15 Quick Ways to Fix iPhone Hotspot Not Working Issues

Dealing with an iPhone hotspot not working, can be incredibly frustrating when you urgently need to share your data connection. Luckily, there are a few quick fixes to help restore this handy feature on your device.

Occasionally, the hotspot button may be missing or greyed out, while in other cases, activating the Personal Hotspot simply doesn’t allow other devices to connect. We’ve compiled every possible solution to these common problems. Follow our step-by-step guide to find a fix that resolves the issue in a snap.

Stay Secure: Using a VPN for a Safe Mobile Hotspot Connection

Before we get started, make sure that your hotspot connection is as safe as it can be by encrypting your data with a VPN. Sharing data via a hotspot connection can leave you and your sensitive personal information vulnerable to attacks. However, VPN services, like NordVPN, use multiple layers of encryption and added protection to keep this information safe.

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Why Is My iPhone Hotspot Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

Before getting into the nitty-gritty solutions, there are a few general troubleshooting solutions that you might want to test out first:

• Make sure that the Airplane Mode has been disabled.
• Check that your mobile data is working, and that your SIM card has no issues.
• Be sure to turn the personal hotspot off and on a few times.
• Ensure the “Allow Others to Join” toggle in the personal hotspot settings has been turned on.

If none of these solutions work, try these 15 alternative methods to connect your devices while you are out and about.

1. Connect via a USB data cable

You might not know this, but you can also connect to your iPhone’s hotspot through a USB cable. USB tethering is a simple and reliable method that will help you connect in just a few steps.

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 smoothest possible connection.

2. Manually Reinstalling Drivers for USB Tethering

In the event of iPhone USB tethering not working, these steps can help you to solve the problem:

1. Connect the iPhone to your PC.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. The iPhone device will be listed under “Devices and Drivers.” Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
4. Go to the “Hardware” tab and select “Properties”.

5. Now click on “Change Settings”.

6. Next, select the “Driver” tab and click on “Update Driver.”

7. Choose “Browse my computer for drivers.”
8. Copy the following destination and paste it into the location box next to the “Browse…” button:

 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers

9. Click “Next” to reinstall the drivers.
10. Repeat the same steps for the “Apple Mobile Device Ethernet” under “Devices and Drivers.” However, this time, use the following path:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\NetDrivers

3. 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. Then, try to connect again. To do this:

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

4. Reinsert your SIM Card

Removing your SIM Card from the iPhone and inserting it again can be a simple fix for the hotspot not working. If your iPhone can’t recognize your SIM Card and connect to it, you won’t be able to access the hotspot from another device. Moreover, the mobile data will be unavailable. To remove your SIM card, follow these steps:

1. Find the SIM tray on your iPhone (tip: the SIM tray is on the right edge of any iPhone models released after the iPhone 4).
2. Insert the SIM removal tool or a needle/paperclip into the small hole on the SIM tray. Push the tool forward until the tray opens.
3. Now, simply remove the SIM card.
4. Put the SIM card back and if the issue has been resolved, you will be able to connect without a problem.

5. Rename your iPhone

Regardless of how “smart” your computer may be, it may be struggling to recognize your iPhone hotspot’s name. Spaces or non-alphanumeric characters may cause issues when you try to connect. To rename the hotspot, you will need to:

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

6. Enable the Maximize Compatibility setting

Every so often, 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 address 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: The Maximize Compatibility setting is only available on iPhone 12 and newer models.

7. Force a Reboot

Have you tried turning it off and back on again? One of the most effective solutions to many iPhone issues and bugs is a forced reboot. To kickstart this process, you will need to:

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.

8. Update the iOS Version

Yes, we know those updates can be annoying. However, the reality is that new updates often bring enhanced features, new additions, and most importantly — a few bug fixes. Your iPhone software being out-of-date may be causing a myriad of issues. The iPhone hotspot not working can be one of them. Updating the iOS firmware is a straightforward process. Typically, a pop-up prompt will appear when a new update is available. However, you can also update your device manually. 

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

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

9. iOS Repair

In this method, we’ll use a PC to repair your iPhone’s system software. Rest assured that this method is safe and won’t remove any of your data. However, we still recommend that you to back up your data before applying it, just to be extra safe.

