iPhone Personal Hotspot not working

• Estimated time: 3 min
• Easy
• Low risk

Separate availability, joining and access before modifying the connection.

1. It may be under Cellular. Read the name and Allow Others to Join state; do not share screenshots containing the password. Record whether the client cannot see the network, rejects it or connects without browsing.

   1. Settings
   2. ›Personal Hotspot

2. If the iPhone shows SOS/No Service, follow the related cellular-service guide. With service available, choose the observed branch; do not change password, compatibility and network settings simultaneously.

• Estimated time: 5 min
• Easy
• Low risk

1. If the option is gray or absent, confirm Cellular Data is on in Settings > Cellular and ask the carrier’s official support whether that line and plan enable Personal Hotspot. A line with Internet does not necessarily include tethering.

2. After a SIM/eSIM change, ask for activation and feature provisioning to be checked. If the plan excludes it, stop: a reset does not change the contract. If enabled but absent on the iPhone, give Apple the model/iOS and carrier confirmation before erasing configuration.

• Estimated time: 5 min
• Easy
• Low risk

1. Enable Allow Others to Join, bring the devices nearby and keep the Personal Hotspot screen open until connected. Refresh Wi-Fi discovery on the client; if toggling its Wi-Fi is needed, finish dependent tasks first.

2. If another client sees the network but this one does not, check that client’s compatibility. On iPhone 12 or later, if Maximize Compatibility appears, the advanced test below can help test it. If none sees it but USB works, failure remains localized to the Wi-Fi path.

3. If USB also fails, do not conclude both radios are damaged: check the Internet branch and plan support first.

• Estimated time: 5 min
• Easy
• Low risk

1. Choose the iPhone’s exact name and currently displayed password, respecting letter case. If another client joins with it, do not change the hotspot password for everyone: check the failing client’s saved profile.

2. If it saved an older password, forget only that network on the client after keeping the current password; this removes its saved connection and may propagate through sync depending on the system. Rejoin once. If it becomes connected without Internet, follow access; it is no longer a password rejection.

3. If an invalid password must be changed, Apple requires at least eight ASCII characters: English letters, numbers and supported punctuation. Warn connected users because they must reconnect. Keep a strong password; do not leave the hotspot open.

• Estimated time: 5 min
• Easy
• Low risk
• Restart required

1. Consider the plan allowance/cost and, without relying on Wi-Fi on the iPhone, test a small page directly over cellular data. If it fails, resolve that line with the carrier first. The client already joined: changing the Wi-Fi name again does not restore cellular Internet.

2. If the iPhone browses, compare two pages on the client and another client if available. One failing app points toward its service; one failing client points toward that device. If none browses while the iPhone does, confirm hotspot allowance/restrictions and profiles with the carrier or IT. Do not bypass plan limits.

3. If the plan is confirmed and several clients fail without an outage, save tasks and restart the involved devices once, then repeat the same comparison. If it persists, check for an applicable official update before considering a reset; do not toggle settings indefinitely.

• Estimated time: 5 min
• Easy
• Low risk

1. Use a data-capable compatible cable and your own/trusted computer. Enable Allow Others to Join, unlock the iPhone and accept Trust only for that computer; on Mac allow the accessory if prompted. USB charging does not prove the data link works.

2. On Windows, Apple requires a current officially obtained version of Apple Devices or iTunes for Windows. Check whether that app sees the iPhone. On Mac, check that it appears in Finder (or iTunes on older systems). If absent, try another known data cable or port, one variable at a time; do not download standalone third-party drivers.

3. If the computer recognizes it but cannot browse while Wi-Fi hotspot works, focus on its USB network service. On Mac open System Settings > Network and look for iPhone USB. If absent, use the action menu > Add Service > iPhone USB interface > Create, only if that interface is available; do not invent IP/DNS settings. If not offered, keep that result for Apple.

4. On Windows check whether a new network connection appears when USB hotspot is enabled. If the app recognizes the iPhone but that connection is absent, give Apple the Windows version, architecture and installed app; this differs from a cable that never detects the device. If the connection exists but cannot browse, compare the access branch.

5. To confirm the test used USB, temporarily disconnect other connections only if not needed for a remote session. Stop when browsing works and turn off hotspot afterward to avoid automatic usage when plugging in to charge.