Hotspot Blue Band at top of iphone displays 2 connections

Question

Level 1

2 points

Hotspot Blue Band at top of iphone displays 2 connections

Recently after connecting laptop to iphone4, I am noticing that the blue band at the top of iphone screen displays: personal hotspot: 1 connection. Then after 5 minutes, it will display: personal hotspot: 2 connections. When using hotspot with laptop, I am utilizing yahoo mail, or idoling my facebook profile page and checking it once in awhile....basically, I shouldn't drain 1GB in just 3 hours, by looking at my profile on fb, and sending a few emails on yahoo

I'm not using or viewing videos, media, music, nothing...Verizon seems to think what I'm accessing on my laptop IS using that much data! My thought is that other people are accessing my hotspot or wi-fi and that may explain why my usage is being sucked like crazy and the blue band displays: 2 connections! Can someone enlighten me on their thoughts, or how to disable other users from getting free internet off me!! Because this is a struggle:(

Dell Laptop and iphone4, iOS 4

Posted on Feb 24, 2011 2:27 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 12, 2017 10:27 AM in response to CodeCavalier

I use a free app on my MacPro called LanScan. It will list all devices that gain access to your hotspot connection and/ or your network signal. Funny thing is I never have seen a 2nd device connection notice again since I added this app to my arsenal.

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Answer 2

Nov 20, 2017 7:03 AM in response to MandyMay

I tried the previous suggestions with null results so I chatted with my provider (Sprint). Turns out that since I moved recently, they had to refresh my services. I guess I was still connected to my previous location. Did you move recently?

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,345 points

Feb 24, 2011 2:41 AM in response to MandyMay

Personal Hotspot WiFi networks require a password. You cannot disable this feature. You can change your WiFi password by tapping Settings>Personal Hotspot or Settings>General>Network>Personal Hotspot and then tapping the WiFi password. So, unless someone knows your password, I don't see how they could connect.

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Answer 4

Mar 31, 2011 11:58 AM in response to MandyMay

It's possible that your laptop is establishing 2 connections: WiFi & USB. If you connect your laptop thru WiFi, then you plug your phone in with the USB cable (to sync with iTunes, for example), then you might get both the WiFi and the USB connected at the same time. I don't remember the USB connection asking me for a password, so you may not have noticed when the USB connection established.

I don't know why you have so much bandwidth being used. Try changing the password for your Personal Hotspot.

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Answer 5

Mar 31, 2011 12:02 PM in response to MandyMay

By the way, does anybody know if there is a way to see a list of who's connected to my Personal Hotspot? With my home router, I can access an admin area via web interface and pull up a list of connected devices. Is there some way to do this on the iPhone?

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Answer 6

Endareth

Level 1

8 points

Apr 4, 2011 11:20 PM in response to MandyMay

I was about to post a "me too" comment, when I realised that the USB cable I thought was plugged into a wall charger for my iPhone, was in fact plugged into my laptop. So, laptop via USB, plus iPad via Bluetooth, equals two connections! Now, while in this instance the laptop isn't actually using the USB connection, I would really like to be able to disable USB tethering when I need to. I also find it quite non-intuitive to switch the different tethering/hotspot methods on and off, especially with no visibility as to what may be connected to any specific method. After trying out MyWi, I've getting more and more tempted to go back and buy it. The ability to see exactly what's connected to what, and how much data has been used, plus easy toggling of wifi/bluetooth/usb is getting more attractive after experimenting with Apple's version.

Back to the OP, any chance that your iPhone is paired via Bluetooth with your laptop? The BT connection may be kicking in to cause the second connection? Still doesn't explain the data drain though... There is one other possibility there--automatic updates. Any chance that the 10.6.7 decided to start downloading in the background? That was pretty massive, and could well explain the extra GB download.

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Answer 7

drpr

Level 1

1 points

Sep 6, 2011 11:51 AM in response to MandyMay

When I use the personal hotspot I'll have two connections if both Bluetooth and wifi are turned on in both devices. I just turn Bluetooth off, usually.

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Answer 8

Matty_T

Level 1

5 points

Mar 29, 2012 4:49 PM in response to CodeCavalier

Did you get a response to your question of:

how to see a list of who's connected to my Personal Hotspot?

I would like to know and can't seem to find much dicussion of it anywhere (nothing I can find on Google or in this forum???)?

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Answer 9

Nov 3, 2013 8:45 PM in response to Matty_T

Did you get an answer in the end? I have used over 2GB in a few days, with no explanation. My iPhone says I have 2 connections to my personal hotspot, even with Bluetooth turned off and with no USB connection - definitely only one connection - from me anyway!

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Answer 10

Nov 7, 2013 9:16 AM in response to MandyMay

I have the same concern. Two connections showing when only one of MY devices is connected. And yes, I have turned off Bluetooth on my MacBook. Wonder what's going on?

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Answer 11

Ace Haim

Level 1

0 points

Dec 17, 2013 2:48 AM in response to MandyMay

For those people having a 2 connection using the personal hot spot it is actually the tethered connection and the wireless hot spot being used in your computer. All you have to do is disable the usb tether and let your laptop connect to your phone via wireless. Normally this happens because you are activating the hot spot at the same time charging

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Answer 12

tundern

Level 1

106 points

Sep 15, 2015 9:25 PM in response to CodeCavalier

I just used your thought, CodeCavalier, to pull the USB cord for my iPhone from my MBP USB port. "Personal Hotspot: 2 Connections" immediately changed to "...1 Connection." Plugged the USB cord back in and got "2 connections" about 1 sec later. Mandy May's question answered. Thank you. And Ace Haim has answered the question two but in a more theoretical way.

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Answer 13

Twinny1

Level 1

4 points

May 28, 2016 12:57 AM in response to tundern

Hi all,

I had this problem too and followed some of the advice here. I managed to change the number of connections from 2 to 1.

I also freaked, thinking who's tapping into my data 🙂 BUT - I tried switching off Bluetooth and no change.

Then, I switched of WIFI on your phone and it will immediately change 2 to 1 connection.

Hope this helps someone..

Twinny1

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Answer 14

Sep 16, 2016 4:07 AM in response to Twinny1

iPhone 6

iPad 6 Air

iOS 10.0.1 both

WiFi off iphone

WiFi on iPad

Bluetooth off both

I still see 2 connections on iPhone !

huh?

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Answer 15

Sep 16, 2016 4:12 AM in response to William Donelson

I Figured it out

My son's nothere but his laptop is in the other room on charge. Months ago he tethered to my iPhone when broadband was down.

I Changed hotspot passwor and now I see only 1 connection.

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