How to troubleshoot iPhone Hotspot issues?

The internet, and by extension Wi-Fi, has become essential for getting work done in the digital workspace. When Wi-Fi is unavailable, it can bring work to a halt and significantly impact productivity. During these times, a personal hotspot serves as the most convenient backup option, which is why IT administrators ensure that the Personal Hotspot feature is enabled on corporate devices. This feature allows users to share their device’s cellular internet connection with other devices.

However, issues with hotspot functionality are common and can further disrupt productivity. The issue could be with the device hosting the hotspot, the device attempting to connect, or even both. Let’s have a look at a few ways to troubleshoot these issues on managed iOS devices

Actions that can be initiated from Hexnode UEM portal

1. Ensure that none of the policies associated with the device restricts the usage of hotspot. For example, the Users can modify Personal Hotspot settings restriction, if disabled, can prevent users from being able to turn Personal Hotspot on. Similarly, the remote action to disable personal hotspot, if executed during an active hotspot session, will interrupt the connection.
2. Update the OS on your iOS device to the latest version. This can be achieved remotely using the Update OS action.
3. Sometimes, a simple restart may do the trick. Restart the iOS device as well as the device that needs to connect to the hotspot. Deploy the Restart action to both devices simultaneously from the Hexnode UEM portal.

Actions to be initiated from the device

1. Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and ensure that the Allow Others to Join option is enabled. If you’re unable to enable it, check whether your carrier allows tethering and also if your plan includes internet data.
2. Some carriers may need you to send an SMS or follow certain steps to avail hotspot privileges. Contact the carrier or check for online documentation regarding the same.
3. Once the Personal Hotspot is enabled, don’t turn off the device’s display until the other device connects to your iOS device. This is because, if the screen is immediately turned off, there is a chance that the hotspot could get disabled before the other device connects to it.
4. Turn off low data mode on your iOS device as well as on the device that needs to connect to the hotspot.
5. On the device connecting to the iOS device’s hotspot, try disabling the Wi-Fi and enabling it again. If it still doesn’t work, select the option to Forget the iOS device’s hotspot network. Then, reconnect to the personal hotspot once again.
6. Enable the Maximize Compatibility option on your iOS device (iPhone 12 or later). This may result in low internet speed but boosts network coverage.
7. Enter the correct Wi-Fi password. Go to the iOS device’s Settings > Personal Hotspot > Wi-Fi Password to check the password.
8. To reset mobile data settings, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad > Reset, and select Reset Network Settings. Keep in mind that this will also reset Wi-Fi networks and passwords, along with VPN and APN settings.