Tim Klein

Q: Instant Hotspot / Personal Hotspot Not Functioning Correctly

Repost due to header spelling fail... Sorry!


Performed the iOS update to 8.1 and the instant hotspot isn't functioning. Whenever I try to connect from my MacBook I get the error: Failed to enable Personal Hotspot on "Tim's iPhone" - Check to see if the tethering device is turned on and in range of your computer.

 

I've reset the network settings on the iPhone, cleared all of my saved networks on my MacBook to try to get it back to a semi-reset state (though I did a full drive erase and installed Yosemite from scratch so I can't imagine my settings are very far from virgin state yet) but I'm still unable to connect unless I manually turn on the Personal Hotspot on the iPhone first (even then, connecting is a bit hit and miss which was never a problem before). Restarting each device multiple times and logging into and out of the iCloud account on each device hasn't changed anything.

 

Even worse is that, prior to upgrading from 8.0.2, the feature worked perfectly between my iPad and my iPhone. It even shut the personal hotspot off as soon as you disconnected from the iPhone. Now, it's hit and miss as well; Connecting every 3rd or 4th try but leaving Personal Hotspot "on" on my iPhone after disconnection.

 

The smooth experience between my iPad and iPhone is what gave me such high expectations for the Yosemite release. Now I'm sitting here with that still not functioning and the original experience gone. How disappointing.

 

---

Tim

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 20, 2014 2:18 PM

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Q: Instant Hotspot / Personal Hotspot Not Functioning Correctly

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  • by TrueThugMC,

    TrueThugMC TrueThugMC May 22, 2015 11:46 AM in response to Tim Klein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2015 11:46 AM in response to Tim Klein

    Now if this could only be done instantly... I thought the point was it would save you the trouble of opening the settings on your phone and having to type your password once.

  • by jPhone7,

    jPhone7 jPhone7 Jun 21, 2015 3:34 PM in response to Tim Klein
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 21, 2015 3:34 PM in response to Tim Klein

    On both devices, tap on the iCloud in settings.

    OSX: System Settings, iCloud, click on Account Details, enter your password. Now your macbook should be ok.

    iOS: Settings, iCloud, tapp your name with your picture, log in with your password.

     

    Now this hotspot issue is solved, but also syncing reminders etc.

  • by Phoenixmacguy,

    Phoenixmacguy Phoenixmacguy Jun 24, 2015 8:24 AM in response to cvx5832
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 24, 2015 8:24 AM in response to cvx5832

    This fixed it for me.

     

    Thanks cvx5832

  • by jPhone7,

    jPhone7 jPhone7 Jun 26, 2015 12:24 AM in response to jPhone7
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 26, 2015 12:24 AM in response to jPhone7

    It works only one or two times. I have to get back on my iPhone, tap settings/iCloud, tap my name/avatar and login. After that, it works.

    It used to work for a long time till a week ago.

    Not sure what's up next.

  • by jPhone7,

    jPhone7 jPhone7 Jun 26, 2015 12:31 AM in response to cvx5832
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 26, 2015 12:31 AM in response to cvx5832

    That only works when the hotspot on the iPhone is enabled.

     

    This thread is more about keeping your phone in the pocket, Hotspot if turned off on the phone. Using the Personal Hotspot section in the WIFI menu to do both: 1. Turn on the hotspot 2. Connect to the hotspot

     

    After you disconnect, the hotspot will be turned off.

     

    That used to work well, but has issues now.

     

    J.

    cvx5832 wrote:

     

    This has been a goofy bug for sure and I hope Apple resolves it with a software update.  Until that magical day arrives you can add an additional step to the current one-button press and get it to connect every time.

     

    Note: Personal Hotspot on your iPhone must be toggled ON

     

    1.) Click "Join Other Network" (instead of clicking on your phone in the hotspot section of the dropdown)

    2.) Click "Show Networks"

    3.) Click on your iPhone and "Join"

     

    I find that this connects faster because it doesn't have that awkward pause where the devices seem to be negotiating something in the background.  As soon as I click "Join" in step 3 the linked chain appears in my menu bar and I can surf as usual.

