If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

With Personal Hotspot, you can share the mobile data connection of your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) with another device. If you need help with Personal Hotspot, follow these steps.

Use these steps first

Try connecting again after each step.

  1. Check that Personal Hotspot is turned on in Settings > Personal Hotspot. If you can't find or turn on Personal Hotspot, check that your wireless network provider has enabled it and that your network plan supports it.
  2. Restart the iPhone or iPad that provides Personal Hotspot and the other device that needs to connect to Personal Hotspot.
  3. Make sure you have the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
  4. On the iPhone or iPad providing Personal Hotspot, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset, then tap Reset Network Settings.

Follow the steps below for more help with Personal Hotspot over Wi-Fi, USB or Bluetooth.

  • Personal Hotspot with Wi-Fi

  • Personal Hotspot with USB

  • Personal Hotspot with Bluetooth

If you can't connect to Personal Hotspot with Wi-Fi

On the device that provides Personal Hotspot, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot, then follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that Allow Others to Join is on.
  2. Remember the device's Wi-Fi network name and password that appear on this screen. If you want to change the Wi-Fi network name, learn how to change your device name.
  3. If you're using an iPhone 12 model or later, turn on Maximise Compatibility. Then try connecting your devices to your Personal Hotspot again.
  4. Stay on this screen until you connect your other device to the Wi-Fi network.

On the device that needs to connect to Personal Hotspot, follow these steps:

  1. Turn Wi-Fi off and back on.
  2. Make sure you connect to the correct Wi-Fi network. The network name will be the same as the iOS device providing Personal Hotspot, and the Personal Hotspot icon may appear next to it.
  3. If you see a password error when you try to join Personal Hotspot, check the Wi-Fi password: on the device that provides the Personal Hotspot, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot to see the Wi-Fi password.

If you can't connect to Personal Hotspot with USB

To avoid unnecessary data charges, turn off Personal Hotspot when you don't need it. If you don't, then every time you plug in your iOS device with Personal Hotspot to your computer to charge it, your computer may connect to Personal Hotspot.

Follow the steps below for your Mac.

Connect your Mac to Personal Hotspot with USB

If you can't connect to Personal Hotspot with Bluetooth

Use the steps below to pair your devices and connect to Personal Hotspot with Bluetooth.

Pair your devices

  1. On the device that provides the Personal Hotspot, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and make sure Allow Others to Join is on.
  2. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is on.
  3. Keep this screen open, then follow the steps for the device that needs to connect:
    • On your iPad or iPod touch, tap Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is on. Tap the device that provides the Personal Hotspot, confirm the code that appears, then tap Pair on both devices.
    • On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Select the device providing the Personal Hotspot, click Connect, then follow the onscreen instructions.
    • On your Windows PC, click the Bluetooth icon in the Notification area and make sure Bluetooth is on. Choose Add a Bluetooth Device, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Connect to Personal Hotspot with Bluetooth

If you're still unable to connect to Personal Hotspot with Bluetooth

 On your devices, turn Bluetooth off and back on again:

If you still can't connect, follow these steps:

  1. Unpair your device:
  2. Restart all of your devices.
  3. Pair your devices and try connecting to Personal Hotspot again.

Get more help

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