Warnings of low iPhone battery on macOS Sequoia when connected via hotspot

I had the same issue and found a solution today. At least it worked on my iPhone 14 pro with iOS 26.0.1:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset

Select Reset > Reset Network Settings

Be Careful: you will have to set your phone name again and you will have to select and categorize your SIMs if you use multi-SIM. However, it did not delete my e-SIMs and I had no other issues.

If you want to be very careful you could backup your phone before trying this.

After this reset my hotspot showed the correct battery status and network signal type and strength.

kundé wrote:

Warnings (in form of notifications) of low iPhone battery continuously pop-up on macOS Sequoia 15.1.1. whenever I am connected to the internet via hotspot.

Somehow, the battery status has been misread by my computer since Monterrey, however, since Sequoia I started getting notifications asking me if I would like to disconnect from my iPhone. This message keeps poping-up even if the hotspot is active via the usb cable connected to my MacBook Pro... while the iPhone is being charged by the computer itself.

I have found no way to stop these notifications in System Settings. It is distracting and annoying.

I don't know if I should file a bug report...

Any help is appreciated!

I use hotspot 100% for my internet connection for over 5 years and all the associated macOS and iOS...

Never encountered the issue—

First thing I would try is don't connect the charging cable to the MBP.

Use a different source to charge the iPhone and compare your results.

verify your software is up to date:

The current stable release of Sequoia including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 15.1.1

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

The current stable release of iOS including bug fixes, security updates is iOS 18.1.1

Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

I can also confirm this bug is very real and has been happening continously for months. Same as everyone here, i get constant annoying pop-up notifications telling me to disconnect. No fix from Apple yet.

As it is shown on the image, the Macbook incorrectly reads my iPhone as "low battery" and 3G, even though it is actually at 100% battery and connected to 4G LTE.

Bryan Russell1 wrote:

You can  file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here:  Product Feedback - Apple

I have had this same problem for a long time, but now is working ok with Sequoia 15.7.1 and iOS 18.6.2. (Macbook Air M1, iPhone 12 Mini).

Try this one, it worked for me.

MacBook Pro: Personal Hotspot Works, but … - Apple Community

This has started happening to me today, it hasn't happened before. Neither the MacBook Air or iPhone is on charge, the iPhone has over 90% charge, the MacBook has 99% charge. I keep being prompted (on the MacBook) to disconnect because of low battery on iPhone.

I connect to hotspot every week at uni, no idea why this is happening today.

I'm running 15.1.1 on MacBook, 18.0.1 on iPhone.

I am receiving the same error as well. I have never seen this message prior to updating to Sequoia 15.1.1 . I have now seen this message popup whether my MacBook Air M2 and iPhone 14 Pro Max(18.1.1) are on charge OR not - also it has appeared when BOTH are at 90%+ charge.

Here is a little more info to show it is an issue with Sequoia 15.1.1 and NOT anywhere else. When connecting to my hotspot I notice the signal type/strength and battery level are being read incorrectly by the MacBook OS - in the pic you can see it shows it is 3G and approx 50% battery or less, but on the iPhone it is actually on 5G+ and the battery is at 100%.

I thought I was alone.. MBP M2 OS 15.1.1 - on home WIFI

Mine started bonging away a few days ago after I let the battery run down to around 10% but it stopped when recharged to 100% and after restarting MBP. Then back again after I ran battery down to 0% (thought this was good for battery health) and bonging again on power, presently 73% battery.

The only fix is to endure or switch off sounds so hoping for update

I've had this for about the last six months as well. It continues today with my iPhone 14pro max getting a low battery popup - when the phone when it has 74% battery. When I click the hotspot icon in the toolbar, the network and strength is shown as either one bar of 3g (which we don't even have in Australia anymore) or one bar of LTE, on the phone I have 3 bars of 5g.

iOS version is 18.3.1 - phone is an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

macOS version is 15.3.1 - device is an M3 MBP 14 inch.

It's not a significant problem - just irritating.

zsarwar wrote:

Still no fix as of nearly April 2025. Unacceptable.

My 5GUW connection on my iPhone 16 Pro is being read as 1x, which is the amongst the lowest possible data signals (No service, SOS only, 1x, 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, 5G+, 5G UC, 5G UW etc.), I believe.

Moreover, the "low battery" notifications also remain frequent and spontaneous.

Apple, please distribute a fix through a software update soon. Seriously.

zsarwar— you are so far removed from the OP(original post) back in November of 2024...

you are better off starting your own thread for your issue.

Seem extremely isolated issue, just not seeing many post like yours(?)

—Talk to your Cell provider, and reprovision your device

—check for a hardware issue

Put your iPhone in diagnostics mode - identify potential hardware and software issues

How to put your iPhone in diagnostics mode - Apple Support

good luck

Call Customer Support  (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line  https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call  AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support 

Around the World—

Choose your country or region - Apple

This is really weird. I use my iPhone hotspot very frequently, and I have used it with Sequoia with two different macs and also two different iPhones, and (knock on wood) I never experienced this.

Since some people keep having it, while others never experienced it, I wonder what the difference might be - specific Mac and iPhone models, which iOS versions, or perhaps some software conflict.

I don't recall seeing this being tried: running the Mac in Safe Mode, does the same problem occur?

This has been an issue and continues to be an issue for me since updating to 15.3.1 last night. The Personal Hotspot toolbar item incorrectly shows that:

1. My phone is at low battery, when it is at 79% (MacBook at 82% as well)
2. My phone is on 3G, when it's on 4G/5G
3. Low connection quality when my phone is nearby and there's a good connection