     

    This worked on both my 2015 rMB-12 and 2012 rMBP-13, both of which were having issues.  Thanks Apple.

     

     

  • by Mike Berson,

    Mike Berson Mike Berson Jul 9, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Tim Klein
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 9, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Tim Klein

    Right now the only reliable "Personal Hotspot" I have is the constant aggravation I feel at having to spend time trying to find workarounds every time an update messes up previously working features. Instant Hotspot was working just fine before the latest update. Now even my basic wifi connection is flaky whereas it used to be solid. Why oh why didn't I skip this one?

  • by Guybrush-Threepwood,

    Guybrush-Threepwood Guybrush-Threepwood Aug 4, 2015 2:29 AM in response to Mike Berson
    Level 1 (95 points)
    Aug 4, 2015 2:29 AM in response to Mike Berson

    I too had this problem and like most a simple reset of network settings works.

     

    However, the moment I connect my phone to a wifi network the personal hotspot no longer works. Even if I make it forget the network I just connected to it still wont let the hotspot connect from any device. But reset the network settings and were back in business.

     

    It's clearly some major bug, why work until the phone has connected to a wifi network?

     

    Ive tried everything, Ive signed out of iCloud, followed tims advice, all the others, cleared down my keychain. All with the same results.

  • by Guybrush-Threepwood,

    Guybrush-Threepwood Guybrush-Threepwood Aug 5, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Guybrush-Threepwood
    Level 1 (95 points)
    Aug 5, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Guybrush-Threepwood

    I have the solution. I have a Cisco/Linksys EA3500. Connect to its 5ghz network and PH no longer works, connect back to a 2.4Ghz network and it works again.

     

    But the long term fix was to set the Wifi settings on the router to exactly match the Apple recommendations as per this link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068

     

    Mine were pretty spot on apart from the channel was set to 40 rather than Auto and I set it to use 802.11n only and not a/n. Changed those and all is well.

  • by bz101,

    bz101 bz101 Sep 10, 2015 3:16 PM in response to Marc0janssen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2015 3:16 PM in response to Marc0janssen

    This worked for me.  No idea why, but thanks!

  • by Zimmy68,

    Zimmy68 Zimmy68 Sep 18, 2015 1:58 PM in response to Tim Klein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 1:58 PM in response to Tim Klein

    Ouch!

    Be careful following these instructions.

     

    My instant hotspot stopped working after iOS9 so I tried Tim's instructions.

    It still doesn't work and I got the added surprise of losing all my Apple Pay cards that took forever to setup.

    I'm glad it worked for some people but just beware of what you could lose.

     

    Doug

  • by ausdon,

    ausdon ausdon Sep 20, 2015 4:22 PM in response to jPhone7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2015 4:22 PM in response to jPhone7

    Wow, this simple fix actually worked!

  • by gh4507,

    gh4507 gh4507 Sep 22, 2015 11:12 AM in response to Marc0janssen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 11:12 AM in response to Marc0janssen

    Thanks, Marc.  This worked for me!

     

    But more simply, I used Keychain Access to update my login password to be the same as it currently is, and tethering worked.  No reboot, no changes to the iPhone (running iOS 9).

  • by DmitrySky,

    DmitrySky DmitrySky Oct 2, 2015 2:07 PM in response to Tim Klein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 2:07 PM in response to Tim Klein

    I wouldn't want to log out from iCloud on my mac

    And found another solution:

    I've reset my network settings on my iPhone

    Created new user account on my Mac

    Turned on hotspot on iPhone

    Connected Mac to iPhone's Hotspot

    Switched back to my previous user account on Mac

  • by AceNeerav,

    AceNeerav AceNeerav Oct 2, 2015 9:37 PM in response to DmitrySky
    Level 1 (107 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 2, 2015 9:37 PM in response to DmitrySky

    REminds me the days of windows xp when microsoft used to be on the top and users had to do such quirks to get it to work!

  • by chate malaysia,

    chate malaysia chate malaysia Oct 15, 2015 6:06 AM in response to Tim Klein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 15, 2015 6:06 AM in response to Tim Klein
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