Copy linkEmailFacebookWhatsAppXLinkedInBlueskyThreadsImpact Link
SaveSaved
The most amazing thing about your smartphone is how easily it connects to the internet. From anywhere that you have a cell signal, you can connect to email, apps, YouTube, and more.
2021-06-15
And if you have an iPhone, you can share that internet connection with nearly any device.
Your iPhone has a "Personal Hotspot" feature that turns it into a makeshift internet router. While the hotspot is activated, other devices can link up with your phone and use your cellular data to connect to the internet.
Here's how to turn on your iPhone's hotspot and connect to it on another device.
How to turn on the personal hotspot on your iPhone
1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Personal Hotspot.
Open the Personal Hotspot menu.
William Antonelli/Insider
2. Tap the switch labeled Allow Others to Join. Your iPhone will start broadcasting the signal right away.
3. Tap Wi-Fi Password, and set a password for your hotspot. You'll need to enter this on the devices that you connect to your phone's hotspot. And if you ever want to kick people off of your hotspot, just change the password.
Turn on your hotspot and set the password.
William Antonelli/Insider
How to connect to your iPhone's personal hotspot from another device
There are three ways to connect to your iPhone's hotspot once it's activated.
Via Wi-Fi
You can connect to your iPhone's hotspot in exactly the same way you'd connect to any Wi-Fi network. This is the easiest method.
On your computer, tablet, another phone — whichever device you want to connect — open the menu that lets you connect to Wi-Fi. You should see the name of your iPhone beside either two interlocking rings or a regular Wi-Fi symbol.
Click this option and enter your password. In a few moments, your device will connect, and you'll be online.
The Wi-Fi network's name will be the name of your iPhone.
William Antonelli/Insider
Via Bluetooth
When you start broadcasting and have Bluetooth enabled, your iPhone will send out an internet signal via Bluetooth as well.
Like before, you can connect just by going into your device's Bluetooth menu and tapping your phone's name when it appears. But instead of entering a password, you'll be given a six-digit code — check that the code is the same on both your iPhone and the other device, and then tap Pair on both screens.
Make sure that the code on both devices matches.
William Antonelli/Insider
Via USB cable
This option is available for devices like computers that have USB ports.
Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB charging cable. It'll appear in the list of internet devices you can connect to — click it, and you'll connect.
Steven John contributed to a previous version of this article.
Read next
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website atwilliamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.
