotspot? The built-in Wi-Fi ® Hotspot* (vehicle must be on or in the accessory position for Wi-Fi to function) turns your vehicle into a reliable mobile hub, with great signal quality and bandwidth. It provides a better in-vehicle experience than your smartphone and is powered by your vehicle, so you’re not reliant on a mobile device battery. How do I connect to the Wi-Fi Hotspot? Start a Wi-Fi network search on your device and select your vehicle hotspot when listed. Enter the password when prompted. What is an “SSID” or “passphrase?” The SSID is the name of the Wi-Fi Hotspot for the vehicle, and the passphrase is the password associated with the hotspot. The SSID will be used to identify which Wi-Fi Hotspot you connect to, and the passphrase will be entered to complete the connection. How do I get my Wi-Fi Hotspot username and passphrase? To get your hotspot name (SSID) and password, push the Voice Command button and say “Wi-Fi settings.” Can I change the SSID and password for my Wi-Fi Hotspot? You can change the name of your hotspot and password in the Wi-Fi Hotspot menu listing of your vehicle mobile app.* You can also visit your GM account. Do I need a data plan to use the vehicle’s available WiFi Hotspot? Yes, an OnStar Plan is required to power the vehicle’s Wi-Fi Hotspot. What is the Data Trial? Members who purchase an eligible Wi-Fi equipped Chevrolet, ® Buick ® or GMC ® vehicle can receive up to 3 months on us of unlimited data for the available in-vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot. How can I find out how much data I have remaining? You can check how much data you have remaining with your myChevrolet, ® myBuick, ® myGMC ® or myCadillac ® Mobile App* or by visiting your GM account. Additionally, you can push the blue OnStar button and ask an Advisor. Why do I need a vehicle data plan for the available Wi-Fi Hotspot if I have a personal hotspot available on my smartphone? The built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot provides a better in-vehicle experience than your smartphone. Our stronger signal means you have a fast and reliable connection. It is powered by your vehicle, so you’re not reliant on a mobile device battery, and you can access your hotspot up to 50 feet (vehicle must be on or in the accessory position for Wi-Fi to function) from your vehicle. The built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot is easy to use because it’s automatically on after initial setup and ready to connect to your mobile devices. What OnStar® plans offer Unlimited Data? OnStar One Super Cruise*, OnStar One* and Connect Plus* offer unlimited data. Visit the pricing page for more information. Does my vehicle need to be running for the available Wi-Fi Hotspot to work? The vehicle ignition needs to be in the “Run” or “Accessory” position for the Wi-Fi Hotspot to be active. How many devices can be connected to the available Wi-Fi Hotspot? Up to seven devices can be connected simultaneously to the Wi-Fi Hotspot. What is the range for the available in-vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot? Connect your mobile devices to your Wi-Fi Hotspot and get a reliable connection up to 50 feet from your vehicle. Why does my available Wi-Fi Hotspot internet connection sometimes run slow or show that no internet connection is available? The coverage for the built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot depends on the wireless carrier network coverage. When you are in areas where coverage fluctuates, performance may be impacted. In a 2G-coverage area, the Wi-Fi Hotspot will not work. In a 3Gcoverage area, streaming data or video to your devices may result in the degradation of your service. View the coverage map. Also, the vehicle ignition needs to be in the “Run” or “Accessory” position for the Wi-Fi Hotspot to be active.