You are in the midst of important work online, and suddenly the internet connection goes down. Nearly all of us have experienced such a situation in our lives and the frustration that comes with it. It is not unusual for even the most reliable of Wi-Fi connections to slip up at homes and offices. Technology is not 100 percent reliable. If you don’t have access to an internet connection and looking for a reliable solution, here it is. Turn on your iPhone Wi-Fi hotspot.
Tethering the Wi-Fi can turn a smartphone into a reliable internet resource through a hotspot. With a couple of clicks, you can connect your devices to the hotspot and access the internet.
The iPhone works like a mobile router and provides an internet connection to your other devices through the phone’s data plan.
It’s a simple way to remain connected online, but there are a few downsides.
- The service provider fees may dent your monthly spending on mobile plans
- Your phone battery will run off very quickly
- It exhausts your monthly data plan pretty fast
Most leading service providers offer tethering services as part of your mobile plan. However, its usage and costs are determined by the chosen service and data plan.
Ready to cope with these downsides? Find out how to turn on your iPhone’s Wi-Fi.
To set up a personal hotspot that will allow you to use your iPhone as a Wi-Fi resource, go to the settings of your iPhone and choose Personal Hotspot. Next, tap on ‘Allow Others To Join’ and turn it on by toggling it.
Some iPhones may not display the Personal Hotspot icon. In such cases, tap on Cellular to get personal hotspot access. Note down or remember the Wi-Fi password.
The next step is to open the Wi-Fi menu on the device to be connected. Look for the iOS device and select it. To connect, you must enter the hotspot password.
You will be able to browse the internet after the secondary device is connected. It will also signal the beginning of your mobile data consumption.
It is also possible to connect your iPhone using Bluetooth or a USB connection.
To connect using Bluetooth, check if the Bluetooth has been turned on for the devices to be used. When you tap on the icon, you will be able to view the manufacturer’s directions on how to set up a Bluetooth connection.
Follow the step-by-step instruction to complete the connection. In some cases, the Maximize Compatibility option has to be activated to make these connections work. However, in such cases, the quality of your connection may be affected.
If you are at home and the Wi-Fi connection is not working, or on a family trip, you can choose the Family Sharing option. With this option, your family members can join the network automatically without using the password.
To choose the Family Sharing option, go to Settings and Personal Hotspot and tap on the Family Sharing tab. Turn the option on.
Tap the name of your family members. You can determine if they should take approval to join the hotspot network or can join automatically.
How Many Devices Can the iPhone Hotspot Support?
All the iPhone models (except the early models) can support up to five devices for a Wi-Fi connection. However, please note that the network strength is constant, so every additional device will place a greater demand on the hotspot.
In case you need to use the hotspot for an important task, you may have to reconsider sharing with others, as the speed of access will be affected.
Can I Turn on the Hotspot Anywhere?
If the signal is strong enough, you can use the hotspot anywhere, indoors or outdoors. All you need is working mobile data. If you have access to the network, you can turn the hotspot on even while traveling in a car or on a train. You can even use the hotspot in a different city if your carrier’s network is available in that place.
How Secure Is the Hotspot Network?
You create a hotspot network within your own iPhone and in your space. So, using a hotspot for browsing the net may, in fact, be more secure than other options. If you are on a 4G network, the protection is even higher with the encryption key getting activated.
Also, a password you created or generated protects your hotspot. If you have a truly strong password with a combination of unique characters and digits, it will be absolutely secure. You will be in control of your Wi-Fi network at all times.
When you don’t need the Wi-Fi hotspot anymore, please turn it off to cut down the usage of costly mobile data. Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and set off the feature to disable the hotspot.