To connect a laptop to your iPhone hotspot, turn on Allow Others to Join in Settings > Personal Hotspot, select your iPhone in the laptop’s Wi-Fi list, and enter the hotspot password. Your iPhone needs cellular data and a carrier plan that supports Personal Hotspot. The Windows steps below use Windows 11 menus.
The short version
- Start on your iPhone: Enable Allow Others to Join and keep the Personal Hotspot screen open while connecting.
- Join from your laptop: Choose your iPhone’s network and enter the password shown under Wi-Fi Password.
- Mac shortcut: Compatible Macs can use Instant Hotspot without a password when both devices meet its requirements.
- Other connections: Mac and Windows laptops can also connect through USB or Bluetooth.
| Connection | Where to start on the laptop | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 Wi-Fi | Manage Wi-Fi connections | Enabled hotspot and its password |
| Mac Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi menu | Enabled hotspot and its password |
| Chromebook Wi-Fi | Time, then Not Connected | Enabled hotspot, compatible Wi-Fi, and password |
| Ubuntu Wi-Fi | System menu, then Wi-Fi | Enabled hotspot and its password |
| Mac Instant Hotspot | Wi-Fi menu | Nearby compatible devices, the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth |
| USB on Mac or Windows | Connect a USB data cable | Enabled hotspot; Apple Devices or iTunes on Windows |
| Windows 11 Bluetooth | Bluetooth & devices | Enabled hotspot, pairing, and PAN support |
| Mac Bluetooth | System Settings > Bluetooth | Enabled hotspot and Bluetooth pairing, as described for iOS 27 |
Turn on Personal Hotspot on your iPhone
Open Settings > Personal Hotspot, then turn on Allow Others to Join. You can also reach it through Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot. Keep this screen open until your laptop connects, and read the password under Wi-Fi Password.
For first-time setup, open Settings > Cellular > Set Up Personal Hotspot and complete the carrier-specific instructions to turn on Personal Hotspot. If the setup option is missing despite Cellular Data being enabled, contact your carrier about hotspot service.
Connect a Windows laptop over Wi-Fi
On Windows 11, select the taskbar area containing the Network, Sound, or Battery icons. Select Manage Wi-Fi connections, then choose your iPhone’s network name. Select Connect, enter the password displayed on the iPhone, and select Next.
You can also press Windows + A to open quick settings and reach the Wi-Fi connection controls. This shortcut opens the laptop’s controls; you still enable the hotspot on your iPhone first. You do not need an Apple companion app for a Windows 11 Wi-Fi connection.
Connect a Mac over Wi-Fi
On your Mac, open Wi-Fi from the menu bar, Control Center, or System Settings. Choose your iPhone’s name and enter its hotspot password. This connection also works when the Mac uses a different Apple Account.
For Instant Hotspot, keep your Mac and iPhone nearby with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled on both devices. Both must support Continuity and be signed in to the same Apple Account. Open Wi-Fi in the Mac’s menu bar or Control Center, then choose your iPhone.
Instant Hotspot lets you connect without entering the hotspot password or turning on Allow Others to Join. If your devices do not meet those requirements, use the password-based Wi-Fi steps above.
Connect a Chromebook or Ubuntu laptop
On a Chromebook, select the time, select Not Connected, and turn on Wi-Fi. Choose your iPhone’s network, enter its hotspot password, and select Connect. You can also reach the Wi-Fi controls by selecting the time and opening Settings > Network > Wi-Fi.
On Ubuntu Desktop, open the system menu at the right of the top bar and select Wi-Fi. Choose your iPhone’s network, enter the hotspot password, and click Connect. These steps apply to Ubuntu Desktop; other Linux desktops have different menus.
Use a USB cable with a Mac or Windows laptop
On your iPhone, open Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join. Use a USB data cable that matches the iPhone’s USB-C or Lightning port and the laptop’s port.
For Windows, install Apple Devices or iTunes before connecting the cable. Open Apple’s Windows app download page and follow its Apple Devices link to the Microsoft Store, or use its iTunes link. Your PC must meet the selected app’s system requirements.
Connect the iPhone to your laptop with the cable. If your Mac requests permission to connect the accessory, click Allow. If your iPhone asks whether to trust the computer, tap Trust.
