Personal Hotspot Problem: USB

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Level 1

10 points

Personal Hotspot Problem: USB

Ok, this problem just began recently. No upgrades or software changes made before the problem began.

Equipment: MacBook Pro & iPhone4

Service: AT&T, with tethering (or whatever they're calling it now)

Problem is with the Personal Hotspot on the iPhone. When I go to the Settings, and then to the Hotspot settings... all appears well. The slider for the Hotspot is ON, and it tells me that the phone is now "discoverable". I have it set up so that I can connect to it either via WiFi using the MacBook's AirPort, via Bluetooth, or a USB connection. Except for having to ask the MacBook to lookup the available networks, and then select my iPhone on the times I wanted to use the WiFi connection... all 3 options worked just fine until 3 days ago.

My usual option of tethering was to plug the iPhone to the MacBook via USB, as I would charge my phone while using it as a hotspot. As soon as I'd plug the USB cord in, I'd see the "Personal Hotspot: 1 Connection" highlight bar on the top of my iPhone... and all would work as advertised.

However as of 3 days ago... I can no longer get a hotspot connection via the USB cord. The hotpsot 'page' in the Settings menu still appears the same, and states that should be able to connect via USB... but it doesn't. The only way I can get a hotspot connection is to use the WiFi/AirPort connection. As I sit here typing this.. even though the iPhone is plugged into the MacBook with the USB cord, I'm not connected to it via USB... but via the WiFi/AirPort.

I've tried a reset of the Network Settings to no avail. Before I take the phone to the Genius Bar... anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

iPhone 4, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Jul 10, 2011 7:05 AM

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Answer 1

ATCguy Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 10, 2011 7:12 AM in response to ATCguy

Oh.. I forgot to mention: I know the iPhone is connecting to the MacBook via the USB cord ok... because iTunes recognizes it, and I can backup the ohone & sync with it just fine. Only the USB Hotspot doesn't seem to work.

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Answer 2

Feb 27, 2017 1:03 PM in response to ATCguy

I think I found the fix to the USB hotspot issue. (For Mac)

Rather simple really: When there is a public wifi network trying to gain access to your computer such as xfinity at a coffee shop etc, my mac will continue to attempt to connect via the "acceptance" popup that these networks push to your device. As such, the computer believes that it is connected to a wifi network, even though you haven't gone through the login steps for the network. Also as such, the computer WONT recognize your USB hotspot because it gives priority to the Wifi. Solution?? Turn off wifi, and your problem is solved in about 1 second without you doing anything. Now that is assuming that your ios device displays "1 hotspot connection" on the blue bar at the top of your phone. If it doesn't then you may have a different problem. Try this before messing with all of the other fixes, they didn't do anything to help my problem. And yes, I wish developers would iron out their developments, but this doesn't seem to be the way the world works...it runs on money, and most people don't care. My 2 cents? Sleep with the better devil...Apple.

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jul 10, 2011 7:16 AM in response to ATCguy

Follow the steps here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2756

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Answer 4

Jul 12, 2011 1:30 AM in response to wjosten

The fix seems to work. Although strangely I don't have the “On” sign in front of Personal Hotspot setting anymore…

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Answer 5

Oct 9, 2011 8:44 AM in response to wjosten

I have the exact same problem as the original poster, but the troubleshooting steps Apple recommends do not help. This used to work at one time but I'm not sure if I've had it working since doing a clean install of Lion.

Wi-Fi is fine, USB just refuses to connect no matter what magic incantation I use. Tried different USB port, rebooting Mac, restoring iPhone network prefs. Delete/Add iPhone USB in Network Prefs.

Also tried it on another computer, different cable, running Snow Leopard. Recognizes the iPhone and creates a device entry but refuses to connect on USB.

I guess I'll try restoring the iPhone to factory default.

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Answer 6

Oct 9, 2011 9:10 AM in response to Tom Sheppard

Restored to factory settings, did not restore backup and old settings but set it up as a new phone instead. Still refuses to connect to USB hotspot.

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Answer 7

Apr 3, 2012 2:29 PM in response to Tom Sheppard

Could you solve the problem?!

Same here!!

Best Wishes

Bernhard

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Answer 8

Apr 13, 2012 6:28 AM in response to Tom Sheppard

Same problem here. On a Windows 7 machine: can't see the IPhone Internet connection, whether I try wireless or USB (it used to work flawlessly). Oh, ITunes also doesn't see my IPhone, though I see it under "My Computer", the USB connection is fine (no problem in Device manager). I did reinstall ITunes recently, to no avail. I checked the steps on the web site above, they don't solve it either. Reset to factory settings? It seems many say that won't do the trick either (does it), but probably means lots of other work to get all the other stuff working as before again: seems painful.

I just wasted an hour at the airport desperate to connect to the Internet using the IPhone, but it does not work. What a waste of time and money. Apple should try to design products that work as advertised, not this tech junk.

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Answer 9

Mar 16, 2013 1:28 PM in response to wjosten

del

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