You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Personal Hotspot issue - have to turn it off and on every time

I used to use my iPhone 7 as a Personal Hotspot from my Macbook Pro. Every time I would click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu, I would see my hotspot name in a separate section, apart from all other Wi-Fi hotspots. Then I would connect to the hotspot without any issues.


After that I had a hw issue and my Macbook Pro was reset in an Apple Store. I've setup everything there and I have an annoying issue with my Personal Hotspot now. Every time I open the list of available hotspots on the Macbook I do not see my phone there. Then I turn "Personal Hotspot" Off and On on my iPhone and after that I can immediately see my phone in the list of hotspots. I can connect to the personal hotspot after that just fine.


Please advise.

iPhone 7

Posted on Aug 9, 2019 6:37 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 9, 2019 6:58 PM

Hey, lapitsky,


I understand from your post that since the macOS was reinstalled on your MacBook Pro, you have to toggle the Personal Hotspot feature on your iPhone off and back on before the computer will see the network. I'm happy to help!


There could be a few things going on to cause this issue. To help us troubleshoot, I would suggest going through the following steps, testing after each to see if it has resolved the issue:


  1. Restart both your iPhone: Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support and your Mac: How to turn your Mac on or off - Apple Support.
  2. Check for, and install, any available updates for your iOS software: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support, as well as the macOS software on your computer: How to update the software on your Mac - Apple Support.
  3. Reset the network settings on your iPhone under Settings > General > Reset > Reset network settings. This won't delete any of your personal information from the iPhone, but it will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, and will also reset any previously connected APN or VPN settings.
  4. Follow the steps under the "If you can't connect to Personal Hotspot with Wi-Fi" section of If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) - Apple Support.


Should you still need help after that, please get in touch with Apple Support directly for additional assistance: Contact Apple Support.


Best!

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 9, 2019 6:58 PM in response to lapitsky

Hey, lapitsky,


I understand from your post that since the macOS was reinstalled on your MacBook Pro, you have to toggle the Personal Hotspot feature on your iPhone off and back on before the computer will see the network. I'm happy to help!


There could be a few things going on to cause this issue. To help us troubleshoot, I would suggest going through the following steps, testing after each to see if it has resolved the issue:


  1. Restart both your iPhone: Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support and your Mac: How to turn your Mac on or off - Apple Support.
  2. Check for, and install, any available updates for your iOS software: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support, as well as the macOS software on your computer: How to update the software on your Mac - Apple Support.
  3. Reset the network settings on your iPhone under Settings > General > Reset > Reset network settings. This won't delete any of your personal information from the iPhone, but it will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, and will also reset any previously connected APN or VPN settings.
  4. Follow the steps under the "If you can't connect to Personal Hotspot with Wi-Fi" section of If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) - Apple Support.


Should you still need help after that, please get in touch with Apple Support directly for additional assistance: Contact Apple Support.


Best!

Personal Hotspot issue - have to turn it off and on every time

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.