iOS 15 hot spot problems

The problem is that iOS15 only supports WPA3. The older Surface Pro 3 wifi driver does not allow for WPA3 connection.

You need to MANUALLY update the Surface Pro 3 wireless driver so it will allow WPA3 connection. The drivers will not pull in through the normal updates because Microsoft does not update drivers for Surface Pro 3's anymore. I found the driver for our SP3's here: Microsoft Update Catalog (the 2nd item down in the list).

If you are not sure if you can do this update - do not proceed! Call your local IT friend to help..

This will update the driver for the Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller to version 15.68.17015.112

If you do not see the 'Marvell AVASTAR Wireless..' device, do not proceed with the following...

Download and extracted the drivers to a folder. Microsoft Update Catalog (the 2nd item down in the list)

Open device manager --> Network adaptors and right click on the Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller

Click on 'Update Driver'

Then click on 'Browse my computer for drivers'

Then browse for the folder you created with the extracted downloaded driver files:

When it is done updating - reboot and you should be able to connect to your iPhone/iPad iOS15 Hotspot.

Hi Jack,

Thanks for your detailed answer. Just to add to this thread that not all iOS devices that can be upgraded to iOS15 support WPA3.

My experience with an iPhone 5 trying to connect to a hotspot on an XR it fails while at the same time it is connecting to an iPhone7plus. I’ve still been lazy to fire up Wireshark and give more details, hopefully I’ll do it and share my findings here.

Cheers

I.

Jack, I downloaded the driver mentioned and installed and rebooted. My surface pro3 will still not connect to my Iphone hotspot. When i checked, in command promt, to list my drivers, it still listed as only WPA2. I do not know what I am doing wrong. Any help in the download and extraction process would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Cfors,

Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help today with your iPhone Personal Hotspot and Surface connection.

Have a look at the steps here: If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular).

Do any other devices connect? This would help isolate the issue to your iPhone or the Surface.

Have a fantastic day!

I’ll check in the local stores if they have any dongle which support WPA3 protocol.

BTW, this problem is much more wide spread then I thought it would be. All three pages, there are so many facing the similar issues.

https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/684727

Hi Jack,

Having the same issue on an MS SP3 and MS SP6 connecting wireless hostspot with IOS 15

I've checked in Device Manager and confirmed the wireless driver is Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller.

I tried downloading the file you mentioned from https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=15.68.17015.112

I couldn't download it at all in Chrome.

I switched over to Firefox and am able to download the file but it downloads as a .cab file:

091062e0-383d-4488-a428-e85681fd15c4_83ec5673d18fd489d765700b3df82e74391278e5.cab

When I double click on the above file there are three files inside:

• mrvlpcie8897.cat
• mrvlpcie8897.inf
• mrvlpcie8897.sys

Am i correct in saying that mrvlpcie8897.sys is the file that needs to be used as the driver in the steps you provided?

Anyone's input would be much appreciated.

May have been just lucky, but I was able to fix the issue on a Surface Pro 6 by updating the drivers and firmware manually:

Went to site: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=57514

Ran winver command on the device to get the OS build version installed on it

Chose the download option that matched the OS build on the device

Downloaded, rebooted, and was able to use the iPhone hotspot without any issues

We have experience multiple Surface Pro 3s in our company not being able to connect to iPhone 11's and iPhone 12's running iOS15. We have even experimented with several iPhone 11 running iOS14.7 and the hotspot works, but as soon as it is upgraded to iOS15 the SP3s are no longer able to connect to the hotspot. The connection reads "Can't connect to this network".

Strangely we have 2 iPhone 11pro running iOS15 that will allow the Surface Pro 3 to connect.

Once again an Apple update broke something!

Same thing here. Even I reinstalled the whole windows 10 pro, and still no connection to iphone 11 pro max with ios 15. It works fine with my samsung but not with iphone. My other gaming laptop has no issue at all, it is a yoga legion new thing and it does connect to IOS 15 with no problem, thats why I started to dig around my surface 3 pro. Even I fresh installed windows 11 (there is way to do it) and same thing. There is something withing the communication between Surfacer pro 3 and IOS 15. This is apple issue not surface as it works with android phone.

Yup that’s the one. Today I installed win11 on Surface Pro 6 and it didn’t pick up IOS15 hotspot too BUT after installing all the windows updates every single one it started to work, this driver won’t work with Surface pro 6.

Another thing I discovered: the other driver on that link is for Bluetooth, my SF3 keept dropping my BT mouse after 2-3 hrs, installed that driver to the BT Marvel and no more problem, works!

I extracted all 3 of the files that are in the .cab file into a new folder. If you right click on each file in the .cab you will get the option to 'extract' the file.

Then from the device manager I updated the Marvell AVASTAR driver by browsing to that new folder I created as shown above.

This drive update solution is all well and good but what about the older laptop. After updating my iPhone XS Max to iOS 15, I am not able to connect my Dell Inspiron 1525 (2008 model) to hotspot of my iPhone.

It gives “can’t connect to network” error. Unfortunately Dell also doesn’t provide support for Windows 10 drivers for this old laptop.

What are my options? I really need to give internet to this laptop while I’m travelling.

You absolute star, thanks for diagnosing and solving this irritating problem. I followed your instructions, did the download using Edge browser (had to be brave and overrule the warnings about unsecure download) unpacked the cab file and installed very easily. Connection now works again perfectly. Owe you one.

I am also having this issue. It worked with my husbands iPhone (ios15) but I will not work with my daughters older iPad. No issues before the update

Not helping , tried all , on iphone12 ios 15.1