This wikiHow teaches you how to connect your device to your iPhone so that others can use your phone's internet connection. This process is known as "tethering" or hotspot creation. However, not all data plans provided by cellular services support tethering systems.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Creating a Wi-Fi Hotspot
Step 1. Open the iPhone settings menu
Application settings (Settings) you can find on one of the homescreen. The icon looks like a gray gear.
Step 2. Tap on Personal Hotspot option
It's in the first group of options on the settings menu.
- If you don't see the option, select Cellular (or Mobile Data on the UK version of the iPhone) and select Set Up Personal Hotspot. You may be asked to contact your cellular service provider to subscribe to a data plan that supports the personal hotspot feature. In addition, you may also incur additional fees.
- If you don't find an option Personal Hotspot, either in the “Settings” menu or the “Cellular” menu, try contacting your cellular service provider (or cell phone seller).
Step 3. Swipe on the Personal Hotspot option to enable the feature
Once shifted, the switch color will change to green. If the data plan you are using does not support the tethering feature, or if additional confirmation is required, you will receive a notification to contact your cellular service provider (or cell phone retailer) before you can proceed to the next step.
Step 4. Touch the Wi-Fi Password button
Here, you can change the password that other people need to get into your network.
Step 5. Type in the password for your wireless network
Make sure you enter a strong and easy-to-guess password, especially when you're in a public place.
Step 6. Select Done
After that, the password for your network will be changed.
Step 7. Open the list of available wireless networks on the other device
The process will differ depending on the device used. However, you will basically be connecting another device to your iPhone, just like you would be connecting a device to any other wireless network.
Step 8. Select your iPhone from the list of available networks
You can see your iPhone among the available wireless network options. The network name will be the same as your iPhone's name.
Step 9. Enter the previously created password if prompted
This password is required for the device to connect to the network. You can check the network password at any time via your iPhone's “Personal Hotspot” menu.
Step 10. Test the internet connection on the connected device
Once connected to the wireless network, your device can use the iPhone's internet connection to surf the internet. However, keep in mind that using an iPhone's data connection on a computer will consume more data than using a connection on a mobile device.
Method 2 of 3: Performing USB Tethering
Step 1. Open the iPhone settings menu
You can find the settings application (“Settings”) on one of the homescreens. The icon looks like a gray gear.
Step 2. Tap on Personal Hotspot option
If you don't see that option in the first set of options, your data plan may not support the tethering feature. Therefore, you need to contact your cellular service provider and ask about a data plan that supports the tethering feature.
Step 3. Slide the Personal Hotspot option toggle to enable it
Once shifted, the switch color will change to green. At this stage, you may get a notification that the data plan you are using does not support the tethering feature. If such a notification appears, you need to contact the mobile service provider.
Step 4. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable
Use the usual USB cable to sync or charge your phone. You can plug it into any USB port on your computer.
Step 5. Test iPhone internet connection via computer
Automatically, your computer can usually detect iPhone as a network and directly connect to the internet through that network.
If the ethernet cable is still plugged in or the computer is still connected to another wireless network, you will need to disconnect it first in order to connect to the network from iPhone
Method 3 of 3: Performing Bluetooth Tethering
Step 1. Open the iPhone settings menu
You can find the settings application (“Settings”) on one of the homescreens. The icon looks like a gray gear.
Step 2. Tap on Personal Hotspot option
If this option is not displayed in the first group of options in the settings menu, there is a possibility that the data plan you are using does not support the internet connection sharing feature. Therefore, you need to contact your cellular service provider to switch to a data plan that supports the tethering feature.
Step 3. Toggle the Personal Hotspot option toggle on to enable it
Once shifted, the switch color will change to green. At this stage, you may get a notification that the data plan you are using does not support the tethering feature. If such a notification appears, you need to contact the mobile service provider.
Step 4. Connect the computer to a Bluetooth network (for Windows computers)
Follow these steps on a Windows computer to connect the computer to a Bluetooth network:
- Click the Bluetooth icon displayed in the System Tray. If you don't see the icon, your computer may not be equipped with Bluetooth.
- Click “Join a Personal Area Network”.
- Click "Add a device".
- Click the name of your iPhone and select “Pair” in the notification box that appears on the iPhone screen.
- On the computer, right-click your iPhone once it is plugged in and select “Connect using” → “Access point”. Now, your computer can use the internet from your iPhone.
Step 5. Connect the computer to a Bluetooth network (for Mac computers)
- Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”.
- Click the “⋮⋮⋮⋮” button to view the main menu.
- Click the “Bluetooth” option.
- Click the “Pair” option displayed next to your iPhone's name, then tap the “Pair” option displayed on the iPhone screen.
- Click the Bluetooth button in the computer menu bar, then mark your iPhone, and click “Connect”.
Step 6. Test iPhone internet connection via computer
Once connected to the network, you can access the internet from your computer using your iPhone's internet connection.
