Network and connectivity
Personal Hotspot
Most people call this sharing your phone's internet with other devices.
Personal Hotspot turns your iPhone into a Wi-Fi access point so a laptop, tablet or someone else's phone can use its connection.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 13 and later
- Settings
- Personal Hotspot
What it does
Other devices connect over Wi-Fi with the password shown on the screen, or over Bluetooth or a cable. Your own devices signed into the same Apple Account can connect without the password.
Maximise Compatibility drops the hotspot to a slower but more widely supported band.
What changes
When it is on
Other devices can join and use your cellular data.
When it is off
Nothing can connect.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Gets a laptop online anywhere with coverage.
- Faster and more private than most public Wi-Fi.
Good reasons to turn it off
- It uses a lot of battery and a lot of data.
- Some plans charge extra for it.
Battery
Costs you something
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
Costs you something
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off. Availability depends on your carrier plan.
Questions people actually ask
- Why can I not find Personal Hotspot?
- Either the plan does not include it, or the carrier settings need updating. Check with your carrier.
If it is not working
- If the option is missing entirely, your plan may not include it. Contact your carrier.
- Turn on Maximise Compatibility if an older laptop cannot see the network.
- Keep the hotspot screen open while the first device connects.