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Tim Klein Author

Level 1

12 points

Instant Hotspot / Personal Hotspot Not Functioning Correctly

Repost due to header spelling fail... Sorry!

Performed the iOS update to 8.1 and the instant hotspot isn't functioning. Whenever I try to connect from my MacBook I get the error: Failed to enable Personal Hotspot on "Tim's iPhone" - Check to see if the tethering device is turned on and in range of your computer.

I've reset the network settings on the iPhone, cleared all of my saved networks on my MacBook to try to get it back to a semi-reset state (though I did a full drive erase and installed Yosemite from scratch so I can't imagine my settings are very far from virgin state yet) but I'm still unable to connect unless I manually turn on the Personal Hotspot on the iPhone first (even then, connecting is a bit hit and miss which was never a problem before). Restarting each device multiple times and logging into and out of the iCloud account on each device hasn't changed anything.

Even worse is that, prior to upgrading from 8.0.2, the feature worked perfectly between my iPad and my iPhone. It even shut the personal hotspot off as soon as you disconnected from the iPhone. Now, it's hit and miss as well; Connecting every 3rd or 4th try but leaving Personal Hotspot "on" on my iPhone after disconnection.

The smooth experience between my iPad and iPhone is what gave me such high expectations for the Yosemite release. Now I'm sitting here with that still not functioning and the original experience gone. How disappointing.

---

Tim

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 20, 2014 2:18 PM

Top-ranking reply

p.r

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Mar 15, 2017 6:01 PM

Simple Process

1: On the device that needs the internet connection (eg your MacBook), Turn Off WiFi

2: On iPhone,

- Set to Airplane Mode = On

- Go to Settings -> Personal Hotspot

set to OFF

then change WiFi password

- Go to Settings -> General -> About

change Name to a name that the device (eg your MacBook) requiring the hotspot has never connected to. Important step, otherwise your device (MacBook) may try using some saved setting for a previously used wifi name.

- Now go back to Settings -> Personal Hotspot and Set to ON

- Set Airplane Mode = OFF

- Wait for your iPhone to be fully connectedness to your mobile network

3. On the device that needs the internet connection (eg your MacBook), Turn ON WiFi

then Connect to your new personal hotspot using the new password

View in context

100 replies

Dec 13, 2014 8:10 AM in response to Taroqro

Taroqro, I would like to know what steps you used that you got it to work.

And now, is it still working after time has passed (like now)?

sra80

Level 1

8 points

Dec 15, 2014 5:02 AM in response to Tim Klein

Thanks Tim, I just reset the network settings on my iPhone and nothing else which seemed to solve the problem for me.

Jan 14, 2015 3:16 AM in response to Tim Klein

Thanks! All I had to do was reset my network settings... and reliably activates my hotspot.

sammiemo

Level 1

14 points

Jan 14, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Bazmanian

Many of the steps I've taken here have got it working for me. It will work for a while (anywhere from a few hours to a day or so), then I'm back in the same boat.

Maybe the Genius Bar will be able to help me.

AceNeerav

Level 1

147 points

Jan 14, 2015 6:59 AM in response to sammiemo

sammiemo wrote:

It will work for a while (anywhere from a few hours to a day or so), then I'm back in the same boat.

ditto!

Jan 22, 2015 4:07 AM in response to Tim Klein

Thanks, Tim!

Worked for me as well!

NacDaddy

Level 1

12 points

Feb 14, 2015 1:54 AM in response to Tim Klein

This worked perfectly for me - thanks Tim!

Mar 7, 2015 6:07 AM in response to Tim Klein

Not sure if it has been mentioned in any of the posts but when I just had the same problem, I turned off bluetooth on my iphone. It was coming up originally with the 4g signal and battery etc. but I was getting the "Failed to connect to personal hotspot on iphone" message. I turned off bluetooth on the iphone (it said it was connected to the MBP) and tried again, this time it listed just "iphone" as a wifi signal with no battery strength etc. Clicked on that and it connected straight away. FWIW!

Late 2014 MBP 13" with Yosemite 10.10.2 & iPhone6

Mar 8, 2015 5:58 PM in response to Tim Klein

Thank you Tim! Your guide worked for me.

tgwaste-

Level 1

15 points

Mar 15, 2015 4:59 PM in response to Tim Klein

Disabling BT worked for me.

o Disable BlueTooth

o Enable Personal Hotspot

o It will ask to turn on BT or use Wifi USB Only.

o Select Wifi USB Only

o Once connected you can turn on BT again and it should work as normal from that point forward.

.. Worked for me at least.

AceNeerav

Level 1

147 points

Apr 13, 2015 2:37 PM in response to tgwaste-

ios 8.3, os x 10.10.3

got a 'failed connection' message the first time.

second time it connected but instead of showing it as a personal hotspot it showed as if it was normal wifi. whats worse, it showed my iphone has a pppoe connection!

third time, it worked fine.

Dekema

Level 1

15 points

Apr 14, 2015 8:09 PM in response to Tim Klein

I feel like I tried this before. It worked now. This is the solution that will work.

pinkun

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2015 11:01 PM in response to Tim Klein

Thanks Tim. Really works for me. Just sign out and sign in my Apple ID on both iPhone and Macbook Pro Retina.

Apr 22, 2015 11:21 AM in response to tgwaste-

This, or actually just turning bt off, made my phone appear with the wifi-networks instead as a personal hotspot, and I was able to connect my iMac.

Thx!

cvx5832

Level 1

15 points

Apr 25, 2015 9:11 AM in response to Tim Klein

This has been a goofy bug for sure and I hope Apple resolves it with a software update. Until that magical day arrives you can add an additional step to the current one-button press and get it to connect every time.

Note: Personal Hotspot on your iPhone must be toggled ON

1.) Click "Join Other Network" (instead of clicking on your phone in the hotspot section of the dropdown)

2.) Click "Show Networks"

3.) Click on your iPhone and "Join"

I find that this connects faster because it doesn't have that awkward pause where the devices seem to be negotiating something in the background. As soon as I click "Join" in step 3 the linked chain appears in my menu bar and I can surf as usual.

This worked on both my 2015 rMB-12 and 2012 rMBP-13, both of which were having issues. Thanks Apple.

Instant Hotspot / Personal Hotspot Not Functioning Correctly