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 thing. After it has repaired the software, you can disconnect your iPhone from the computer and check if the issue has been resolved.

10. Update the Carrier Settings

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

Moreover, we recommend checking if your carrier settings are up-to-date. To accomplish this, go to the “General” tab in the 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. 

11. Reset all the Network Settings

This fix will return all the network settings on your device to their factory defaults. But, your personal files and data will be unaffected. Here’s what you need to do:

1. On the Settings menu, scroll down and select “General.”
2. On the next page, 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. Press the “Reset Network Settings” option.

All the network preferences and settings will be deleted. Connect to your Wi-Fi again, to see whether this reset has had the desired effect. 

12. Control Center Trick

If you have a simple bug interfering with the process, you can make the iPhone hotspot work with a simple trick. Follow these steps to see if you can enable the hotspot:

1. Open the Control Center of your iPhone.
2. Touch and hold the top left window containing the Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Mobile Data toggles, and more.
3. When that window opens, turn on the Wi-Fi option.
4. Make sure that the Mobile Data option is turned on.
5. Now turn on your Personal Hotspot. Make sure that the Wi-Fi option turns white. You should see a “Not Connected” message displayed under it.

Note: Ensure that the Maximize Compatibility feature is on. You can see the steps to enable this feature in the previous section.

13. Log Out from iCloud

It’s strange, but signing out of your iCloud account is sometimes an effective way to fix your iPhone hotspot not working. Follow these steps to sign out of your iCloud account:

1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings menu.
2. Tap on your account.
3. At the bottom of the screen, click “Sign Out.”

All you have to do, then, is to sign back into your iCloud and see if the hotspot issue has been resolved.

14. Update the Driver

If you are struggling to connect specifically to an iPhone hotspot with your Windows device, the problem might lie in the drivers. If you encounter no problems connecting through other devices, try these steps to rectify the driver issue:

1. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog page.
2. Click on the “Download” button, in front of the third option named “Marvell Semiconductor, inc. – Net – 15.68.17015.112”

3. Click on the link to start downloading a 632kb file.

4. Extract the file into a folder. The folder’s name or destination doesn’t matter.
5. Press the Windows key on your Keyboard and then type “Device Manager.” Press Enter on your keyboard to open it.

6. Find “Network Adapters” and double-click on it.

7. Now right-click on “Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller” and click on “Update Driver.”
8. Now select “Browse my computer for drivers.”
9. Select “Browse…”

10. Go to the folder you extracted to the file in step 4, click “Open” and then “OK”.
11. Select “Next” and then restart your computer.

15. DFU Restore

As a last resort, you can perform a DFU (Device Firmware Update) restoration on the iPhone, which will remove all your data. This includes software and firmware. So, be cautious not to 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.

To start this spring-cleaning, you will need to:

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 the volume down button for at least 5 seconds.
6. Stop holding the side button, but keep holding the volume down button, until you see a message displayed on your computer.
7. You are now in DFU mode. Click 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 re-setup your iPhone again. You should be able to connect to your hotspot without any problems.

Key Takeaways for Getting Your iPhone Hotspot Back Online

Ten years ago, creating a wireless or wired hotspot on an iPhone (or any smartphone) was quite the task. These days, however, the process has been ironed out.  Even if you have some trouble with the hotspot on iPhone not working initially, most common issues can be resolved in just a few simple steps. And, if that doesn’t work — a factory reset is always a good way to get rid of any lingering bugs. The solutions listed above should solve whatever problems you’re experiencing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

There are many reasons why your iPhone’s hotspot isn’t showing up on your laptop. This includes issues with the iPhone’s network settings, a firmware glitch, a carrier concern, or even an issue related to your laptop. Try activating the Maximize Compatibility option on your iPhone and updating your iOS or carrier settings to address the issue.

Can I manually connect the iPhone hotspot to a laptop?

Yes, you can connect to the hotspot using your iPhone’s USB cable. Be sure to select that you “Trust” the device if you are prompted, or “Allow” the accessory to connect. Once this connection is successfully set up, you will be able to use your iPhone’s cellular connection on your Windows or Mac device. 

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 the methods we have outlined in the 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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