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iPad Auto connect to hotspot

P

Phil5556

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 15, 2019
20
5
I have an iPad Air 3. I have an iPhone 6S with hotspot switched on.

If I go to WiFi I can select my 6S and connect to the hotspot. I now have internet on my iPad - wahey! I turn the screen off on the iPad and when I unlock it again I have to go back and reconnect manually to the phone.

Should this happen automatically? Auto join hotspot is switched on in the general settings and also switched on under the phone hotspot settings.

There are other WiFi networks in range but I don’t use them.

cheers
 
What are the iOS and iPadOS versions your phone and iPad are on? In iOS 13 there was an update that includes a persistent hotspot auto connection that wasn't available in earlier versions, so you want to ensure they're both on the latest version.
 
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Great that they're both on the current version. Just to double check:

- iPad auto join hotspot setting is set to Automatic (and not Ask)
- There are no other networks in the nearby list on your iPad for which Auto Join is enabled

A couple of other things to try on your iPad:
- toggle off and back on the Wifi button
- toggle off and back on the Airplane mode - I know that might sound a bit odd, but it seems to help resolve some network connectivity issues sometimes
- Reset your network settings (under Settings > General > Reset). Warning that this will erase any wi-fi network passwords, and bluetooth settings. If you do this step, be sure you've got those passwords saved somewhere.
 
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Namara said:
Great that they're both on the current version. Just to double check:
Click to expand...

Cheers for your help 👍

- iPad auto join hotspot setting is set to Automatic (and not Ask) Yes

- There are no other networks in the nearby list on your iPad for which Auto Join is enabled Correct. There are 3 WiFi networks available, none of which I have set up with passwords. One was previously set up, but Auto Join switched off. I have since deleted it to try and fix this.

A couple of other things to try on your iPad:
- toggle off and back on the Wifi button No change

- toggle off and back on the Airplane mode - I know that might sound a bit odd, but it seems to help resolve some network connectivity issues sometimes I shall try as soon as I post this reply.

- Reset your network settings (under Settings > General > Reset). Warning that this will erase any wi-fi network passwords, and bluetooth settings. If you do this step, be sure you've got those passwords saved somewhere. I’ll give this a try too.


Just to check though the expected behaviour is that it should automatically connect to my phone, even if other WiFi is in range (but not set up with passwords). And should it disconnect when screen off, then reconnect on unlocking?
 
Phil5556 said:
Just to check though the expected behaviour is that it should automatically connect to my phone, even if other WiFi is in range (but not set up with passwords). And should it disconnect when screen off, then reconnect on unlocking?
Click to expand...
Actually it should stay connected all the time--even when your iPad is locked--until you disconnect it on your iPad or turn off the hotspot on your phone.
 
Namara said:
Actually it should stay connected all the time--even when your iPad is locked--until you disconnect it on your iPad or turn off the hotspot on your phone.
Click to expand...

Haha, that sounds like a disaster for my 6S battery life.... 😳
 
"You can connect to a Personal Hotspot using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. And with iOS 13, devices that are connected to a Personal Hotspot will stay connected, even if the screen is locked—so those devices will still get notifications and messages."

How to set up a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

A Personal Hotspot lets you share the cellular data connection of your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) when you don't have access to a Wi-Fi network.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
So I’ve reset network settings. It now connects once I open the WiFi settings page, without me clicking on my phone in the list. Which seems like a step closer.

it did disconnect on locking the iPad and did not reconnect until I had gone in to settings.
 
Phil5556 said:
Haha, that sounds like a disaster for my 6S battery life.... 😳
Click to expand...
I rarely use my hotspot, which is why I set up a test on mine first. While it was active, I saw on my iPad a setting called Low Data Mode, which sounded like it might save some phone cellular battery, but I can't find documentation about it. Found it:

Use Low Data Mode on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support

With iOS 13 and later, you can turn on Low Data Mode to restrict background network use and save mobile data and Wi-Fi usage.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
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Phil5556 said:
So I’ve reset network settings. It now connects once I open the WiFi settings page, without me clicking on my phone in the list. Which seems like a step closer.

it did disconnect on locking the iPad and did not reconnect until I had gone in to settings.
Click to expand...
Glad to hear there's a little progress. I'm not sure what else to suggest, so maybe someone else will chime in, or you might want to chat with Apple Support.
 
Last edited:
Actually I think it was just coincidence that it connected when I opened the iPad WiFi settings, I think what actually made it connect was opening the phone hotspot settings. I can replicate that behaviour.

iPad wifi off / on and it stays disconnected. Open phone hotspot settings and it connects after a few seconds.

I‘ll give support a try tomorrow I think after I done a bit more playing around & see if anyone else has any ideas.

Thanks again for trying to sort me out.
 
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