If the Mac recognizes your connected iPhone but its USB network service is missing, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Network. Open the Action menu and select Add Service. Under Interface, choose iPhone USB, enter a Service Name, and click Create.
Connect through Bluetooth
For a Windows 11 laptop with Bluetooth and PAN support, first enable Allow Others to Join on the iPhone and leave Settings > Bluetooth open. Select your iPhone in the laptop’s Bluetooth settings, check that the pairing codes match, and tap Pair on the iPhone.
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Under Other devices, expand the iPhone and select Join beside Personal Area Network (PAN). Select Access Point, then Connect. After the connection succeeds, select OK; to end it later, select Disconnect PAN.
For a Mac connecting to an iPhone running iOS 27, enable the iPhone hotspot and Bluetooth on both devices, then open System Settings > Bluetooth on the Mac. Leave Settings > Bluetooth open on the iPhone and select the iPhone when it appears on the Mac. Check that the pairing codes match and tap Pair on the iPhone. Apple says the cellular connection then becomes available.
Fix a hotspot that will not connect
First, return to Settings > Personal Hotspot on your iPhone and confirm that Allow Others to Join is on for a password-based Wi-Fi connection. Keep that screen open while trying again on the laptop. Check the current Wi-Fi Password instead of relying on a password saved earlier.
On iPhone 12 models and later, compatibility mode can help when the laptop cannot find or join the hotspot. Apple cautions that this setting can reduce performance and Wi-Fi security. Open Settings > Personal Hotspot, turn on Maximize Compatibility, and keep that screen open while reconnecting.
Forgetting the network removes its saved profile from your laptop. On Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the iPhone’s network, and click Forget. Reconnect from the Wi-Fi list using the current hotspot password.
Forgetting the network on a Mac removes it from the saved network list. Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced. Beside the iPhone’s network, open More Options, choose Remove From List, and click Forget. Rejoin using the password currently displayed on your iPhone.
A managed Mac network can restrict removal of its saved profile. If you cannot remove it, try the USB connection steps above.
Forgetting the network on a Chromebook removes its saved network profile. Select the time, then open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Known networks. Beside the iPhone’s network, select More > Forget, then rejoin with the current password.
For a laptop that cannot connect to a hotspot, compatibility mode and replacing a stale saved profile are troubleshooting options. If Wi-Fi still fails, try the USB connection steps above on a Mac or Windows laptop.
Fix missing or restricted hotspot settings
If your Verizon iPhone asks for account activation, start at Settings > Cellular > Set Up Personal Hotspot. When prompted to activate service, open the My Verizon app, open My Verizon online, or contact Verizon to add the necessary service. App-based plan changes require the Account Owner or Account Manager.
Sign in only through Verizon’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you. If you cannot complete activation through the app or account website, contact Verizon.
If your supervised work or school iPhone prevents hotspot changes, ask its administrator to review the restriction named Modify personal Hotspot settings. Apple also allows administrators to restrict Bluetooth changes and pairing with computers, so mention those restrictions if they block your connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can your Mac connect to the iPhone hotspot automatically?
Your Mac can connect automatically when Wi-Fi is unavailable if it meets the Instant Hotspot requirements and runs macOS Tahoe 26 or later. Open Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Settings, then under Ask to join hotspots, choose Automatic. Apple also provides Ask to Join for a connection invitation.
Can a family member’s Mac connect without entering the hotspot password?
Members of an established Apple Family Sharing group can connect without entering the hotspot password. On your iPhone, open Settings > Personal Hotspot > Family Sharing, turn on Family Sharing, select the family member, and choose Automatic or Ask for Approval. Their Mac can then use Instant Hotspot or Auto-Join with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled; automatic joining on the Mac requires macOS Tahoe 26 or later.
How do you make a Chromebook reconnect to the saved iPhone hotspot?
After connecting, select the time and open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, then choose the iPhone’s network. Turn on Automatically connect to this network, and optionally turn on Prefer this network. The iPhone hotspot must already be available because this setting does not remotely activate it.
How do you disconnect a laptop connected by USB?
Unplug the USB cable to end the wired hotspot connection. Alternatively, turn off Allow Others to Join in the iPhone’s Personal Hotspot settings.