iPhone 16 Pro 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?