iPad no longer hotspotting to iPhone

TidBITS Talk
1

I have been using Hotspot to connect my iPad to the internet via my iPhone for many years. After updating the iPad to 18.7.1 connecting became intermittent, with the iPad reporting that it could not connect. Today it won’t connect at all. I have tried resetting network settings on the iPhone and iPad, restarting both devices and various combinations.

My iPhone was recently “updated” to OS26 but hotspot has worked for a couple of weeks until today. I have also tried hotspotting to my wife’s iPhone which is on OS18.71 but the connection also failed.

I have resorted to using Gigsky mobile data for internet while travelling but need to fix the hotspot issue. When I have a good broadband wifi connection I suppose I will try upgrading the iPad to OS26.

Very frustrating!

2

The same thing has happened with my Macbook Air M3 - it took several goes to successfully connect. I did find a setting on the phone under Personal Hotspot called “Maximise compatibility”. I have never noticed this before but turned it on and, after a couple of failures (eg “no internet”!), the Macbook connected. Here’s hoping it will work for an important video conference tomorrow.