Your iPhone’s personal hotspot lets you share your cellular internet connection with other devices.

However, this feature tends to misbehave, making it hard to maintain a stable connection.

Let’s take a look at how to troubleshoot these connection issues.

iPhone with the ‘Personal Hotspot’ settings menu open on a MacBook.

Aleksey H/Shutterstock.com

To do this, head to “prefs” and select “Mobile Service.”

Tap the “Mobile Data” slider to turn it off, then turn it back on.

This will reset your cellular connection.

Select ‘Mobile Service’ in iPhone Settings.

Now try searching for and connecting to your hotspot again.

Turn On Maximize Compatibility

Newer iPhones use modern Wi-Fi standards to achieve a faster connection.

That’s where the “Maximize Compatibility” feature comes in.

Turn off ‘Mobile Data’ in your iPhone settings..

Turning on maximize compatibility drops your connection to the 2.4GHz band (as opposed to the 5GHz band).

This may reduce your internet speed, but it will allow older devices to connect to your hotspot.

To turn on Maximize Compatibility, head to “prefs” and select “Personal Hotspot.”

Select ‘Allow Others to Join’ under Pesonal Hotspot settings..

Scroll down and tap the “Maximize Compatibility” slider to turn it on.

Now search for the hotspot again to try reconnecting.

Contact your carrier to check your balance and renew your plan.

Select ‘Personal Hotspot’ in iPhone settings.

If you face this issue, you’ll notice the tethering option is greyed out under iPhone prefs.

To disable your VPN, head to tweaks > General and select “VPN & machine Management.”

Select “VPN.”

Turn on maximise compatibility.

Tap “VPN Status” to turn the feature off.

you could also disable this feature using your VPN supplier’s app.

power cycle your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can solve many software glitches, including hotspot woes.

Select ‘VPN & Device Management’ in iPhone general settings.

Toggling Airplane Mode can also refresh your internet, but ultimately, a restart is your best option.

refresh your iPhone

Periodically, Apple releases new software updates.

These updates fix software glitches, including any that may affect your personal hotspot feature.

Select VPN in ‘VPN & Device Management’ to toggle your connection.

Scroll down and select “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”

Select “Reset” and tap “Reset web link configs.”

Toggle your iPhone’s VPN off.

Select ‘Software Update’ in iPhone general settings.

Select ‘Update Now’ under iPhone software update.

Select ‘General’ in iPhone settings.

Select ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’ in iPhone Settings.

Select ‘Reset Network Settings’ under iPhone Settings.