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On iPhone 12 or later, open Settings → Personal Hotspot and turn on Maximize Compatibility. This forces Personal Hotspot to use 2.4 GHz, disabling 5 GHz and 6 GHz where applicable. Apple does not provide a separate manual band or channel selector for the hotspot.
The setting can help older or incompatible devices connect, but Apple warns it may reduce Wi-Fi performance and security. Apple’s hotspot troubleshooting guide recommends it as a compatibility step.
Turn on 2.4 GHz Personal Hotspot
- On the iPhone sharing its connection, open Settings.
- Tap Personal Hotspot. If it is listed within Cellular settings on your configuration, go to Settings → Cellular → Personal Hotspot.
- Turn on Allow Others to Join.
- Turn on Maximize Compatibility (called Maximise Compatibility in some regional English versions).
- On the device you want to connect, switch Wi-Fi off and back on, select the iPhone’s hotspot name, and enter the password shown under Personal Hotspot.
If the device does not find the hotspot straight away, leave the iPhone on the Personal Hotspot screen while the other device connects. Apple recommends this during troubleshooting.
The hotspot name is the iPhone’s device name. To change it, go to Settings → General → About → Name. To change the hotspot password, go to Settings → Personal Hotspot → Wi-Fi Password. Changing the name does not create separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Apple’s Personal Hotspot guide explains the name and password settings.
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What Maximize Compatibility changes
Apple documents Maximize Compatibility for iPhone 12 and later. When enabled, it restricts the hotspot’s Wi-Fi connection to 2.4 GHz, turns off 5 GHz, and also turns off 6 GHz where it would otherwise be available. It changes hotspot security to WPA2 Personal rather than the default WPA2/WPA3 Personal arrangement. See Apple’s security documentation.
This is a compatibility mode, not a speed boost. Some older devices support only 2.4 GHz or have trouble with newer Wi-Fi security modes. The 2.4 GHz band can also reach farther and pass through walls better than higher-frequency Wi-Fi, though it is often slower and more crowded. Apple warns that enabling Maximize Compatibility may reduce performance and Wi-Fi security.
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The setting affects the Wi-Fi link between the iPhone and the connected device; it does not change the iPhone’s cellular connection, cellular frequency, or data plan. Personal Hotspot shares the iPhone’s cellular internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB.
If Maximize Compatibility is missing
Apple documents this control for iPhone 12 and later. Check Settings → Personal Hotspot rather than looking for a band selector under Wi-Fi. If you have an older iPhone and do not see the switch, Apple does not document a separate iOS control for manually choosing the hotspot band. Do not assume every older model has the same compatibility option.
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If practical, install available iOS updates and check the setting again. For a computer, try USB tethering. If several devices need a 2.4 GHz-only network, a separate travel router or dedicated hotspot with explicit band controls may be an option, but it is not necessary for the normal iPhone fix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the other device still will not connect
- Make sure Allow Others to Join is on and confirm that the client is selecting the iPhone’s correct hotspot name.
- Check the password under Settings → Personal Hotspot. If the client may have saved an old password, forget the hotspot network on that device and join again.
- On an iPhone 12 or later, switch Maximize Compatibility off and back on, then toggle Wi-Fi off and on again on the client.
- Keep the iPhone on its Personal Hotspot screen while reconnecting, move the devices closer together, and restart both if the hotspot remains unavailable.
- If needed, change the hotspot password and reconnect. You can also install available operating-system or Wi-Fi driver updates on the client.
If Personal Hotspot is unavailable even though Cellular Data is on, your carrier may need to enable the feature on your plan; contact the carrier.
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For a computer, USB tethering is a useful alternative when its Wi-Fi adapter will not connect. Apple supports connecting a Mac or Windows computer to Personal Hotspot over USB. Bluetooth tethering is another option, though it is generally less suitable for high-bandwidth use. For other devices that cannot use USB tethering, such as many printers or cameras, try the Wi-Fi compatibility steps or a separate router that supports the required band.
Use Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings only as a last resort. This resets saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and previously used VPN and APN settings, so you may need to set those up again. Apple’s troubleshooting instructions provide further guidance.
Should you leave it on?
- Leave it on temporarily if an older device cannot see or join the hotspot, or if it has trouble with the default security mode.
- Turn it off again when compatibility is no longer an issue, especially if you want the default security mode and potentially better Wi-Fi performance.
Maximize Compatibility is intended to help with particular connection problems, not to fix every hotspot issue. If a device connects but performance is poor, test with the option off; the cause may be Wi-Fi congestion, the client device, or the iPhone’s cellular service.
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