Instant Hotspots with Family Sharing.

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Level 1

4 points

Instant Hotspots with Family Sharing.

I am looking into Apple's Family Sharing on iOS which was included in the iOS 8 update. To make Family Sharing work you will need to log in seperate iCloud Accounts. However, my son connects to my iPhone 6 Plus through iOS 8's "Instant Hotspot" feature. I do know that having the "Instant Hotspot" feature to work, we both are logged into the same iCloud Account. Therefore, our data is sometimes merged together but we have work a rounds such as using our own email accounts to cater for notes, reminders, calendar, etc. My question is, if my son is logged into HIS own iCloud account and I'm logged into MY own iCloud account, can he still detect my iPhone 6's Personal Hotspot like he does now (see picture). Or is the only way for him to connect with my iPhone is for him to go on my iPhone go in the personal hotspot setting and then connect?

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.3

Posted on Jun 9, 2015 2:23 AM

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Answer 1

Itz_Jordan Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 11, 2015 4:20 AM in response to Itz_Jordan

Does anyone know at all? or can someone test it out for me who has Family Sharing activated?

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Answer 2

Oct 4, 2015 9:14 PM in response to Itz_Jordan

I know this post is old but (unfortunately) it looks like other devices on the Family Sharing account will connect using Instant Hotspot. My kids have had iPads for a year but last week I got my first iPhone. I kept seeing my hotspot turned on. And, the kids were all excited that for some reason their iPad videos kept working when we left the house. I should have put 2+2 together earlier before half our data allowance was gone in one week. I couldn't imagine though that despite the hotspot being off and never giving them my hotspot passwords their devices were connecting and using the internet via cell data.

So, YES! This "feature" means despite having your Personal Hotspot turned off and never giving the kids' iPads permission to connect to your iPhone and suck up all your cell data and phone's battery without you even being aware this can happen, it will and you can't turn it off. At least, I haven't discovered how yet.

There needs to be a way to toggle allowing/disallowing Family Sharing devices to activate/connect via Instant Hotspot,

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Answer 3

Itz_Jordan Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 5, 2015 6:37 PM in response to StardogChampion

Hey there,

is the iPhone and iPad on different iCloud accounts? To have family sharing enabled each user needs to have their own iCloud account. When setting up Family Sharing you are greeted and somewhere through the set up process you can make accounts for children, which is a lot more suitable compared to a standard adult account. I have set up an account for each family member and to have the Instant Hotspot feature to work, the devices must be on the same iCloud account. When they are on different accounts the iPhone Instant Hotspot will not appear under WiFi all the time.

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