MacOS does not allow photo syncing on iPhone hotspot

[Kevin Newton]

This seems bonkers so I hope I'm missing something.

MacOS recognises I am using a hotspot on my iPhone and refuses to use it to sync photos.

There's even a setting in IoS services, photos, mobile data to enable 'Unlimited updates' but that doesn't make a different.
Photos just won't sync until connected to 'proper' wifi or a non-IoS hotspot.

The only answers I can find are something to do with VPNs and to get a cheap non-Apple mobile and put my sim in that. Both of which seem incredible for a user need millions of people like me on holiday taking photos must have.

I didn't even bring a backup drive as I thought my photos would be backed up to the cloud.

Please tell me I'm missing something, or why this isn't a bigger issue for Apple to 'fix'.

Cheers

Kevin

 

[Slartibart]

which version of macOS and iPadOS? Just to clarify: you talk about synching directly between Mac and iPhone or via iCloud? Do you have icloud drive enabled on your iPhone? You are using the same ApleID on all devices involved? Airdrop works?

 

[Kevin Newton]

Yes. It's not my first rodeo, but it's fair to check.
All version of IoS and MacOS are up to date.
It is photos on the Mac not syncing with the cloud when using the iPhone as a hotspot. Everything else works fine.
It's a known Apple created problem but it seems bonkers and I can't find a fix.
Thanks

 

[Slartibart]

Looks like that is the intended behaviour for Apple Photos - but at least on iOS15&16 it seems you can sync via Personal Hot Spot from iCloud Photos to the Mac when you disconnect the AppleID used on the iPhone temporarly.
Everyone should report this as a bug.

 

[Kevin Newton]

Thanks, that's really helpful.
I just gave it a go using my wife's iPhone and it didn't seem to work.
Rebooted Mac and iPhone just in case but still no movement.
Will try again later in case it's not a real time thing.
Thanks again

Kevin

 

[gilby101]

The workaround reported elsewhere is to use a VPN. Any VPN client on the Mac connecting to a VPN service. See this Ask Different Q&A. Many of the consumer VPN services make setup and use easy - I use PIA.