Problems with the new iOS 8 "Instant Hotspot" feature

I can’t really get it to work between my iPhone 5S and my iPad Mini Retina.

Continuity works — handoff between applications, call forwarding from iPhone to iPad.

The two devices see each other via Bluetooth and can exchange photos and files.

When I enter the "WiFi" menu on the iPad, I can see the iPhone name among the "Personal hotspots" categories, as well as its battery status and cell coverage.

When I click on it, however, the connection always fails; after twenty seconds or so, I get the error "Unable to turn on Personal Hotspot on <phone name>".

The only way to make it connect is to manually go to the personal hotspot setting screen on the iPhone, as I used to do before iOS 8; this kinda defeats the purpose of the "Instant Hotspot" feature, however 🙂

I already reset the network settings on both devices several times, but to no avail.

Has anyone experienced the same issue?

iPhone 5s, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 21, 2014 8:29 AM

21 replies

circa84

Level 1

0 points

Oct 22, 2014 12:10 PM in response to 1oracolo

I got mine to work after a few steps. I did the following but I think step 4 was probably the only one needed and didn't need to do step 1-3

1. Reset both my iPhone 5 and iPad Mini holding lock and home button for 5-10 seconds

2. Reset Network settings on both iPhone 5 and iPad Mini.

3.Changed Name of phone under Settings --> About --> Name (mine was out of sync with my hotspot info)

4. On the iPad, Click the information icon beside the hotspot (i within a circle). Click the "Forget This Network" button.

Oct 24, 2014 9:38 AM in response to 1oracolo

I'm replying to this message, but I feel it's applicable to many who have the issues of hotspot not working. After about a week of troubleshooting and trying to figure out why my iPhone 5s was not connecting to my macbook Pro via instant hotspot, I accidentally figured out exactly why it wasn't.

I've been using a Mophie Juice pack case on my phone. Evidently this case and probably some others block enough of the wifi and bluetooth signal to weaken the "INSTANT" hotspot signal. I removed the case and started using a standard plastic protective case, and voila, my instant hotspot works perfectly. Verified this by re-installing the Mophie case, and lost the signal completely.

Not sure if it's a defect on this particular Mophie case, but it might be worth checking and I'd be interested to learn if any others have this problem.

Oct 24, 2014 9:48 AM in response to navia72

This is an update to my previous reply. I'm also a user if the Ibattz battery case.. I just started using it, and have not had a problem with the instant hotspot feature, so I'm thinking that it has something to do with the Mophie design.. It's a shame as Mophie is a fine product. I attempted to inform Mophie of this, but got a standard reply that maybe I needed a replacement. That is their standard troubleshooting answer..

P.S.

I installed the mophie again after the Ibatz, and again lost the instant hotspot.

Oct 26, 2014 10:19 PM in response to navia72

Thanks navia72. I was having no luck getting my iPhone 6 instant hotspot to work with my new iPad air two. Your solution worked for me. I had to reboot the phone and the iPad four times and then all of a sudden It worked. I didn't do anything else other than reboot. Geez, what happened to "it just works"

Dec 13, 2014 5:29 PM in response to circa84

Genius! I just needed that fourth step as well. Thanks!

Sep 23, 2015 8:29 AM in response to 1oracolo

I had the same issue trying to connect to a Windows 10 laptop. Someone suggested removing all spaces in the phone name. If was something like My Phone as soon as I changed it to MyPhone the connection worked immediately

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Problems with the new iOS 8 "Instant Hotspot" feature