marlena st kilda east

Q: My Mac can't detect my iPhone hotspot

I've got a hotspot on my iPhone (iPhone 5, 8.1.3), it works great with my iPad2, but not with my Mac Book Pro (10.10.2). I expect the hotspot to appear in the list of available wi-fi's so I can select it, but it doesn't. Haven't been able to find any advice online that has been helpful. Sound like a trivial matter and that I've just got an incorrect setting somewhere, but can't figure out what it would be.

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Feb 7, 2015 1:51 AM

Close

Q: My Mac can't detect my iPhone hotspot

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by sterling r,

    sterling r sterling r Feb 9, 2015 8:27 AM in response to marlena st kilda east
    Community Specialists
    Feb 9, 2015 8:27 AM in response to marlena st kilda east

    Hello Markena,

     

    It sounds like you arent able to join your iPhones Personal Hotspot. I would use this troubleshooting info from the following article to cover the basics, and a bit more:

     

    iOS: Troubleshooting Personal Hotspot

    Basic troubleshooting

    1. Turn Personal Hotspot off and on: Tap Settings > Personal Hotspot or Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot.
    2. Install the latest version of iOS.
    3. Reset your network settings: Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
    4. If you still see the issue, restore the iPhone.

    If you're still experiencing issues, try the steps below.

     

    Wi-Fi troubleshooting

    If you encounter an issue using Personal Hotspot with other Wi-Fi devices, try these steps:

    1. Turn Personal Hotspot off.
    2. Turn on Wi-Fi: Tap Settings > Wi-Fi.
    3. Turn on Personal Hotspot.
    4. If another device can't join your Wi-Fi network, make sure the Wi-Fi password is correct.
    5. If the device can't see your Wi-Fi network, check your device name. Windows may not correctly show a device name that uses non-ASCII characters.
    6. See how many devices are using your Personal Hotspot. Depending on your wireless carrier, the number of Wi-Fi connections may be limited to three devices at once.
    7. If the other device still can't connect, turn Wi-Fi off and on for the device.
    8. Make sure that your device can see other Wi-Fi networks.

    Note: If you see "Unable to Join" or a timeout error when you try to connect a device using Wi-Fi, remain on the Personal Hotspot screen until the first device connects. After the device connects, you can leave the Personal Hotspot screen and use your iPhone normally. Your device will stop broadcasting Wi-Fi if you put it to sleep or if 90 seconds elapse and no connected devices use Wi-Fi. To share your Wi-Fi network again, tap Settings > Personal Hotspot.

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

    Cheers,

    Sterling

  • by marlena st kilda east,

    marlena st kilda east marlena st kilda east Feb 9, 2015 2:59 PM in response to sterling r
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2015 2:59 PM in response to sterling r

    Thanks, but I tried thisto start with, but didnt help I can hotspot via Bluetooth and usb just not wifi...

  • by sterling r,

    sterling r sterling r Feb 12, 2015 8:37 AM in response to marlena st kilda east
    Community Specialists
    Feb 12, 2015 8:37 AM in response to marlena st kilda east

    Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issue  you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.

  • by Giants fan 56,

    Giants fan 56 Giants fan 56 Apr 10, 2015 6:01 PM in response to marlena st kilda east
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 6:01 PM in response to marlena st kilda east

    Hey Marlena,

     

    You might have solved the problem already but incase you didn't this might help. I was having the same problem you were and did everything you were told to do as well and it didn't help. For whatever odd reason this did the trick, sign out of iCloud on your mac and sign back in. Hopefully this helps.