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Whether you're traveling or experiencing a temporary internet outage, your iPhone can allow your other devices to connect to the internet. Here's how you can set up and connect to a personal hotspot on your iPhone.
Apple makes it extremely easy to set up a personal hotspot using any cellular-enabled iOS device, such as an iPhone or an iPad with an active cellular plan. You'll just need a few seconds and your iOS device of choice to get started.
How to make your iPhone or cellular iPad a hotspot
- Open Settings
- Tap Cellular
- Tap Personal Hotspot
- Toggle on Allow Others to Join
- If desired, you can set your own password
Joining a wireless hotspot is easy, too. If you are signed into the secondary device with your Apple ID, it may detect it as a personal hotspot and prompt you to join it automatically. If you don't own the device, or it does not automatically prompt you to join the network, you can follow the steps outlined below.
How to join an iPhone hotspot on Wi-Fi on an iPhone or iPad
- Following the steps outlined in the section "How to make your iPhone a hotspot" above, make sure the iPhone you would like to connect to has its hotspot enabled
- Open settings
- Tap Wi-Fi
- Find the hotspot in either Networks section, or the Personal Hotspot section
- Tap to connect
- If prompted, enter the password
You can also connect to a personal hotspot with your Mac. Again, suppose you are signed in to your Mac with the same Apple ID as the iPhone. In that case, your Mac may prompt you to join your personal hotspot automatically should your regular internet connection not be available. If it doesn't prompt you, or you don't own the device, follow the steps below.
How to join an iPhone hotspot on WiFi on your Mac
- Following the steps outlined in the section "How to make your iPhone a hotspot" above, make sure your iPhone's hotspot is enabled
- On your Mac, open System Preferences
- Click Network
- In the side bar, click Wi-Fi
- In the Network Name dropdown field, find the hotspot Wi-Fi network's name
- If prompted, enter your password
- Click Apply
If you'd rather, you can also connect to an iPhone's wireless network via Bluetooth. This method takes a little longer but is relatively simple and can be done following the steps below.
How to join an iPhone hotspot via Bluetooth on Mac
- Following the steps outlined in the section "How to make your iPhone a hotspot" above, make sure your iPhone's hotspot is on
- On your iPhone, open Settings
- Tap Bluetooth
- Toggle Bluetooth to on
- On your Mac, open System Preferences
- Click Bluetooth
- Make sure Bluetooth is enabled
- In the list of devices, right click (trackpad: two finger click) on your iPhone's name and select "connect"
- On your iPhone, if prompted, tap Pair
- Open System Preferences
- Click Network
- Confirm that you are connected to Bluetooth PAN
Of course, if you have an Lightning cable that you can use with your Mac, you can connect that way, too. This is a useful way of connecting to the internet, should you be unable to connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
How to join an iPhone hotspot via USB on your Mac
- Following the steps outlined in the section "How to make your iPhone a hotspot" above, make sure your iPhone's hotspot is on
- Make sure your Mac is updated to the current version
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac via a USB-to-Lightning cable
- If prompted, select Trust at the security prompt that appears on your iPhone
- Open System Preferences
- Click Network
- Select iPhone USB
- Uncheck Disable until needed
- Click Apply
Keep in mind, when connected to an iPhone or an iPad with a cellular plan, you'll either be using the data from those plans, or a lesser pool set aside for tethering. Some activities, such as watching videos or downloading large files, will deplete your data allotment from your carrier. As a general rule, even if the activity is zero-rated by the carrier on your phone, it won't be on your tethered device.