Aspire Switch Bluetooth Tether - Not available

jrstinkfish

Hello. New Aspire Switch owner here. I'm having a big (for me) problem though -- I can't get it to tether to my Nexus 5 via bluetooth for my internet connection. I had an iPad that did it, and my Nexus 7 does it, but for some reason, this Switch tablet will not. I've paired it, turned Bluetooth Tethering on on my Nexus, and then tried to connect by going to Devices and Printers, selecting the Nexus 5, and choosing Connect Using ... and the only option is DIrect connection, which apparently has nothing to do with using the Nexus for network connectivity.

 

Is this a Windows 8.1 issue? My search seems to point to it as being that so I may be out of luck here (and I'd have to return the tablet, sadly), but I was just wondering if there are other Switch owners out there who have successfully used bluetooth tethering. 

 

I can of course connect when I use my Nexus hotspot, but my workplace does not allow the use of hotspots, so I'm trying to connect directly to avoid the IT guy coming and tapping me on the shoulder when he's looking for hotspots (yes, I already got that tap once already).

billsey

Looks like the Microsoft Surface has been having the same issues, which are supposed to be fixed in a future Windows Update. Try making sure your 8.1 is fully updated and see if it's any better. They also say the settings can be reset by going into Airplane mode and back out again. You might try this thread for clues as well.

jrstinkfish

Thanks for the suggestions! I did the Airplane Mode toggle, didn't do the trick. I removed the phone from devices, then added it again, and the Access Point option was there. Connected and disconnected a few times with no luck actually getting internet access (got a valid IP), and it finally took. That's great and all, but if I have to do that every time ... yeesh! It's a cool tablet, and the only time I'd need BT tethering is at work, so I might hold on to it. I've got a couple of weeks to decide

jrstinkfish

I stopped by Best Buy during lunch to see if other Win 8.1 tablets had the problem, and all of them (well, the 3 I tried -- Lenovo, HP, and Asus) had the same issue after I paired my phone. It's probably not the most popular method of getting the internet to a tablet, but I do hope there's enough fuss for a fix.

billsey

In my limited research it sounded like it was a big enough issue that Microsoft was actively working on it, though it looked like they were closer to a solution for Apple than for Android.