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iPhone Personal Hotspot Not Working? Try These Fixes

Check your carrier plan and Cellular Data, turn on Allow Others to Join, fix Wi-Fi and USB connections to your Personal Hotspot, then reset network settings.

Updated 7 min read

Quick Answer

Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, and turn on Allow Others to Join. If Personal Hotspot is dimmed or missing, make sure Cellular Data is on in Settings, then Cellular, and check with your carrier that your plan includes Personal Hotspot. If other devices still can’t connect, restart both devices, keep them within 30 feet (10 meters) with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and on iPhone 12 or later try turning on Maximize Compatibility.

Common causes

  • Your carrier hasn’t enabled Personal Hotspot, or your plan doesn’t include it
  • Cellular Data turned off on your iPhone
  • Allow Others to Join turned off for devices outside your Apple Account or family group
  • Devices too far apart, or Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned off
  • A VPN configuration that prevents local networking
  • Apple Devices or iTunes not installed on a Windows PC connecting by USB

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start on the iPhone sharing its connection, then check the device that’s joining, and try connecting again after each step.

  1. Step 1: Check that Personal Hotspot is on your plan

    Personal Hotspot needs a carrier plan that includes it and Cellular Data turned on.

    Open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot, or tap Cellular, then Personal Hotspot. If Personal Hotspot is dimmed or unavailable, open Settings, tap Cellular, and make sure that Cellular Data is turned on.

    If Cellular Data is on but you don’t see Personal Hotspot, or Set Up Personal Hotspot doesn’t appear in Settings under Cellular, contact your carrier. They need to enable Personal Hotspot, and your plan needs to include it.

    Good to know

    Personal Hotspot isn’t available with all carriers, and additional fees may apply.

  2. Step 2: Turn on Allow Others to Join

    Windows PCs, non-Apple devices and devices outside your Apple Account or family group need this setting on to join.

    Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot, then turn on Allow Others to Join.

    This setting must be on for a Windows PC or another non-Apple device, and for any device that isn’t signed in to your Apple Account or part of your family group.

    Good to know

    Your own Apple devices joining with Instant Hotspot don’t need Allow Others to Join turned on.

  3. Step 3: Restart and update both devices

    A restart and the latest software on each device are Apple’s first fixes.

    Restart the iPhone that provides Personal Hotspot and the device that needs to connect to it.

    Make sure your iPhone has the latest version of iOS, and install the latest software updates on the other device too. Then try connecting again.

  4. Step 4: Keep the devices close with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on

    The devices need to be near each other with both wireless connections turned on.

    Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and keep them within 30 feet (10 meters) of one another.

  5. Step 5: If a device can’t join over Wi-Fi

    Check the hotspot’s name and password on your iPhone, then reconnect from the other device.

    On your iPhone, open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot. Make sure Allow Others to Join is on, and note the Wi-Fi network name and password shown on this screen. Stay on this screen until your other device connects.

    On iPhone 12 models or later, turn on Maximize Compatibility on the same screen, then try connecting again.

    On the device that’s joining, turn Wi-Fi off and back on. Make sure you choose the correct network: it has the same name as your iPhone, and the Personal Hotspot icon might appear next to it. If you see a password error, check the Wi-Fi password on your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot screen.

    Good to know

    With Maximize Compatibility on, internet performance and Wi-Fi security might be reduced for devices connected to your hotspot.

  6. Step 6: Check Instant Hotspot for your Apple devices

    Your own Apple devices and your family group can join without entering the password.

    Make sure each device is signed in with the same Apple Account. For family members, open Settings on your iPhone, tap Personal Hotspot, then tap Family Sharing, turn on Family Sharing, and choose a setting for each family member.

    If you use a VPN, make sure its configuration doesn’t prevent local networking, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.

  7. Step 7: If a computer can’t connect over USB

    Trust the computer on your iPhone, then check iPhone USB on a Mac or Apple Devices or iTunes on a Windows PC.

    On a Mac, update macOS first. Connect your iPhone with a USB cable. If you see Trust This Computer? on your iPhone, tap Trust, and enter your passcode if asked. If your Mac asks “Allow accessory to connect?”, click Allow. Then make sure you can see your iPhone in the Finder.

    On your Mac, open the Apple menu, click System Settings, then click Network. If iPhone USB isn’t in the list of network services, add it as a new network service. In macOS Ventura, Apple’s steps when it is listed are to click iPhone USB, click Make Inactive, then click Make Active.

    On a Windows PC, make sure the latest version of Apple Devices or iTunes for Windows is installed. It’s needed to use Personal Hotspot over a USB cable.

    Good to know

    Personal Hotspot stays active while your iPhone is connected by USB. To avoid unnecessary data charges, turn it off when you don’t need it, or your computer might connect to it every time you plug in your iPhone to charge.

  8. Step 8: Reset network settings

    Reset the network settings on the iPhone that provides the hotspot, which also resets its Wi-Fi networks and passwords.

    Open Settings, tap General, then tap Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Reset, then tap Reset Network Settings.

    This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you’ve used before.

Personal Hotspot still not working?

If Personal Hotspot is still missing or won’t turn on, contact your wireless carrier. It needs to be enabled and included in your plan, and your carrier can also tell you how many devices can join at once. For anything else, Apple Support can suggest what to do next when you describe what’s happening.

Before you reset network settings: Reset Network Settings also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you’ve used before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Personal Hotspot missing from my iPhone settings?

Personal Hotspot needs a carrier that supports it and a plan that includes it. If Cellular Data is on and you still don’t see Set Up Personal Hotspot under Cellular, ask your carrier to add it to your plan.

Can I share my iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection through Personal Hotspot?

No. Personal Hotspot only shares your iPhone’s cellular internet connection. You can’t connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network and then share that network with another device.

How many devices can connect to my iPhone hotspot?

It depends on your carrier and your iPhone model. Your carrier can tell you the limit for your plan.

Why do devices disconnect from my hotspot on their own?

When the hotspot isn’t being used, connected devices disconnect automatically to save battery life.

Can I connect a computer to my hotspot with Bluetooth?

Yes. Turn on Allow Others to Join, then open Settings, tap Bluetooth and stay on that screen. Choose your iPhone in the computer’s Bluetooth settings, check that the pairing code matches on both devices, then tap Pair on your iPhone.

Why won’t iCloud backup work over my Personal Hotspot?

Some apps and features that need a Wi-Fi connection might not work over a Personal Hotspot. For example, you might not be able to make an iCloud backup or upload photos to iCloud Photo Library.

Sources & review

This guide was checked against Apple’s official support instructions on October 1, 2026. Device options can change with software updates.

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