iPhone hotspot not working usually comes down to the switch, the carrier plan or a Wi-Fi setting on the device trying to join. If the option is dimmed or missing, Cellular Data has to be on and your plan has to allow tethering.
Work through the basic fixes first, then the steps for how the other device connects over Wi-Fi, USB or Bluetooth, and retest after each one. Hotspot needs working mobile data on the iPhone, so the fixes for cellular problems on iOS 27 apply if data is down too.
iPhone Hotspot Not Working Often Starts With the Switch, Cellular Data or Your Plan
Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join. If you cannot find the option or turn it on, your carrier has to enable it and your plan has to include it.
If the option is dimmed, open Settings > Cellular and turn on Cellular Data. Extra fees may apply, and the number of devices that can join at once depends on your carrier and iPhone model.
If the switch is on and the hotspot still fails, these three fixes come next.
- Restart the iPhone sharing the connection and the device that is trying to join it.
- Install the latest iOS on the iPhone and the latest software update on the other device.
- Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings on the iPhone.
Reset Network Settings goes last because it also resets saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and the VPN and APN settings you have used before.
Turn On Maximize Compatibility When a Wi-Fi Hotspot Will Not Connect
On the iPhone, open Personal Hotspot, make sure Allow Others to Join is on and note the Wi-Fi name and password shown there. Stay on that screen until the other device connects.
On an iPhone 12 or later, turn on Maximize Compatibility in the same menu and try again. Internet speed and Wi-Fi security may drop for the devices that connect while it is on.
On the device that needs the connection, turn Wi-Fi off and back on, then join the network that has the same name as the iPhone, which may show a hotspot icon beside it. If iOS reports a password error, use the password shown on the iPhone’s Personal Hotspot screen.
A custom hotspot password has to be at least eight characters and can only use ASCII characters, which means English letters, numbers and some punctuation. Devices signed in to the same Apple Account or in the same Family Sharing group can connect faster with Instant Hotspot.
A USB Hotspot Needs a Trusted Computer and an Active iPhone USB Service
Turn on Allow Others to Join on the iPhone, connect it to the computer with a USB cable and tap Trust on the iPhone if asked. On a Mac, work through these steps.
- Update macOS.
- Check that the iPhone appears in Finder.
- Open the Apple menu, then System Settings > Network, and look for iPhone USB in the list of network services.
- If iPhone USB is missing, add it as a network service.
- On macOS Ventura, select iPhone USB, click Make Inactive and then Make Active.
On earlier versions of macOS, click iPhone USB, click the More button below the list, choose Make Service Inactive and click Apply, then repeat with Make Service Active.
On a Windows PC, install the latest Apple Devices or iTunes for Windows, connect the iPhone with a USB cable and click Allow if the PC asks about the accessory.
A Bluetooth Hotspot Needs Matching Pairing Codes on Both Devices
On the iPhone, turn on Allow Others to Join, go back to the main Settings screen and tap Bluetooth, then stay on that screen until the other device connects. On the other device, open Bluetooth settings and choose the iPhone from the list of nearby devices.
When a pairing code appears, confirm that it matches on both devices and tap Pair on the iPhone. If the iPhone never shows up in the list, work through the fixes for Bluetooth not connecting first.
Some Features Will Not Run Over a Hotspot, and Leaving It On Costs Data
Apps and features that need a Wi-Fi connection might not work over a hotspot, and iCloud backups and iCloud Photo Library uploads are two examples.
Turn Personal Hotspot off when nobody needs it and check hotspot data usage, which iOS 26.4 made easier to track, to avoid unnecessary data charges. If it stays on, a computer may connect to the iPhone every time it charges over USB.
