Level 1

16 points

iPhone Won't Automatically Connect to Vehicle's Hotspot

I’ve got an iPhone 12 running the latest iOS (16.1.1) which had a small data plan associated with it. My car has a built-in hotspot from OnStar which is unlimited.

I’d like the iPhone to automatically connect to the vehicle’s hotspot similar to how it automatically connect to regular Wi-Fi connections.

Under the hotspot Wi-Fi network properties I’ve turned off the “Low data usage” option as with it being unlimited I don’t wish to limit the data usage on the phone. I’ve also set the Auto-Join Hotspot option to Automatic, but neither of those options appear to do anything as after several minutes I still have to go under Settings - Wi-Fi and manually tap on my car’s Wi-Fi network.

I do remember when I first enabled the car’s hotspot it would automatically connect like I want it to…I don’t recall changing anything. Maybe an iOS update changed that behavior???

Does anyone have some other ideas to try? Thanks.

iPhone 12, iOS 16

Posted on Nov 13, 2022 6:53 AM

Top-ranking reply

Bob Schwerd

Level 1

17 points

Posted on Dec 27, 2022 5:55 AM

It's NOT the car, it's the phone.

After having been given the run around, I finally made an appointment with an Apple Genius at an Apple store. He ran diagnostic checks and the phone didn't have any issues.

Then he said that he could uninstall the software in the phone and then install the latest software. He added, that would cause me to lose all my paid for Apps but they could be restored from the App Store since they keep a record of all your previous purchase.

I said okay and the process took about 10 minutes.

I took the phone home and I had to manually pair it to my truck since the memory was wiped clean in the process.

Since then, my phone has been automatically connecting to my truck.

Reloading the Apps was not difficult at all.

What was very time consuming was having to log into each App with passwords. After that it took awhile to re-organize my screens.

All in all my phone acts just like a new phone.

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49 replies

Jan 15, 2023 11:47 AM in response to Bob Schwerd

Apple gave me a new phone as a result of my persistence and whining. Unfortunately that did not work. I still have to manually connect to my truck’s wi-fi.

My wife’s iPhone X connects every time and so do my friends.

It must be the iOS. Ugh! 🤬

micahsd Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 26, 2023 4:04 PM in response to jfb1357

I had a chance to test the theory someone else on here had where they reset the phone and didn’t restore anything from their backup and same result.

I actually upgraded to a new phone (14 Plus) and never restored anything from the previous one or any of my backups and the first time I paired it up with CarPlay it did automatically connected to the car’s hotspot and worked as it should. Unfortunately it was short lived as it never has connected again, so I’m back to the original problem.

Hopefully Apple comes out with a fix for this as it’s super annoying.

Mar 9, 2023 1:47 PM in response to micahsd

I have this same problem when my iphone 12 update to IOS 16.2 from 15.7 Apple needs to fix the bug that it created when the update was implemented. Us old guys can't keep up with this new crap that Apple hands out. If it works don't mess it up.

jfb1357

Level 1

2 points

Mar 29, 2023 6:10 PM in response to RCC49

I upgraded to iOS 16.4 and my iPhone connects to CarPlay automatically but does NOT connect to my car's WiFi hotspot. If anything it seems a little more broken than in earlier version of iOS 16. Now after my iPhone is connected to CarPlay and I go into Settings...WiFi and choose my 2.4 GHz WiFi hotspot band the iPhone connects to the car's WiFi hotspot, but almost immediately the WiFi jumps back to the 5.0 GHz hotspot band and I lose iPhone WiFi connectivity to the car's hotspot (with the 5 GHz band displaying the message "No Internet Connection"). So the old workaround of going into Settings...WiFi and clicking on my car's WiFi hotspot isn't working.)

Note: After some time period (many minutes) my iPhone may connect to my car's hotspot - not sure right now what's going on with this.

May 20, 2023 12:43 PM in response to micahsd

AutoJoin in an Audi 2020 A6 with wirelesss CarPlay and in-vehicle WiFi does not work. So, as a result, if manual connect is overlooked, phone data plan continually exceeds the shard data allocation. Apple support is not acknowledging the issue. It’s been over a year waiting for a response/fix. Defeats the purpose of in-viehicle WiFi. I feel like sending Apple the bill for the Mobile Carrier overcharges to my cell phone data plan. APPLE MANAGEMENT — GET IT FIXED PLEASE!

Oshguy06

Level 1

8 points

May 21, 2023 3:49 AM in response to apple_skeptic

I had the same issue, usually forgot to manually connect, more than once exceeded my data limit. So frustrating! But I must be one of the lucky ones, my phone now connects automatically in both vehicles.

Jun 1, 2023 11:19 AM in response to micahsd

I have the same issue. I have an iphone 13 and when i updated to ios 16 i lost the ability to connect to my wifi in my 2021 Chevy Silverado automatically. Apple, are you going to fix this?! i have unlimited data on the At&t onstar hotspot but if i don't manually connect my phone to the wifi hotspot i use my phone data and not the onstar data. Very frustrating.

BF2011

Level 1

8 points

Jun 12, 2023 2:26 PM in response to micahsd

Experiencing the same issue with my 2021 VW Atlas Verizon Hotspot, Phone is iPhone 12 with iOS 16.5. Went from the annoyance of having to manually connect to the car WiFi each time to now completely not being able to connect to WiFi since the update to 16.5 CarPlay continues to connect seamlessly but will not connect to hotspot WiFi despite manually selection of connection. Frustrating to no end. Older phone and other devices on different, older iOS working fine. A little attention to this issue please Apple!

micahsd Author

Level 1

16 points

Nov 13, 2022 7:05 AM in response to Axel Foley

Sorry, I forgot to mention that is something I’ve already checked and it is turned on.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Axel Foley

Level 10

150,966 points

Nov 13, 2022 4:43 PM in response to micahsd

You are welcome.

Axel F.

Dec 10, 2022 8:38 AM in response to micahsd

Me too

jfb1357

Level 1

2 points

Jan 15, 2023 9:51 AM in response to micahsd

Please let me know if your new iPhone works. I hate to do a complete restore, but if it fixes the problem it is worth it. Thanks for the reply!

Des_long

Level 1

8 points

Jan 28, 2023 4:40 PM in response to micahsd

This is beyond freaking annoying and it started happening 2 updates ago. Before that, it was fine.

jfb1357

Level 1

2 points

Mar 28, 2023 2:55 PM in response to Oshguy06

Oshguy06, Thanks, really good news!! I'll upgrade tonight and see if it works in my car tomorrow.

RCC49

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2023 12:28 AM in response to Oshguy06

Just for clarity, you are connecting to both CarPlay and the car's wifi? If so, it's strange that some people are having success and others not.

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iPhone Won't Automatically Connect to Vehicle's Hotspot