Turn on your iPhone's hotspot and find the password
Your iPhone can share its cellular data with other devices through a feature called Personal Hotspot. To turn it on, open Settings on your iPhone, tap Cellular, then tap Personal Hotspot. Toggle the switch to on. Your iPhone will now broadcast a wireless network that other devices can see and join.
When you first turn on Personal Hotspot, your iPhone generates a password automatically. You'll see this password displayed on the Personal Hotspot screen in Settings. Write it down or remember it — you'll need to enter this exact password on any device that wants to connect. The password is case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter.
If you want to change the password to something easier to remember, tap on the current password in the Personal Hotspot settings and type a new one. Make sure your new password is at least 8 characters long and includes letters and numbers.
Key Takeaways
- Personal Hotspot is found in Settings > Cellular on your iPhone, and you toggle it on to start sharing data.
- Your iPhone creates a network name (called an SSID) and password automatically, both shown in the Personal Hotspot settings screen.
- On the device you want to connect, go to Wi-Fi settings, find your iPhone's network name in the list, and enter the password exactly as shown.
- Your iPhone's battery drains faster when hotspot is active, so plug it in if you plan to use it for more than an hour.
- If a device won't connect, restart both the iPhone and the device you're trying to connect, then try again.
Connect a computer or tablet to your iPhone hotspot
On the device you want to connect — a laptop, tablet, or another phone — open the Wi-Fi settings. You should see your iPhone's network name appear in the list of available networks. The network name is usually something like "Marcus's iPhone" or "iPhone" followed by numbers. Tap or click on it.
A password prompt will appear. Enter the password from your iPhone's Personal Hotspot settings exactly as it appears, including capital letters. Once you enter the correct password, the device will connect and you should see a Wi-Fi icon appear in the status bar. Your device is now using your iPhone's cellular data.
If the network doesn't appear in the list, make sure Personal Hotspot is actually turned on in your iPhone's settings. If it is on but still not showing up, restart your iPhone and try again. Sometimes the network takes a few seconds to broadcast after you turn it on.
Connect another iPhone or Android phone to your hotspot
The process for connecting another phone is the same as connecting a computer. Open Settings on the phone you want to connect, go to Wi-Fi, find your iPhone's network name in the list, and tap it. Enter the password when prompted. Once connected, that phone will use your iPhone's data for internet access.
One thing to know: if you're connecting an Android phone, the password entry screen might look slightly different, but the process is identical. Enter the password exactly as shown in your iPhone's Personal Hotspot settings, including any capital letters.
You can connect up to five devices to your iPhone hotspot at the same time, though connecting that many will slow down the data speed for all of them. If you need to disconnect a device, you don't have to do anything on the iPhone — just turn off Wi-Fi on the device you want to disconnect.
Understand data usage and battery drain
When you use Personal Hotspot, data counts against your cellular plan just like it does when you use it on your iPhone. If you have a limited data plan, keep track of how much data you're using on connected devices. Video streaming and large file downloads use data quickly.
Your iPhone's battery will drain much faster when hotspot is active, especially if multiple devices are connected. If you're going to use hotspot for more than an hour, plug your iPhone into a charger. Without power, your battery might run out before you're done.
Some carriers charge extra for hotspot use or limit how much data you can share this way. Check your carrier's plan details to see if there are any restrictions. Your carrier's website or customer service can tell you whether hotspot is included in your plan.
Fix connection problems
If a device connects but then immediately disconnects, restart both your iPhone and the device you're trying to connect. Turn off your iPhone completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Do the same for the other device. Then try connecting again.
If you see the network name but can't connect even with the correct password, the password might have been entered wrong. Go back to your iPhone's Personal Hotspot settings and double-check the password character by character. Passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword."
If the network doesn't appear at all, make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your iPhone. Personal Hotspot works better when Bluetooth is enabled, even if you're connecting over Wi-Fi. Also check that you're not in Airplane Mode on your iPhone — this turns off all wireless features including hotspot.
If you've tried restarting and the problem continues, turn off Personal Hotspot completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This often clears up connection issues that restarting alone doesn't fix.
Switch between hotspot and regular Wi-Fi
You can turn Personal Hotspot on and off without affecting your iPhone's regular Wi-Fi connection. If your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network and you turn on hotspot, your iPhone will still use that Wi-Fi for its own internet access while sharing data with other devices through hotspot.
However, if your iPhone is using cellular data and you turn on hotspot, other devices will use that same cellular connection. This means all the data — both from your iPhone and from connected devices — comes from your cellular plan.
To turn off hotspot without affecting anything else, go back to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot and toggle it off. Devices that were connected will lose internet access, but your iPhone will continue working normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use hotspot if I have an unlimited data plan?
That depends on your carrier. Some carriers with unlimited plans still limit or throttle hotspot data separately from phone data. Check your carrier's website or call customer service to see what your plan includes. Some plans charge extra specifically for hotspot use.
Why does my hotspot keep disconnecting?
The most common cause is that your iPhone's screen locked or went to sleep. When your iPhone locks, it sometimes pauses hotspot. Keep your iPhone unlocked while devices are connected, or go to Settings > Display & Brightness and increase the auto-lock time. Restarting both devices also fixes most disconnection issues.
Can I use hotspot while I'm on a phone call?
Yes. Your iPhone can share data while you're talking on the phone. However, if you're on a call and a device connected to your hotspot tries to use data, the call quality might suffer. It's best to avoid heavy data use like video streaming while you're on a call.
What if I forgot my hotspot password?
Go to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot on your iPhone. The current password is displayed on that screen. If you want a different password, tap on the existing one and create a new one. Make sure it's at least 8 characters long.
Does hotspot work internationally?
Yes, if your carrier supports international data. Your iPhone will share whatever cellular connection it has, whether that's at home or abroad. However, international data rates may apply, so check with your carrier before using hotspot outside your home country.