7 Reasons Why Your iPhone Hotspot is Not Working
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Is your iPhone hotspot not working? We’ve all been there. A failing hotspot is frustrating, and finding the cause is often difficult. A hotspot is easy to use, provides a quality internet connection, and offers a longer and more secure internet connection. But if your hotspot isn’t working as intended, you may be wondering what’s the problem. Luckily, all is not lost. There are many potential reasons your iPhone’s personal hotspot isn’t working, such as outdated software, a lack of internet connection, and insufficient data. Today, we’re going to discuss seven reasons why your iPhone hotspot isn’t working.
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Why isn’t my iPhone hotspot working?
The most likely reasons your iPhone hotspot isn’t working are that it isn’t turned on, tethering settings are unavailable, or your device or network settings need an update or a restart. Your data plan may not actually support hotspots, so you may need to find an alternative means of connecting.
Having a personal hotspot is beneficial when it’s working. But when it doesn’t work, a personal hotspot can feel like a useless feature. Here are seven reasons why your iPhone’s hotspot isn’t working.
1. Your Hotspot Isn’t Turned On
If your hotspot isn’t working on your iPhone, it could be because it’s not turned on. If your hotspot isn’t enabled on your device, you won’t be able to connect to it.
To check and see if your hotspot is turned on, go to your device’s settings and select “Personal Hotspot”. If you can’t find Personal Hotspot, you might need to check with your wireless carrier to see if it is enabled.
2. Tethering Settings are Unavailable
If you go into your iPhone settings and notice that there is no Personal Hotspot, it’s possible that it is unavailable due to your wireless carrier.
It’s unclear why some wireless carriers have tethering set to unavailable. But this issue mostly occurs with devices that are locked (the ones bought directly from the carrier store).
For instance, if you purchase an iPhone directly from AT&T, it’s more likely that your tethering settings will be set to unavailable.
If it is unavailable, you may notice that “Personal Hotspot” is greyed out in your settings. Or, you may receive a message from your iPhone stating that you need to contact your wireless carrier to get the hotspot turned on.
3. Your Device Needs to Be Restarted
If your personal hotspot isn’t working, it’s possible that your iPhone needs to be restarted. If someone else is trying to connect to your hotspot, they should restartd their device as well.
For iPhone users, you’ll find that restarting your device can solve a lot of unknown and unexpected problems.
Restarting an iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE
If you have a second or third-generation iPhone, press and hold the side button until you see the power-off slider. Drag the slider and wait about 30 seconds for the device to turn off. Turn the iPhone back on by pressing the side button and wait for the iPhone logo to appear.
Restarting an iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, or later
If you have a newer iPhone, press and hold the volume down or volume up button and the side button until you see the power-off slider. Drag the slider and wait about 30 seconds for the device to turn off. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears to turn it back on.
4. Your Software is Outdated
If you’re having connectivity issues with your iPhone’s hotspot, it may be due to outdated software on your device. Apple’s software keeps your device secure. But it also ensures that your device is free of bugs that can affect usability.
If your software needs to be updated, you will see a pending notification in your settings. Before you download and install the update on your iPhone, back up your device using iCloud. Put your device on its charger and connect to the internet. Go into your settings, select “General”, and tap “Software Update”.
If your software is outdated, but you don’t notice the update notification on your device, you will need to update it manually using your computer.
5. Your Network Settings Need to be Reset
If your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot isn’t working, you may want to try resetting your network settings. A network reset may be just the trick to fix whatever’s preventing you or someone else from connecting to your hotspot.
To delete your network settings, start by going to the settings on your iPhone. Select “General” and then “Transfer or reset iPhone”. Select “Reset” and then “Reset Network Settings”. Enter your passcode to proceed.
6. Your Mobile Data Plan Doesn’t Support It
If you’re trying to use your iPhone’s hotspot and are unable to do so, check to see if your mobile cellular data plan supports it.
If your hotspot is enabled and your carrier allows tethering, it’s possible that you don’t have the appropriate data plan to use the hotspot. Depending on your carrier, you may need to invest in an add-on service to have enough data to use the hotspot.
If you have a data plan that supports a hotspot, but you’re still unable to use your hotspot, make sure you still have enough data left.
7. You Need Another Connection Method
The most common way to connect to a hotspot is by using Wi-Fi. As such, many people believe that it is the only way to connect to it.
However, there are various other connection methods you can try before you rule out that your hotspot isn’t working.
One connection method you can try is connecting through Bluetooth. All you need to do is pair your iPhone with your computer or the mobile device you want to share your hotspot with. You can do this by going to settings and then select “Bluetooth”. Select the device you’re connecting.
Another connection method is using a USB cable. For this method, you will need to connect your iPhone to your desktop or laptop. Go to your computer’s network settings and select hotspot from the list of available networks.
The USB method is the most convenient because it offers the quickest connection and is best suited for users who prioritize speed when using the internet.
Your iPhone’s personal hotspot will fail from time to time. Luckily, there is a solution to your iPhone hotspot not working. Before assuming your iPhone is faulty, check to see that none of these potential reasons are the cause.