Unable to connect to personal hotspot

[coldwaves]

I have an iPhone 16 Pro and a M1 Pro 16 inch MBP. Both devices sign into the same Apple account. I can see my iPhone as "XXX's iPhone" in Wi-Fi list (listed as personal hotspot). When I try to connect to the hotspot, laptop failed to connect. But if I enable "maximize compatibility" on the personal hotspot setting on the phone, the laptop can connect without any problem.

As I understand, the "maximize compatibility" toggle forces the hotspot to be in 2.4GHz band. As I remember, the laptop can connect to the hotspot without the "maximize compatibility" enabled before. I am puzzled why it stopped working. I tried resetting the network settings on the iPhone but it does not resolve the issue. Turning Wi-Fi/cellular on and off on the laptop or iPhone does not help either. Shutting down both devices does not help.

What could be the cause? What else should I try?

 

[1rottenapple]

Ok I have this issue and it was prevalent the day before thanksgiving while i was trying to tether for work.

Before I tether and its rock solid but now its buggy as well. I am glad you posted this this must be a software bug.

I am using a iphone air on the latest firmware. I wonder if the beta will fix this. I use tethering 2-3x per week consistently and this current issue is prevalent.

I tether my tesla so I wonder if it doesn't have 2.4ghz because the connection is unstable now with this issue (before the connection was rock solid). I hope there's a fix, but your post is the first that raises this issue that I've come across to.

 

[coldwaves]

Ok I have this issue and it was prevalent the day before thanksgiving while i was trying to tether for work.

Before I tether and its rock solid but now its buggy as well. I am glad you posted this this must be a software bug.

I am using a iphone air on the latest firmware. I wonder if the beta will fix this. I use tethering 2-3x per week consistently and this current issue is prevalent.

I tether my tesla so I wonder if it doesn't have 2.4ghz because the connection is unstable now with this issue (before the connection was rock solid). I hope there's a fix, but your post is the first that raises this issue that I've come across to.

I updated to iOS 26.1 when the update was released in early November. I tether my Tesla last week for a software update with no problem. I do not remember exactly but I must have used the hotspot for my laptop in the past 2-3 weeks. I have been on 26.1 since early November. Now I can only connect to hotspot when maximize compatibility is enabled. I am puzzled why it suddenly stopped working. I did not have any software updates in the past 3 weeks.

Could the cellular network be a cause? I am traveling since last week. Maybe I should tested it again once I get back home. But it is hard to imagine that cellular work could be the culprit given that I can still connect to the hotspot with maximize compatibility enabled.

 

[coldwaves]

Ok I have this issue and it was prevalent the day before thanksgiving while i was trying to tether for work.

Before I tether and its rock solid but now its buggy as well. I am glad you posted this this must be a software bug.

I am using a iphone air on the latest firmware. I wonder if the beta will fix this. I use tethering 2-3x per week consistently and this current issue is prevalent.

I tether my tesla so I wonder if it doesn't have 2.4ghz because the connection is unstable now with this issue (before the connection was rock solid). I hope there's a fix, but your post is the first that raises this issue that I've come across to.

Just curious, are you unable to connect to your hotspot no matter what, or similar to me, are you only able to connect to hotspot if maximize compatibility option is toggled on?

 

[1rottenapple]

I did maximize but tethering is unstable, turning off and on. The connection would hold and then disconnect after a few minutes. It impacts my ability to work on the road to be honest. I am downloading the current 26.2 release candidate beta so I'll see if that fixes this issue.

 

[outbackvandy]

It is driving me crazy too. Is it related to iOS update or Tesla update? It seems to be the tesla update since the hotspot connect has no issue when tethered with a macbook. While connected to Tesla, not only the hotspot connection keeps going on and off, but also the iphone’s connection to the general internet is unstable.

I also noticed that it started a few days before Thanksgiving

 

[coldwaves]

An update. It seems my issue may be related to signal interference. I went out to a place with very few Wi-Fi or electronic around. Then my Mac connects to the hotspot without any issue. Given Thant 5 GHz is more prone to interference than 2.4 GHz, it might be a reason when personal hotspot does not connect sometime.

 

[1rottenapple]

No it affect my laptop when I was trying to tether.

Ok so I downloaded the beta and it still doesn’t fix the issue. I reset my network setting too but no success.

 

[1rottenapple]

It is driving me crazy too. Is it related to iOS update or Tesla update? It seems to be the tesla update since the hotspot connect has no issue when tethered with a macbook. While connected to Tesla, not only the hotspot connection keeps going on and off, but also the iphone’s connection to the general internet is unstable.

I also noticed that it started a few days before Thanksgiving

But your laptop tethered works solid? I had such poor connection issues 11/24/25 working on the road. My phones tethering for the last 5 years have been rock solid till this last week.

 

[coldwaves]

No it affect my laptop when I was trying to tether.

Ok so I downloaded the beta and it still doesn’t fix the issue. I reset my network setting too but no success.

If you enable maximize compatibility, which forces the hotspot to operate at 2.4 GHZ band, interference should not be too much of an issue. After all, 2.4 GHZ band is quite robust to crowded signal environment, unlike the 5GHz band. Mine was operating normally if I enabled maximize compatibility.

 

[1rottenapple]

No that doesn’t work. I have that option click on. I’m planning to bring my air into Apple for another issue after Christmas and I’ll also complain about this as well. Maybe it’s hardware?

 

[chown33]

Maybe try Wireless Diagnostics on the Mac, and see what other networks are using the different bands.

Use Wireless Diagnostics on your Mac

Use Wireless Diagnostics on your Mac to help resolve Wi-Fi issues, and learn about Wi-Fi best practices.

support.apple.com

If it still has the Utilities window (Window menu > Utilities), you can use that to do scans and other things.

 

[mo24]

I also have this issue and noticed it when traveling the day before Thanksgiving. I am using an iPhone Air.
I noticed it while trying to update my Tesla’s software using my hotspot.
Could this be a carrier issue as I am not seeing many other users with the same issue. I am using Verizon.
After experiencing this issue and disabling hotspot, my phone cannot connect to the internet at all. This makes me think it is related to Apple’s new modem that it put in the new phone. I also find myself dropping connection at my office which has not been an issue for years.

 

[1rottenapple]

I am on visible a verizon MVNO.

Ok update. I tried today and NOW IT WORKS. I was able to hotspot and stream video with no connection issues. It was solid during my 1 hr of use in my car.

 

[mo24]

Interesting - I am still having trouble. My car connects for 30 seconds, then disconnects, then reconnects. Even when connected, no data is being received by my car (software won't download). Once I turn off my hotspot my phone says "failed to establish cellular connection" and my phone cannot access the internet.

I called Verizon and they had me install a new eSIM, to no prevail.

 

[1rottenapple]

Interesting - I am still having trouble. My car connects for 30 seconds, then disconnects, then reconnects. Even when connected, no data is being received by my car (software won't download). Once I turn off my hotspot my phone says "failed to establish cellular connection" and my phone cannot access the internet.

I called Verizon and they had me install a new eSIM, to no prevail.

That stink. I didn’t do anything. But it’s working rock solid. I turned off max compatibility.