JimboGA
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Q: How many users can connect to an iPhone 6 hotspot?

How many users can connect to an iPhone 6 hotspot?

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2, 16GB

Posted on Jan 28, 2016 1:26 PM

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JimboGA

Q: How many users can connect to an iPhone 6 hotspot?

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  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jan 28, 2016 1:37 PM in response to JimboGA
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 28, 2016 1:37 PM in response to JimboGA

    I believe it is 5.

  • by sberman,Helpful

    sberman sberman Jan 28, 2016 1:44 PM in response to JimboGA
    Level 8 (40,235 points)
    Jan 28, 2016 1:44 PM in response to JimboGA

    The last sentence in the first paragraph of the "Learn More" section in this article says:

     

    "The number of devices that can join your Personal Hotspot at one time depends on your carrier and iPhone model."

     

    Share your Internet connection with Personal Hotspot - Apple Support

  • by deggie,Helpful

    deggie deggie Jan 28, 2016 2:02 PM in response to sberman
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 28, 2016 2:02 PM in response to sberman

    Wow, how helpful of them. Would have been more helpful if they provided a link which told what the number was for each model or where to find that information. The only limitation by the carrier is the quality of the signal and speed. I suppose it could be limited in the carrier settings but I've found nothing that would address that.

     

    I did have 5 connected to my 6 Plus and as I recall we could not add a 6th device. Will have to repeat the experiment with my 6s Plus.

     

    I have a MiFi (this is with AT&T and it can handle 15 connections so I'm skeptical as to any hard and fast limitation by the carrier.  At one place we connected 8 to the MiFi but all of them were pretty slow where I was at.

     

    To the OP: more connections is also going to drain your battery faster which is one of many reasons I got the MiFi.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Jan 28, 2016 2:06 PM in response to deggie
    Level 8 (40,235 points)
    Jan 28, 2016 2:06 PM in response to deggie

    You present very interesting usage statistics.  I've never connected more than three devices personally, so I haven't run across the limitation.

     

    I am also an AT&T customer, so I checked their website to see if they offer any guidance from the cellular provider side.  I found this article, which basically says the same thing as the Apple article but from their perspective:

     

    "The number of devices you can connect to your mobile hotspot depends on your device."

     

    https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KM1009376

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jan 28, 2016 2:12 PM in response to sberman
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 28, 2016 2:12 PM in response to sberman

    Yep, I'm familiar with that one. In this case I believe AT&T is correct (and so is Apple if they would edit their sentence), the limitation is on the device. The robustness of the carrier and where you are located at the time can impact the number of devices but it isn't an exact definable number. I guess I'll have to go to my favorite coffee shop which I use as a testing lab and try out the number on the newer phone.