Quick answer: Open Settings > Personal Hotspot (or Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot) and turn on Allow Others to Join to share your iPhone’s cellular internet connection with a Windows laptop, tablet or other device. Then connect from that device’s Wi-Fi list using the iPhone’s network name and hotspot password.
A Personal Hotspot shares mobile data; it is not the same as Wi-Fi Calling or joining an existing Wi-Fi network. Your mobile plan must support tethering, and using it may consume substantial data. This guide uses Apple’s current instructions as reviewed October 13, 2026.
Before turning on Personal Hotspot
- Confirm your iPhone has an active SIM or eSIM with cellular data enabled.
- Check that your carrier plan includes Personal Hotspot. An unavailable or grayed-out menu can be a provisioning issue.
- Know your data allowance, especially before streaming, game downloads or laptop updates.
- Keep both devices reasonably close and have the hotspot password ready.
Set up Personal Hotspot on the iPhone
- Open Settings and tap Cellular. Make sure Cellular Data is on.
- Return to Personal Hotspot. On some models it is nested under Cellular.
- Switch on Allow Others to Join.
- Open Wi-Fi Password and set a password that is not obvious or reused elsewhere.
- Leave the hotspot settings page available while the other device searches for nearby Wi-Fi networks, especially if initial discovery is slow.
On a laptop, open the Wi-Fi menu, choose the iPhone’s name, enter the displayed password and confirm internet access. Disconnect devices you no longer intend to share with. Change the hotspot password if you accidentally disclosed it.
How to connect a Windows laptop or Android device
Enable Wi-Fi on the second device and open its available network list. Choose your iPhone’s hotspot name. Type the hotspot password exactly, including capital letters, then connect. Your laptop uses your iPhone’s cellular data plan until it disconnects or switches to another network. Set the laptop connection as metered if you want to reduce background downloads.
Why another Apple device may connect without a password
Instant Hotspot lets some devices signed into the same Apple Account, or eligible Family Sharing members, connect more seamlessly. According to Apple, the host phone does not always need Allow Others to Join switched on for those trusted devices. For a Windows laptop or unrelated person’s phone, the normal password-based sharing setting generally must be enabled.
Hotspot missing or not working: troubleshoot in order
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| No Personal Hotspot menu | Cellular Data is on, plan supports tethering, and carrier settings are current. |
| iPhone hotspot not visible | Keep hotspot page open, bring devices closer, toggle Wi-Fi on the joining device, and restart both if needed. |
| Wrong password | Recheck Wi-Fi Password on the iPhone, then forget and reconnect to the network. |
| Connected but no internet | Test whether mobile data works on the iPhone itself; move to an area with better coverage. |
| Connection drops frequently | Check signal, battery, overheating and power-saving settings; try a stable location or USB connection where compatible. |
How to make sharing safer and cheaper
Set a unique password and avoid leaving hotspot sharing open unnecessarily. Laptop updates, cloud backups and video streaming may quickly use your cellular allowance. Consider enabling metered mode on Windows or temporarily pausing large downloads. If persistent issues suggest corrupt connection preferences, read the consequences before resetting iPhone network settings.
Frequently asked questions
Does iPhone Hotspot share Wi-Fi or cellular data?
Personal Hotspot normally shares the iPhone’s cellular data connection. It is not a general-purpose Wi-Fi repeater.
Can I connect a Windows PC?
Yes, if the plan supports Personal Hotspot and the PC can join the iPhone hotspot over a supported connection method.
Why does my Mac connect without asking for the password?
Apple’s Instant Hotspot feature may recognize devices using the same Apple Account or Family Sharing.
Can my carrier charge extra?
Possibly. Tethering eligibility, throttling and charges depend on the plan. Check your provider’s terms.
Sources and photo credit
Setup and feature distinctions verified with Apple Support: Instant Hotspot and Personal Hotspot. Photograph of an iPhone 14: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, licensed crop of the credited original; no further edits. The hardware photograph is illustrative, not a screenshot of the Settings menu.
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