10 Ways to Fix iPhone Hotspot Not Working

iPhone users may find themselves in a situation where they need to share their iPhone’s data connection, but with the iPhone hotspot not working, frustration starts to build. However, many fast tricks can solve this issue and bring back the handy feature to the iPhone.

In some cases, the Hotspot button is nowhere to be seen, or it’s greyed out. But most of the time when users activate the Personal Hotspot, the other device can’t connect to the network. We have gathered every possible fix for all these problems. Follow our detailed guide step by step and most likely one of the methods will solve your issue.

How to Fix iPhone Hotspot Not Working

Before getting into the nitty-gritty, iPhone users can quickly try out these easy solutions:

• Make sure that the Airplane Mode on your iPhone is not enabled.
• Check that the mobile data is working and your SIM card has no issues.
• Be sure to turn off and turn on the Personal Hotspot a few times.
• Ensure the “Allow Others to Join” toggle in personal hotspot settings is active.

If none of the quick solutions work, try these 10 methods to connect your laptop to an iPhone hotspot. 

1. Connect via USB data cable

This is a simple and reliable method for connecting to the iPhone’s Personal Hotspot.

1. Enable the personal hotspot on your iPhone.
2. Connect the iPhone to your computer via a data cable.
3. The computer will connect to the hotspot. It will show up as an Ethernet connection.

Note: Ensure you’re using an original Apple cable or a certified cable for the connection.

2. Forget the network and connect again

If you’re able to connect to the personal hotspot but cannot access the internet on your PC, try using the forget button on the hotspot section of the iPhone and connecting again.

1. Open the “Settings” app by pressing the Win + I keys on your keyboard.
2. Go to “Network & Internet.”
   
   
3. Select the “Wi-Fi” tab.
   
   
4. Click “Manage known networks.” Choose the iPhone network and click “Forget.”

3. Rename iPhone

Computers normally don’t have problems with WiFi network names but with the iPhone’s hotspot, spaces or non-alphanumeric characters may cause issues when you try to connect to it.

1. Open the ”Settings” app on your iPhone/iPad.
2. Go to the “Genera”l tab and tap “About.”
3. Rename the iPhone so there are no spaces in it (or periods, commas, etc).
4. Try connecting to the hotspot again.

4. Enable Maximize Compatibility

Sometimes, the issue comes from the device you’re trying to connect to your iPhone hotspot. If it’s an older device, there is a chance that it is only compatible with a hotspot frequency of 2.4 GHz, while your iPhone’s hotspot has a 5 GHz frequency. To fix this issue, Follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, go to the “Settings.”
2. Now tap on the “Personal Hotspot”.
   
   
3. Simply tap the “Maximize Compatibility” toggle to enable this feature.
   
   

Now your iPhone will be able to connect to older devices. Be aware that this setting can slow down the speed of your hotspot.

Note: Maximize Compatibility is only available on iPhone 12 and newer models.

5. Force Reboot

One of the effective solutions to many iPhone issues and bugs is force rebooting the device. Sometimes, it’s frustrating to witness mobile data working but Hotspot not working. In order to force restart your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Press the volume up button (Don’t hold the button).
2. Press the volume down button (Don’t hold the button).
3. Press and hold the side button of the iPhone until the Apple logo appears.

6. Update the iOS Version

When you haven’t installed the latest version of iOS on your iPhone, lots of problems may emerge, and iPhone Hotspot not working can be one of them. Updating the iOS firmware is a straightforward process, and most of the time, a pop-up will appear on your screen. But in case the message doesn’t pop up, you can update the device manually.

1. Go to Settings and tap on “General”. 
2. Then, at the top of the page, select “Software Update”.

The iPhone will check if there is a new update. Selecting “Update Now” will start the process of downloading and installing the latest version of iOS.

7. iOS System Repair

In this method, we’ll use a PC to repair your iPhone’s system software. This method is safe and won’t remove any of your data; however, we advise you to back up your data before applying it.

1. Download and install the repair and recovery software ReiBoot from the official website. Note: You can use different apps like iTunes or AnyFix for this method. The process will be similar.
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable, and do not disconnect it until the end.
3. Open the ReiBoot app and click on the green “Start” button.
   
   
4. Then select “Standard Repair”.
   
   
5. The app wants to download the newest iOS firmware. To do so, specify a path on your system and click on the “Download” button.
   
   
6. Wait for the download to be completed. Then click on the “Start Standard Repair” button.
   
   
7. Let the software do its repairing job. After the completion, you can disconnect your iPhone from the computer and check if the issue is resolved.

8. Update the Carrier Settings

If you can’t even see a personal hotspot option on your iPhone or it is greyed out, there is a high chance that your carrier can fix it. Sometimes, the cellular data you’re using doesn’t include a hotspot feature or is turned off by your carrier. So, contacting the carrier and explaining the issue can be the best option for you.

Moreover, we recommend checking if your carrier settings are up to date. To do this, go to the “General” tab in Settings and select “About.” Wait for at least 15 seconds. If there is a new update, a window will pop up to enable you to download and install the carrier settings update. After the installation, you may solve the issue of the iPhone hotspot not working.

9. Reset All the Network Settings

This will return all of the network settings to factory defaults. But, your personal files and data will be unaffected.

1. On the Settings menu, scroll down and select “General”.
2. On the next page, you should go all the way down and select “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
   
   
3. At the bottom of the page, choose “Reset”.
4. Select “Reset Network Settings” on the menu.
   
   
5. Enter your iPhone passcode.
6. Tap on the “Reset Network Settings”.

Now, all the network preferences and settings will be deleted. Connect to your Wi-Fi again and see if the Hotspot issue is fixed.

10. DFU Restore

As a last resort, you can perform a DFU restore on the iPhone, which will remove all your data. However, you should not attempt this before all the other methods mentioned above.

Note: We recommend backing up your iPhone data to iTunes, iCloud, or Finder before starting the process.

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.
2. Press the volume up button (Don’t hold the button).
3. Press the volume down button (Don’t hold the button).
4. Hold the side button.
5. When the screen goes black keep holding the side button and hold the volume down button for 5 seconds.
6. Stop holding the side button, but keep holding the volume down button until you see a message on your computer.
7. You are in DFU mode. Click on the “OK” button on your computer.
   
   
8. Then, click on the “Restore iPhone” button to start the restoring process.
   
   
9. To exit the DFU mode, simply repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 until the Apple logo appears on your iPhone.

Now, you can use your backup to set up the iPhone again and see if you can use your hotspot without any problems.

Conclusion

Ten years ago, creating a wireless or wired hotspot on an iPhone (or any smartphone) was quite a task. The feature was actively blocked because networks did not have the bandwidth for it. Things have changed now, and service providers normally do not block users from creating hotspots on their devices.

It’s easier on the iPhone, and the solutions listed above should solve whatever problems you’re having.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t my iPhone hotspot showing up on my laptop?

Your iPhone’s hotspot isn’t showing up on your laptop for many reasons, such as issues with the iPhone’s network settings, a firmware glitch, a carrier problem, or even a problem related to your laptop. You can try activating the Maximize Compatibility option on your iPhone and updating your iOS or carrier settings to fix it.

Can I manually connect the iPhone hotspot to a laptop?

Yes, you can connect to the hotspot using your iPhone’s USB cable.

What is a failed to enable personal hotspot error?

If your iPhone is not up to date or there is a bug in the system software and network settings, you might face this error when trying to enable the personal hotspot. To solve this problem, try all the methods we mentioned in this article.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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