iPhones serve as our personal hubs for communication, entertainment, and productivity. The hotspot feature in the iPhone serves as a bridge to the online world, allowing us to share our mobile data with other devices seamlessly. But what happens when the iPhone hotspot suddenly refuses to work after the latest iOS 18 update? It’s a confusing scenario that you might have faced, causing frustration and inconvenience. Here we will discuss why hotspot not working in iOS 18 and its fixes.
The latest iOS updates promise exciting new features and improved functionality, but they can also introduce unexpected glitches and hiccups. When your iPhone hotspot fails to work post-update, it’s important to understand the underlying causes and the steps to rectify the issue. This guide focuses on iPhone hotspot troubleshooting in iOS 18, providing you with straightforward solutions to ensure your hotspot is up and running, keeping you connected whenever and wherever you need it.
Ways to Fix iPhone Hotspot not Working in iOS 18
Now that we have a better understanding of the possible causes, let’s explore the solutions to fix the iPhone hotspot not working issue on iOS 18:
1. Restart iPhone
Restarting your iPhone can help resolve hotspot issues by refreshing the device’s system and clearing any temporary software glitches. It allows the iPhone to establish a fresh connection to the cellular network, potentially resolving any connectivity problems that may be affecting the hotspot feature.
To restart your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the Volume up + Power button( for iPhone X and later ) or Press and hold the Power button( iPhone SE).
2. Pull the Slider to Power off your iPhone.
3. Wait for a few minutes and restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the Power button.
2. Turn ON Mobile Data
Making sure Mobile Data is Turned on is super important. When you want to share the internet from your iPhone, the iPhone needs its Mobile Data tap to be switched on. If it’s off, there’s no internet to share, and the sharing won’t work.
Also, make sure that you have an active mobile data plan from your carrier. Some carrier providers don’t support data sharing in some plans, so it is advisable to confirm with your carrier partner.
To turn on the Mobile Data, follow these steps:
1. Go to the iPhone Settings app and select Mobile Services.
2. Ensure that the toggle next to Mobile Data is enabled.
3. If it’s already enabled, try turning it off and then back on again to refresh the connection.
3. Turn Airplane Mode Off and ON
Turning Airplane Mode Off and On can help because it’s like giving your iPhone’s network a little reset. Just like restarting a computer when it’s acting up, this action refreshes your phone’s network connections. It can clear any problems that are making the hotspot not work.
It’s a simple but effective way to get the hotspot working again on your iPhone after the update. Here’s how to turn on/off Airplane mode:
1. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (iPhone X and newer) or swiping up from the bottom (iPhone 8 and older)
2. Tap the Airplane mode icon to enable it, wait for a few seconds, and then tap it again to disable it.
3. Check if the hotspot starts working after disabling Airplane mode.
4. Turn ON Personal Hotspot
Turning Personal Hotspot Off and On is like giving it a little break and then using it again. Sometimes, it can fix problems that were causing the hotspot not to work correctly. When you toggle it off and then back on, it resets the hotspot, and any temporary issues that were preventing it from working get sorted out.
To turn on the personal hotspot, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app and select Personal Hotspot.
2. Toggle the switch next to Allow Others to Join to off, wait for a few seconds, and then toggle it back on.
3. Try connecting to the hotspot from another device to see if the issue is resolved.
5. Disable VPN
Disabling VPN can solve hotspot issues because VPNs can sometimes create confusion in the way your iPhone shares its internet. When you turn off the VPN, it stops interfering, allowing your hotspot to work correctly.
Follow these steps to disable VPN on your iPhone:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Then tap the toggle next to the VPN connection to disable it.
3. After that, attempt to use the hotspot and check if it works now.
6. Enable Maximize Compatibility
Enabling Maximize Compatibility helps the hotspot work better with different devices. When turned on, this setting ensures your iPhone’s hotspot is more flexible, so it can connect with a wider range of gadgets. It reduces any issues that might arise due to compatibility problems, making your hotspot more reliable and effective at sharing the internet.
This is how you can Enable the Maximize Compatibility option on iPhone:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Then move into Personal Hotspot.
3. After that, tap on Maximize Compatibility and enable it.
This option ensures compatibility with older devices that may not support the latest encryption methods, resulting in iPhone personal hotspots working with other devices.
7. Turn Off Low Data Mode
Low Data Mode can slow down data usage and restrict certain features, including the hotspot. When you turn it off, your hotspot can run smoothly without these restrictions. It ensures that your iPhone shares its internet without any hindrances, resolving the issue of it not working as expected after an update.
Here’s how to turn off Low Data Mode on your iPhone:
1. Open the Settings app and move into Mobile Service settings.
2. Then tap on Mobile Data Options.
3. If it is enabled, disable the toggle next to Low Data Mode.
8. Disable Low Power Mode
Disabling Low Power Mode can limit various functions, including the hotspot, to save battery. By turning it off, your phone operates at full power, allowing the hotspot to work correctly. It ensures that your iPhone’s battery-saving measures don’t interfere with your hotspot’s ability to share the internet, effectively resolving any issues after an update.
Follow these steps to disable the low-power mode on your iPhone:
1. Open the settings and click on Battery.
2. Disable the toggle button next to Low Power Mode.
Once you have turned off the low-power mode, test the hotspot to see if it starts working.
9. Reset Network Settings
Resetting Network Settings is like giving your iPhone’s connections a fresh start. It can fix complex issues by clearing out any network glitches or conflicts. After resetting, your iPhone’s hotspot should work smoothly again, as it erases any problems that might have been causing it not to work correctly after an update.
To Reset Network Settings on your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app and select General.
2. In General scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap on the Reset button and choose Reset Network Settings from the pop-up menu.
4. After that, confirm your selection.
Note
Doing this will remove saved Wi-Fi passwords and other network-related settings. So, to connect to the Wi-Fi network, you have to re-enter your password.
10. Check for iOS updates
Apple regularly releases updates to address software bugs and improve the overall performance of iOS. Checking for iOS updates can help make your hotspot work better, resolving problems caused by bugs in the previous iOS version.
To Check for iOS updates on iOS 18, follow the following steps:
1. Open the Settings app and select General.
2. Tap on Software Update to check for any available updates.
3. If an update is available, download and install it on your iPhone.
Conclusion
The iPhone hotspot not working in iOS 18 is a frustrating issue, but it is not unsolvable. You can easily resolve this issue by examining the various causes and adopting the solutions mentioned in this guide.
Whether it’s activating your mobile data, switching to Airplane Mode, modifying settings like VPN and data modes, or even updating your iOS, these methods can help you restore control of your hotspot functioning. So, the next time your hotspot seems to misbehave, remember these simple yet effective fixes to bring it back to life, ensuring you stay connected in this online world.