iOS 26 update breaks personal hotspot on iPhone 16 Pro Max

What nonsense! I’m sorry you have a problem, but probably 100 million iPhone16 users do NOT have a problem. I don’t. So you need to troubleshoot the problem with YOUR PHONE. Apple can’t help unless you arrange for Apple to test and evaluate it.

As a start, Do you have a 3rd party VPN installed, even if you are not using it? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN, then restart your device. Don't just turn it off; delete the profile. If that fixes it, you can try reinstalling VPN, but probably shouldn't.

khizer276 wrote:

Same issue i have done every possible thing to fix this problem but its not solved its totally a software issue apple needs to fix this in an update even though i installed 26.0.1 latest update

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

Contact your carrier and have them take a look at your account.

It 100% is a software issue

I placed my sim in another phone and was able to use the hotspot services freely with no issue

I am using the hotspot connection from that same phone which I placed my sim in(to prove its not a carrier issue) to send this message

VPN is not responsible for ALL connectivity issues, only about 90% of them. So deleting the VPN profile (not the app) is a first troubleshooting step for any connectivity issue. If yours is among the other 10% then additional troubleshooting is required.

And, as Bob Timmons posted, using a VPN is LESS secure than not having a VPN→VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

Installed IOS 26.0.1 on October 4th and also noted that the Personal Hotspot is greyed out and inaccessable on Iphone 16 Pro Max. Worked before on IOS 18.x.x

Not a VPN issue, carrier issue, or configuration issue. IOS 26.0.1 broke this feature. Hopefully Apple will pay attention to this thread and fix the issue for the Iphone 16 with eSim's.

Just for the record, and so you can be proactive, Apple Support does not participate in the forums or review the threads. In fact as a former Apple employee, we were prohibited from even visiting the forums.

If you want Apple to “pay attention” to the issue, open a support ticket and follow up every week until the issue is escalated to engineering.

If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada call 1-800-263-3394

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

trigalpad wrote:

Actually, whether it’s Apple or not faults, the problem appears to be after the update, for a lot of people including me. Stop saying it’s a problem related to VPNs, please. The issue is that, whichever the case, there’s a new field for the APN now, one for the mobile connection and another for the internet sharing as hotspots, and this field is not automagically filled for every user/carrier. Who cares about the guilty? But the greyed button on the Apple UI is not giving a clue about what is happening, and this is anything but helpful. That’s it. This is the meaning behind this thread.

Mr. Finch's opinion is just as valid and appropriate as yours (or anyone else's here).

Stop complaining if this is not your case; you’re spamming, and someone has to tell you this. Stop.

That's not up to you. Unless the Hosts decide that Mr. Finch has violated the terms of use, he may continue to post as he sees fit. Even if you personally don't like it.

I have the same issue. iPhone 16 Pro Max. Never used any VPN so the answers around that don't help and unfortunately, I do not see any options around "Use carrier settings" in my phone.

I have both called and visited (in person) my carrier and they performed troubleshooting steps:

1- Soft and Hard restarts

2- Resetting Network Settings

3- Deleting and pushing e-SIM

I made an appointment in an apple store and they did not find anything wrong with the *hardware* so they recommended I should do a factory reset.

I went to the "Erase all content and settings" options and performed the steps, then restored it. Did not resolve the issue.

The next step I was to set my phone on DFU and attempt a restore, after a couple of tries, still no luck.

GrantG144 wrote:

I would be having the problem you are having

I tried after reading below toggling Airplane Mode on off resetting internet connectivity twice turning the phone line off on

I conclude the problem would be the carrier after reading below

I currently have iOS 26.6

Could you explain to me eSIM APN

Do you know more

One thing to check: do you have Bluetooth turned on? It is required to use the personal hotspot.

after setting access point (APN) worked fine

lilRichard wrote:

This is absolutely a software issue. Anyone saying differently is incorrect. Apple needs to fix this in an update.

Have you spoken to Apple? Given them feedback?

Product Feedback - Apple

It nearly had me downgrade tonight

Good luck with that.

For personal hotspot to function. The iPhone or iPad requires only one of the following with an active cellular signal:

Bluetooth ON

USB cable connected directly to device

WiFi enabled on the iPhone AND disconnected to local WiFi

(In Settings/WiFi Tap on the WiFi with the blue check if on a local WiFi to disconnect )

Also try to toggle “Personal Hotspot/Allow Others to Join” in Settings

Same issue. And no, removing VPN not only fails to fix this issue, but is also an absurd recommendation from a security standpoint, especially if you ever use public WiFi (like sitting in an airport).

Hotspot was one of my most used features prior to getting the iOS 26 update. It’s now greyed out and no amount of restarting, resetting network settings, uninstalling VPN profiles, or any of these other suggestions work.

This absolutely started with the hideous iOS 26 update.

What do you want Apple to do for a problem with your iPhone that is not a problem on hundreds of million of other iPhones?

what Apple did was tighten security for Personal Hotspot. Previously any device on your Apple ID or anyone in your family group could turn on the personal hotspot on your phone remotely, and you could not prevent it. There were a large number of complaints about this security risk. The fix is to turn on personal hotspot on your iPhone, log in using the password on any device that you want to have access, an it will remember that for the future.

if you also have VPN installed on your iPhone completely remove it including the VPN profile.