Upgrade iphone via another ipad personal hotspot will always fail!?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Upgrade iphone via another ipad personal hotspot will always fail!?

Problem:

I have 2 devices, iPhone 11 and iPad Pro. Both come with 4G network. Here is my experiment - Everytime when I try to upgrade iPhone (General -> Software Update) by connecting to my iPad personal hotspot, the upgrade will hang in “Estimating time” step and never start upgrade. However, after connecting to local WIFI network, the download progress will be started immediately. To double check the connectivity of iPhone while connecting to iPad personal hotspot, I try exploring internet and test the network speed on iPhone, everything seems normal.

Version: Both are iOS 13.2.2

Questions:

Does Apple intentionally disallow iOS upgrade traffic via an Apple device personal hotspot? Because in the past it works.
If #1 is yes, this is considering a feature downgrade without notifying users?

I know a great company won’t do this stupid trick to its users. Just raise this question and check if anyone encountered the same issue?

iPhone 11

Posted on Nov 29, 2019 6:07 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Leo Chung Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 17, 2019 1:24 AM in response to dkdkdkdkdkdk

Your situation is similar to mine. I travelled a lot so it’s not safe to connect to unidentified WIFIs. Another issue you will find is iOS will force devices to connect to personal hotspot in “Low Data Mode” by default while users have no budget issues with their data plan. So, you have to turn Low Data Mode off. Well, some people must think they outsmart their users.

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Answer 2

Nov 30, 2019 6:41 AM in response to Leo Chung

Any upgrade must be done over a Wi-Fi network. You can't use cellular.

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Answer 3

Leo Chung Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2019 7:32 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Thanks QuickTimeKirk!

To iPhone, another Apple personal hotspot (launched on my iPad) is supposedly another legitimate local "WIFI" device to use and theocratically the network connection should not be tweaked or intercepted. To ensure what I observed, I did the test today again with the same SIM card but put it in another Android Pad and connect my iPhone to that pad's personal hotspot. Bingo! Everything seems going well with the update progress and it takes less than 1 minute to complete. Meaning Apple users can do iPhone OS upgrade/update by leveraging Android device's personal hotspot but nothing they can do with their own Apple devices' sharing hotspots.

I don't know if Apple intend to encourage people to turn to Android device or what!? Especially, nowadays public WIFIs available during our travel are somehow risky.

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Answer 4

Nov 29, 2019 6:13 AM in response to Leo Chung

Since personal hotspot is a carrier provided feature ask your carrier if they are throttling your hotspot for such a data intensive activity.

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Answer 5

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Nov 30, 2019 8:04 PM in response to Leo Chung

Since this is a business iPhone do you have a profile on it from your employer? If yes, then it is far more likely your employer is blocking the usage, not Apple. Was the Android also a work phone?

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Answer 6

Nov 30, 2019 6:41 AM in response to Leo Chung

Then perhaps you need to contact Apple Support.

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Answer 7

Dec 13, 2019 12:39 PM in response to Leo Chung

I have that same problem (could not update iPadOS though iPhone Personal Hotspot). It’s the problem of iOS 13. Very annoying - I have true unlimited LTE (without any WiFi at home) and this situation seems awful =(

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Answer 8

Leo Chung Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2019 6:36 AM in response to lobsterghost1

Thanks a lot rbrylawski!

However,

1) both my iPhone and iPad are all unlocked version. And, my SIM are purchased with unlimited corporate plan, meaning no limit for transferring data over 4G.

2) I tested the same iPad personal hotspot with MacBook and tried to download CentOS ISO (several GB). The result comes without any issues.

Thus I still suspect Apple’s hotspot does the trick (Try to showing “Estimating time” during iOS upgrade but actually do nothing). Hope I’m wrong.

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Answer 9

Leo Chung Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2019 11:09 PM in response to deggie

Thanks for asking Deggie,

These two devices are not either company phones or applied with company (administrative) profile. Instead, they are personal property and my company only covers the expense of unlimited data plan (kind of I apply compensation expense monthly for carrier bills received)

Thanks,

Leo

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Answer 10

Leo Chung Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2019 7:39 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Thanks rbrylawski, I'll try but honestly I don't think Apple support will make any change. Replacing my iPad pro with Android Pad would be an easier solution. Still appreciate your quick help!

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