Level 1

25 points

iOS 26 update breaks personal hotspot on iPhone 16 Pro Max

Hello,

After updating my iPhone 16 Pro Max to iOS 26, I can no longer use Personal Hotspot. In Settings, the option shows as “Personal Hotspot – Off” and it is grayed out.

I already tried:

Restarting the iPhone
Turning Airplane Mode on/off
Resetting Cellular and Wi-Fi connections
Updating Carrier Settings (no update available)
Changing Hotspot password and device name

But the issue is still there. My carrier plan includes hotspot, and it was working normally before updating to iOS 26.

Is anyone else facing the same issue? Any fix or workaround until Apple releases a patch?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Personal hotspot

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 12:33 PM

Top-ranking reply

NateMekonnen

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Oct 5, 2025 11:35 AM

I had the same issue and after trying a lot of things the following worked for me i hope it helps.

1- Go to settings > cellular > cellular data network

2 - Caution here i don’t know what it might cause but I turned off “Use carrier settings”

3 - I filled out APN on cellular data section and scrolled down and on Personal Hotspot section the APN field was empty too and i filled out my carriers APN.

Thats it when i went back the personal hotspot is not grayed out anymore and i can use it like before.

View in context

53 replies

Jan 24, 2026 10:41 PM in response to MmFf05

Hello

Do you want it not to be gray?

Did you ever try it?

Do you have any plans to participate in the next iOS design?

Considering the future policy, why don't you write down your plan, etc.?

Thank you as always

Sincerely,

Jan 25, 2026 5:42 PM in response to goody4paws

Can you imagine how many thousands of posts you would see from the hundreds of millions of iPhone users if this was actually a problem with iOS that Apple could fix? This is a problem with your iPhone, not a defect in iOS. And you found a solution. If it was a defect your solution would not have worked.

There is an adage known to the Ancients and passed down through the centuries by secret societies: When in doubt, reboot!

Sep 24, 2025 11:22 PM in response to MmFf05

This is absolutely a software issue. Anyone saying differently is incorrect. Apple needs to fix this in an update. It nearly had me downgrade tonight

Sep 25, 2025 1:27 AM in response to lilRichard

Me too. Just started happening.

MmFf05 Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 25, 2025 6:20 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

I did everything

no change

Sep 26, 2025 10:03 AM in response to MmFf05

Same issue

Kevinwal

Level 1

54 points

Sep 27, 2025 4:09 PM in response to MmFf05

Same issue

Sep 30, 2025 12:31 AM in response to MmFf05

Same issue on iPhone 15 Pro Max, I’ve tied all solutions and also installed the update that came out today and still the option is grayed out.

Oct 8, 2025 9:32 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

I did this. Worked for a week. Back to my connection in and out every second. Laptop dropping while trying to work.

Oct 9, 2025 8:04 AM in response to MmFf05

Same thing here.

funny enough, my work PC can access « some » limited services, but my Mac Studio running Sequoia is connected but totally unable to connect even a basic website.

Lishhh31

Level 1

8 points

Oct 15, 2025 3:12 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Same happened to me but nothing fixes :(

Nov 2, 2025 7:18 AM in response to MatrixPC

Same issue I am facing

Hotspot getting grey out ios 26.0.1

Biakam

Level 1

8 points

Nov 5, 2025 8:03 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Am facing the same issue.my personal hotspot button is greyed since i updated my phone.how to fix it? I tried all the methods suggested on the internet but nothing worked

Biakam

Level 1

8 points

Nov 5, 2025 8:05 PM in response to NateMekonnen

There is no such option in 15 pro max

Nov 12, 2025 12:12 AM in response to MmFf05

Same problem I nearly punched a hole in my air Mac. Basically they want you to buy the 17. Oh well ordering one soon rather than later.. INREALLY NEED ON THE ROAD HOTPOST ON THE Mac laptop

iOS 26 update breaks personal hotspot on iPhone 16 Pro Max