Connecting to a hotspot on iPhone takes three steps: find the hotspot in Settings, turn it on, then connect another device to it like you would any Wi-Fi network
A personal hotspot turns your iPhone into a Wi-Fi router that other devices can use to get online. Your phone uses its cellular data connection to create a small wireless network. Any device within range — a laptop, tablet, another phone — can join that network and browse the internet through your iPhone's data plan.
The process is straightforward, but a few settings need to be right first. Your carrier must support hotspot on your plan (most do, though some older or budget plans don't). Your iPhone needs to be on a cellular network with a signal. And you need to know the password your iPhone generates, because you'll type it on the device connecting to the hotspot.
Key Takeaways
- Turn on Personal Hotspot in Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot, then toggle it on.
- The device connecting to your hotspot will see your iPhone's name in the Wi-Fi list and will need the password shown in the Personal Hotspot settings.
- Your iPhone's cellular data plan covers the hotspot — using hotspot counts against your monthly data limit the same way browsing on your phone does.
- If Personal Hotspot doesn't appear in Settings, your carrier may not support it on your plan, or you may need to contact them to add it.
- Hotspot drains your iPhone's battery faster than normal use, so plug in your phone if you'll be using it for more than an hour.
Turning on Personal Hotspot on your iPhone
Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Mobile Data. Scroll down and tap Personal Hotspot. Toggle the switch to on (it will turn green). Your iPhone will now broadcast a Wi-Fi network that other devices can see.
The name of that network is your iPhone's name — you can see it at the top of the Personal Hotspot screen. By default, it's something like "John's iPhone". If you want to change it, go to Settings > General > About and tap the name field to edit it. The password is also shown in the Personal Hotspot screen; write it down or remember it, because you'll need it on the device connecting to your hotspot.
If you don't see Personal Hotspot in the Mobile Data menu, your carrier may not support it on your current plan. Call your carrier's customer service line to ask if hotspot is included or if it can be added. Some carriers charge extra for hotspot; others include it at no additional cost.
Connecting another device to your iPhone's hotspot
On the device you want to connect (a Mac, iPad, Android phone, or Windows laptop), open the Wi-Fi settings. You'll see a list of available networks. Look for your iPhone's name in that list and tap it.
A password prompt will appear. Type the password shown in your iPhone's Personal Hotspot settings. Once you enter it correctly, the device will connect and show a Wi-Fi icon. From that moment on, any internet traffic on that device goes through your iPhone's cellular connection.
You can connect up to five devices at once on most iPhones, though the exact number depends on your carrier and your iPhone model. The more devices connected, the slower the connection will be for each one, because they're all sharing your iPhone's cellular bandwidth.
Understanding data usage and battery drain
Using hotspot counts against your monthly data limit. If your plan includes 10 gigabytes per month, and you use 2 gigabytes through hotspot, you have 8 gigabytes left for everything else. There's no separate "hotspot data" — it all comes from the same pool.
Hotspot also drains your iPhone's battery much faster than normal use. Keeping the Wi-Fi radio on, broadcasting a signal, and relaying data between devices uses significant power. If you're planning to use hotspot for more than an hour, plug your iPhone into power. Many people keep a portable charger or car charger handy when they use hotspot regularly.
You can see how much data you've used through hotspot by going to Settings > Mobile Data and scrolling to the bottom. The total shown includes all data on your phone, but you can get a breakdown by app if you need to track where your data is going.
Troubleshooting when hotspot won't turn on
If the Personal Hotspot toggle won't turn on, first check that you have a cellular signal. If your iPhone shows no bars or is in airplane mode, hotspot won't work. Turn off airplane mode in Control Center (swipe down from the top right, tap the airplane icon) and make sure you're not in a dead zone.
If you have signal but hotspot still won't turn on, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until "slide to power off" appears, slide to shut down, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This fixes most temporary glitches.
If hotspot still doesn't appear in Settings after restarting, your carrier may not support it on your plan. Contact your carrier's customer service to confirm whether hotspot is included and ask them to enable it if it's available but not yet active on your account.
Changing your hotspot password
The password your iPhone generates is random and fairly long. If you want to change it to something easier to remember, open Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot and tap the password field. You can type a new password of your choice — it needs to be at least 8 characters long.
Keep in mind that if you change the password, any devices already connected will stay connected, but they'll need the new password to reconnect if they disconnect. It's a good idea to change the password if you've shared it with someone who no longer needs access to your hotspot.
Using hotspot on different iPhone models
The steps above work on iPhone 12 and newer. On older iPhones, the path is slightly different: go to Settings > Personal Hotspot instead of Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot. The toggle and password are in the same place, and the process works the same way.
Some very old iPhones (iPhone 5 and earlier) may not support Personal Hotspot at all, depending on your carrier. If you have an older phone and don't see the option, check your carrier's website or call them to confirm whether your model and plan support it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use hotspot if I'm on a limited data plan?
Yes, but hotspot data counts toward your limit. If you have a 5-gigabyte plan and use 3 gigabytes through hotspot, you have 2 gigabytes left for your phone. Check your plan's data limit before using hotspot heavily, or you may face overage charges or throttling.
Why is my hotspot connection so slow?
Hotspot speed depends on your iPhone's cellular signal strength and how many devices are connected. If you're far from a cell tower or have weak signal, the connection will be slow. If multiple devices are connected, they share the bandwidth. Try moving closer to a window or connecting fewer devices.
Does hotspot work internationally?
Yes, if your carrier supports international data. Hotspot uses your phone's cellular connection, so if you have an international data plan or pay-as-you-go rates, hotspot will work the same way. Check with your carrier about international rates before using hotspot abroad, as costs can be high.
Can I use hotspot while on a call?
On most modern iPhones, yes. Your phone can handle a voice call and hotspot at the same time. However, if you're on an older iPhone or using certain carriers, you may not be able to use both simultaneously. If it doesn't work, end the call or use Wi-Fi calling instead.
What's the difference between hotspot and tethering?
They're the same thing. "Hotspot" is Apple's term for the feature; "tethering" is the general term for connecting another device to your phone's internet. On an iPhone, you'll see it called Personal Hotspot in the settings.