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ProblemApple separates general Personal Hotspot checks from Wi-Fi or USB steps. iPhone connecting to Wi-Fi does not establish that it can share mobile data. The carrier and plan must support the feature.

iPhone Personal Hotspot not working

iPhone is not sharing internet access with another device. Check cellular service, plan support and the connection type before resetting settings.

Try this first

1 quick checks · ~4 min

  1. Confirm the feature and the service being sharedCheck iPhone first, then the other device.

Find your situation

See all the clues. Choose the one that matches what you observe.

Sharing over Wi-Fi

Check the hotspot name and password on both devices.

Sharing over USB

The computer must recognize iPhone and its USB connection; use the procedure for that operating system.

Step-by-step solutions

01

Confirm the feature and the service being shared

  • Estimated time: 4 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Check iPhone first, then the other device.

  1. In Settings, open Personal Hotspot and check that others are allowed to join. If missing or unavailable, ask whether your carrier and plan support it.

  2. Check that mobile data works on iPhone. If it shows SOS or No Service, resolve that first; enabling hotspot does not restore cellular service.

Sources:
02

Restart both devices and check iOS

  • Estimated time: 15 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk
  • Restart required

Notify anyone using the shared connection.

  1. Save work and restart iPhone and the device trying to connect normally. Enable the connection again and test.

  2. Check for an iOS update and apply it following the prompts when you can interrupt service.

Sources:
03

Check the Wi-Fi connection to the hotspot

  • Estimated time: 5 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Avoid joining a similarly named network.

  1. Keep the iPhone Personal Hotspot screen open while the other device tries to connect.

  2. On that device, choose the iPhone network and enter the password shown by the hotspot. Note whether joining fails or it joins without internet access.

Sources:
04

Check that the computer recognizes iPhone

  • Estimated time: 5 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Follow Apple’s USB branch for your operating system.

  1. Connect iPhone by USB to a trusted computer. Check whether it is recognized and respond to trust prompts only for that computer.

  2. If it is not available as a usable connection, follow the Apple source’s USB instructions for Mac or Windows; do not install drivers from unrelated sites.

Sources:
Advanced

Advanced checks

Continue if the earlier steps did not help. Read each procedure’s precautions first.

05

Reset network settings only if earlier steps do not help

  • Estimated time: 10 min
  • Intermediate
  • Moderate risk
  • Data loss: Possible

Prepare the details needed to reconnect.

  1. Keep Wi-Fi passwords and consult IT for managed VPN or cellular settings. Confirm you can configure them again.

  2. In iPhone Settings, find Reset Network Settings and confirm only that option, not content erasure. Set up the connection again and test hotspot.

Sources:
Next step

Still not working?

If it persists, give Apple the model, iOS version, plan and whether Wi-Fi or USB fails. If cellular service fails or the plan lacks the feature, continue with the carrier before repeating resets.

Sources

Documentation behind this guide. Editorial recommendations are identified separately.

Source review: . A documentation review, not a physical hardware test.

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