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iPhone Tethering: How to Turn On Personal Hotspot and Connect a Device

Enable iPhone tethering through Personal Hotspot, then connect another device over Wi-Fi, USB, or Bluetooth.
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To enable tethering on an iPhone, turn on Personal Hotspot—Apple’s name for sharing your iPhone’s cellular internet connection. Open Settings > Cellular > Set Up Personal Hotspot and follow the prompts. Then go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and switch on Allow Others to Join when needed. Menu names and locations can vary by iOS version and region.

Before you start: confirm your iPhone can share cellular data

Personal Hotspot shares the iPhone’s cellular internet connection; it does not rebroadcast a Wi-Fi network the iPhone has joined. Apple notes that availability and possible charges depend on the carrier, while the permitted number of connected devices can depend on both the carrier and iPhone model. Check your plan’s hotspot terms and cellular data rates if you are unsure. Apple’s iPhone User Guide explains the feature and its limitations.

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If your iPhone uses Dual SIM, Personal Hotspot uses whichever line is selected for cellular data. You can check cellular usage under Settings > Cellular.

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Set up and turn on Personal Hotspot

  1. On the iPhone, open Settings.
  2. Tap Cellular, then Set Up Personal Hotspot.
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts. If Personal Hotspot is already set up, open Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join when connecting a device that is not using an eligible Instant Hotspot setup.

Depending on software version and region, the path may instead appear as Settings > Mobile Service or Settings > Mobile > Personal Hotspot. If Set Up Personal Hotspot is missing while Cellular Data is on, contact your carrier to ask whether the feature is supported and can be added to your plan.

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Choose how the other device will connect

Apple supports Wi-Fi, USB, and Bluetooth connections. Choose based on what the receiving device supports and whether you want a cable; there is no universal speed ranking established for these methods.

Method What you need How to connect
Wi-Fi A Wi-Fi-capable device; the Personal Hotspot password for ordinary connections. Open Wi-Fi settings on the receiving device, select the iPhone’s hotspot name, and enter the password shown in Personal Hotspot settings if prompted.
USB A cable that fits the ports on both the iPhone and computer. Windows also requires Apple Devices or iTunes for Windows. Turn on Allow Others to Join, connect the cable, and accept trust or access prompts if they appear.
Bluetooth Bluetooth on both devices; Apple documents this option for Mac and Windows. Pair or connect through the computer’s Bluetooth settings, following the computer-specific steps.

Wi-Fi: the simplest general-purpose option

On the device that needs internet, open its Wi-Fi settings and choose the iPhone’s hotspot. The hotspot name is the iPhone’s device name. Enter the password displayed in Settings > Personal Hotspot if asked. Eligible Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account, or configured through Family Sharing, may be able to join using Instant Hotspot without entering the password. See Apple’s Instant Hotspot instructions for supported Apple-device joining.

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USB: a wired computer connection

Turn on Allow Others to Join, then connect the iPhone to the computer using the included cable or another cable compatible with both devices’ ports. Accept any trust or access prompts. On Windows, Apple says to install Apple Devices or iTunes for Windows for USB tethering. The cable is optional: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth do not require one.

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Bluetooth: wireless pairing

Enable Bluetooth on both devices, then pair or connect the iPhone from the computer’s Bluetooth settings. Follow the computer’s instructions; for a Mac, Apple advises keeping the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings open while establishing the connection. Windows pairing steps vary by computer.

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If Personal Hotspot will not appear or connect

  • The setup option is missing: Confirm Cellular Data is on. If Personal Hotspot still is not available, ask your carrier whether your plan supports it.
  • The first connection does not work: For Apple’s setup guidance, keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled on both devices and place them within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.
  • A Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection fails: Check that the corresponding wireless feature is enabled on both devices. Apple also suggests trying Maximize Compatibility in Personal Hotspot settings; Apple cautions this may reduce performance for connected devices.
  • A Windows USB connection fails: Check that Apple Devices or iTunes for Windows is installed, reconnect the cable, and respond to any trust or access prompt on the iPhone.

In Apple’s described Wi-Fi scenario, connected devices disconnect automatically when the hotspot is not being used, which helps conserve the iPhone’s battery. For Apple’s full connection instructions, see Share your internet connection from your iPhone.

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