Newsroom Update

Apple and Google deliver support for unwanted tracking alerts in iOS and Android. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

lonesailor89 Author

Level 1

0 points

Personal Hotspot on iphone 3gs

Does anyone know the reason apple is not allowing the personal hotspot feature to be enabled on the iphone 3gs?

Dell Precision 360, Windows 7

Posted on Mar 6, 2011 2:41 AM

47 replies

Magnat

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2011 12:05 PM in response to Mikeleto

On my 3gs its working, but the option of personal hotspot only appears when i turn on cellular data, if i put it on the personal hotspot appears... Im on IOs 4.3 on 3Gs.

Mar 30, 2011 12:59 PM in response to Magnat

Could you, please, explain how you do that? I've turned off the Wi-FI and I'm on 3G and I don't see the personal hotspot appears on my 3GS. Thanks!

diesel vdub

Level 7

22,178 points

Mar 30, 2011 1:39 PM in response to PaulDupuis

PaulDupuis wrote:
Could you, please, explain how you do that? I've turned off the Wi-FI and I'm on 3G and I don't see the personal hotspot appears on my 3GS. Thanks!

What version iOS are you running on your device?
In iOS4.1 and 4.2 the feature is called Tethering.
In iOS4.3 it is renamed Personal Hotspot.

diesel vdub

Level 7

22,178 points

Mar 30, 2011 1:41 PM in response to Magnat

Magnat wrote:
On my 3gs its working, but the option of personal hotspot only appears when i turn on cellular data, if i put it on the personal hotspot appears... Im on IOs 4.3 on 3Gs.

That is expected behavior. There is no need for "Personal Hotspot" (aka Tethering) if the Cellular data is turned off.
The entire purpose of tethering is to share the Cellular Data connection with other devices.

Mar 31, 2011 11:07 AM in response to diesel vdub

diesel vdub wrote:

PaulDupuis wrote:
Could you, please, explain how you do that? I've turned off the Wi-FI and I'm on 3G and I don't see the personal hotspot appears on my 3GS. Thanks!

What version iOS are you running on your device?
In iOS4.1 and 4.2 the feature is called Tethering.
In iOS4.3 it is renamed Personal Hotspot.

IOS 4.3 : iPhone 3GS

Personal Hotspot : On the road, in an airport, at the park — now you can bring Wi-Fi with you wherever you go. Download iOS 4.3 on your iPhone 4, and the next time you find yourself without access to Wi-Fi but in 3G territory, enable Personal Hotspot and share your cellular data connection with your Mac, PC, iPad, or other Wi-Fi-capable device. You can share your connection with up to five devices at once over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB — with up to three of those connections using Wi-Fi. Every connection is password protected and secure. And it’s power friendly, too. iPhone detects when your Personal Hotspot is no longer in use and turns it off to save battery life.
http://www.apple.com/ios/

iPhone 4 only

:(!

Magnat

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2011 11:20 AM in response to PaulDupuis

I just know that on my 3Gs it works...

Coolmax

Level 2

195 points

Mar 31, 2011 5:52 PM in response to Magnat

Personal hotspot is available under iOS 4.3 for the iPhone 3GS and 4. The only difference between the 2 is that 3GS can only tether via USB and Bluetooth with another IOS device running 4.3. With iPhone 4, you also can tether using WIFI as well. I think Apple decided to allow the iPhone 4 because of the battery issue. My iPhone 3GS runs with an external battery and its the only way I can keep the phone working the full day using Hotspot with the iPad occasionally. The hotspot feature is a battery sucker plus a bandwidth sucker as well with the iPad. It also will not work without a tether plan and probably disabled on some phones network.

I use the Hotspot via Bluetooth typing on the iPad now on this message as my iPhone acts as a single user hotspot.

Apr 1, 2011 5:49 AM in response to Coolmax

Coolmax wrote:
I use the Hotspot via Bluetooth typing on the iPad now on this message as my iPhone acts as a single user hotspot.

Thanks for the information... but I'm surprised! I went to the Apple Store yesterday and the Apple guys told me that's impossible to tether via Bluetooth the iPad2 with the iPhone 3GS.

Hum... I'm very happy to know that! Thanks!

Apr 6, 2011 6:31 PM in response to ambarsaria

no. get used to it. thats what steve's like. the 3gs could do it, he just wants the money because he thinx peepz will $ the 4 bcuz of this

Topes

Level 1

0 points

Apr 12, 2011 2:59 PM in response to lonesailor89

I've got it on my 3Gs, Personal Hotspot is under
Settings
General
Network
Scroll down and you will see it there (I'm assuming it replaced the Internet Tethering).
Turn it on and enable the bluetooth option and you're away.

Magnat

Level 1

0 points

Apr 14, 2011 12:29 PM in response to Topes

I don't know if it's normal or not, but on my 3GS Personal hotspot is under network and also on system preferences when I connect cellular data, just like the iPhone 4, my iPhone is a 3GS old bootrom...

May 9, 2011 12:42 AM in response to lonesailor89

Just read this article

http://www.macworld.com/article/158556/2011/03/personal_hotspot_att.html

clearly the personal hotspot feature can be updated to a 3GS but it works only with an iPhone4....

3GS users can still use the internet tethering option ..it has not dissappeared but just renamed as Personal Hotspot....

May 9, 2011 2:40 PM in response to premfromsan jose

The 3GS is certainly capable of using the wifi option of personal hotspot having seen it myself. Apple apparently are just making this the first major cut off for support of the GS.

Jun 16, 2011 8:21 PM in response to bbfc

I think your reply answered to the question.

Bluetooth Internet tethering is now known as personal hotspot as it allows multiple users.

The older version only allow 1 Bluetooth tethering at a time.

Yes. What 3GS lacking is the internet sharing over wifi.

Some telcos,

They disabled the personal hotspot for commercial reasons.

Or they impose extra charges for personal hotspot because of it's multiple user possibility.

I find your answer very pleasant and clear.

Straight to the point.

I do not understand why someone finds it not

But offensive instead...

Weird :)

Have a nice day

Joeie

Level 1

0 points

Jun 10, 2012 4:46 AM in response to Inkman15

I believe you guys could find the official answer here. HOPE it helps you!

http://www.imore.com/2011/01/23/ios-43-features-wifi-personal-hotspot-iphone-3gs /

Personal Hotspot on iphone 3gs