With the diffusion of smart working always having a fast and stable network available has become indispensable. Using iPhone as a modem can be the winning choice, or simply a reliable Plan B, to work where and when you need it.
It may happen that you are without Wi-Fi and need to connect your computer or tablet to a network. In these you can use Personal Hotspot, creating a connection in a few simple steps.
Let's start at the beginning: what is Personal Hotspot?
Personal Hotspot is a system feature of iOS and iPadOS (for Wi-Fi + Cellular iPads). This means that you can activate it without downloading any app. It's there, waiting for your touch.
With a WiFi hotspot you can share your iPhone's internet connection by creating a real WiFi network to which you can connect your computer, whether it's a PC or a Mac, a tablet or even a smart TV.
You can then navigate using your mobile tariff, at no additional cost, according to Regulation (EU) 2015/2120.
Connection speed may vary depending on the signal quality available where you are connecting from.
Some insights on the speed and security of Wi-Fi connection via hotspot can be found in the articles:
If you want to learn more about iOS network integration, take part in our dedicated Apple courses
How to activate hotspot on iPhone?
To activate Personal Hotspot go to “Settings > Mobile > Personal Hotspot".
From this screen you can:
To find out about all the features of Family Sharing, visit the dedicated Apple page.
If you want to be guided by an Apple certified professional on the main features of iPhone and iOS, take a look at our Introduction to iPhone course.
Shortcut to activate Personal Hotspot quickly
An alternative way, which perhaps many do not know, is that of the Control Panel.
The Control Panel is called up by swiping your finger on the iPhone screen from the bottom edge of the display to the top. It's a sort of curtain that appears to give us quick access to some commands, our control room!
At the top left you have an area dedicated to connectivity where you can activate and deactivate Airplane Mode, Cellular Connection, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
By holding your finger on that area or pressing hard, two more switches appear: AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
By tapping on Personal Hotspot, if it is not active, you will be able to activate it. You can then decide whether to make it visible or invisible to other devices.
How to make hotspot between iPhone and PC?
Now that you have configured the iPhone as a modem through a hotspot, all you have to do is connect.
Doing this will be as simple as connecting to any other Wi-Fi network:
And that's it. Are you online!
How to make hotspot between iPhone and Mac?
One of the ways to make hotspot between iPhone and Mac is the one described in the previous paragraph, but Apple devices, including iPad, have additional features that allow you to connect more smoothly.
If the two devices are under the same Apple ID and the iPhone Personal Hotspot is active, in the absence of a connection to known Wi-Fi networks, the Mac will ask you independently if you want to connect to your iPhone's hotspot.
This allows you to connect directly from the device you're using with one click, without taking your "portable router" out of your pocket or searching for it in the bottom of your bag.
How to do USB tethering with iPhone?
You also have the option of sharing the Internet between iPhone and your computer through a cable connection.
In this case we are no longer talking about hotspots but about tethering.
To activate tethering you will need to:
This solution can be your lifeline if, for example, you have problems with your computer's Wi-Fi card.
By activating a physical connection, just like if you connected your device to the office or home router via ethernet, you can circumvent the problem and be able to continue your activities without interruptions.
iPhone hotspot is not working or not visible. What to do?
If you don't see the Personal Hotspot option, contact your carrier to see if you can use your iPhone as a modem with your plan.
If the operator does not detect problems using the hotspot, try resetting the network settings by going to "Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings”.
With this operation, the contents of your iPhone will not change, the connection parameters will be restored to correct any errors that could compromise the functioning of some services, such as the hotspot.
If this attempt also fails, then it will be necessary to completely reset the device and configure it as new. So make sure you save all your data and go to “Settings > General > Reset > Reset contents and settings”.
This is the last attempt you can make on your own, if the problem persists contact Apple to book an appointment and carry out a hardware check of your iPhone.
Ultimately iPhone can be a very powerful ally that keeps you always connected. Visit our iOS Courses page to learn more about the other fantastic potential of the iPhone!