One of the underrated features available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and other models is Personal Hotspot. Through this tool, you can turn your iPhone into a Wi-Fi router of sorts, enabling other nearby devices to use the internet through it. Whether you need to connect to your kid's tablet while on the go, or your internet just cut out during a Zoom call, linking to your hotspot can be very useful. While the feature requires an active mobile data plan, you can easily learn how to set it up in this guide.

Why use a Personal Hotspot?

iPhone 15 Pro Max lying on a laptop.

There are many instances when using your iPhone as a hotspot could be handy. You might want to connect your computer to the internet when away from a secure Wi-Fi network. Maybe the Wi-Fi is down, or it's unreliable and slow, and you need to connect to send a quick email, hail, or upload some videos. Or maybe your friend is out of data, and you want to help them keep their phone connected to the internet.

Using your iPhone's cellular connection, you can do everything on other devices, from surfing the web to streaming videos, playing games, checking email, and more. Just be mindful of what your plan includes so that if you have limited data, you don't go over. For example, streaming an HD video or downloading large files can eat up plenty of data. But simple tasks like downloading emails, sending iMessages, or even the odd video call, won't use much. And having the Personal Hotspot as a backup can be a lifesaver in a pinch.

How to turn Personal Hotspot on or off on iPhone

Using one of the latest iPhones as a hotspot is simple and requires just a few steps. Whether you're on iOS 17 or an earlier OS version, the procedure is the same:

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Select Personal Hotspot.
  3. Move the slider under Allow Others to Join to the right to turn it on (it will appear green).
  4. You will also find the Wi-Fi Password, which others will need to input on their devices to connect to your iPhone.
  5. To turn off your iPhone's hotspot and disconnect all devices, toggle the Allow Others to Join off.

How to connect to iPhone's hotspot

Once you've set up the hotspot on your iPhone, other devices can connect to it.

  1. On a computer, click on the Wi-Fi symbol, typically positioned towards the top or bottom right of the screen.
  2. In the list of available networks, you'll see the name of your iPhone. Select it.
    iPhone hotspot visible in wifi menu on Mac
  3. If you're on a phone or tablet, go to Settings, Wi-Fi, and the iPhone will show up as an available network.
    iPhone hotspot visible in wifi settings on iPad
  4. When it's the first time connecting, whether on a computer, phone, or tablet, a pop-up will ask for the password. Type the password obtained from the previous section, and hit Join or Connect.
  5. After you connect once, the device will remember this hotspot and will automatically connect without requiring you to re-enter the password as long as the Allow Others to Join toggle is on.

Note that with some Apple devices, you can hold your iPhone close to it to engage Personal Hotspot if the secondary device is in the iPhone's contacts. It will instantly provide access with your permission if Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices. Furthermore, your own Apple devices may be able to connect to your iPhone's hotspot without permission, assuming you're using the same Apple ID on all of them.

There is also the option to use Bluetooth to connect by selecting Pair on the iPhone, entering the code that shows up on the computer, and connecting like you would any other Bluetooth device, but it may be slower than Wi-Fi. Finally, a wired connection is also possible via USB: plug the phone into the computer, choose iPhone from the list of networks, and connect. This might be the most stable connection but requires a literal tether. Bottom line: Wi-Fi is the easiest way to connect while on the go.

How to change the hotspot's password

If too many people have your hotspot's password or you feel like changing it, you can follow the steps below:

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on Personal Hotspot.
  3. Go to the Wi-Fi Password section.
  4. Type the desired password, then hit Done.
  5. This will also disconnect devices connected to your iPhone's hotspot.

Personal Hotspot on iPhone can come in handy

As our guide reveals, the Personal Hotspot feature can save the day if you're working on the go and Wi-Fi is unavailable. You can connect your computer to your iPhone's network for as long as you have sufficient data and power. One thing to remember is that Personal Hotspot can eat up your iPhone's battery. So it's important to be near a power source or have a portable charger handy to fuel it as needed. Check your iPhone's battery health as well to ensure that your iPhone is in tip-top condition to handle the tasks you need through Personal Hotspot without diving into the red quickly.