- Confirm that your iOS device, computer, and wireless plan all meet the system requirements for Personal Hotspot.
- Verify that Personal Hotspot is enabled by tapping Settings > General > Cellular > Personal Hotspot.
- Verify the Internet connection on your iOS device by tapping Safari and loading a new webpage.
- If one connection type doesn't work, try another (for example, instead of connecting using Wi-Fi, try using USB or Bluetooth).
- Try disabling and reenabling Personal Hotspot from Settings > Personal Hotspot or Settings > General > Cellular > Personal Hotspot.
- Install the latest version of iOS. Tap Settings > General > Software Update.
- Reset network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- If none of the previous steps resolves your issue, restore the iPhone.
Did all of the above except step 6 (I don't wish to install iOS 7) and 8 (really? is this the only way?). Step 4 is not applicable: Wi-fi and BT work but I want USB to work as well, that's the whole point. Nothing helped, I will just have to re-enter all the endless wi-fi passwords...
If you are using USB to connect your computer to Personal Hotspot and you are unable to get an Internet connection, check your computer's network settings. You may need to adjust your computer's network settings to disconnect and reconnect the USB Ethernet interface.
Select your operating system for instructions:
Open System Preferences > Network. Locate and select the Ethernet adapter listed, and then click the gear icon and choose Make Service Inactive. Then choose Make Service Active:
Did that too. After inactivating and re-activating en(5), it said "Unknown state" in the laptop's Network Preferences. When I clicked "Apply", it changed to "Cable Unplugged". The cable was (of course) connected. I tried another cable, in case there was an internet-specific fault with my own cable (which works fine for charging and syncing). No luck. Back to square 1.
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