An iPhone hotspot not showing on a laptop usually means Wi-Fi or “Allow Others to Join” is off—toggle Hotspot and try “Maximize Compatibility”.
Your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot should appear in your laptop’s Wi-Fi list within seconds. When it doesn’t, the cause is usually simple: a setting toggle, a band mismatch, or a stale network entry. Use the checks below to make the hotspot show up and stay stable.
iPhone Hotspot Not Showing On Laptop: Quick Checks
Run these fast fixes first. They solve most cases where the iPhone hotspot won’t appear on a Windows PC or a MacBook.
| What You See | Likely Reason | Try This First |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot switch is on, but your laptop can’t find it | Laptop only scans 2.4 GHz; iPhone is using 5 GHz | iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot > turn on Maximize Compatibility |
| “Incorrect password” on the laptop | Typos or a saved, outdated entry | Reveal the password on iPhone; on the laptop choose Forget, then reconnect |
| iPhone name shows, join fails | Too many clients or a stale DHCP lease | Forget the network, toggle Hotspot off/on, then try again |
| No sign of your iPhone in the Wi-Fi list | Wi-Fi radio off or Airplane Mode on | Turn Wi-Fi on; switch Airplane Mode off; rescan networks |
| Personal Hotspot menu missing or grey | Plan doesn’t include tethering or a carrier profile glitch | Restart; update iOS and carrier settings; contact carrier if it stays missing |
| USB works, Wi-Fi stays invisible | VPN, firewall, or driver issues | Pause VPN; update the Wi-Fi driver; use Bluetooth as a quick backup |
| Hotspot shows, then vanishes after a minute | Phone left the Hotspot screen or slept | Keep iPhone on Settings > Personal Hotspot until the join completes |
| Wi-Fi name has odd symbols | SSID comes from the iPhone name | Rename iPhone: Settings > General > About > Name, then toggle Hotspot |
How Personal Hotspot Broadcasts
Personal Hotspot uses your iPhone’s name as the Wi-Fi network name (SSID). The password lives on the same screen. With Allow Others to Join on, nearby devices see that SSID in their lists. For smoother joins, sit on the Hotspot screen while the laptop connects; the phone stays discoverable and ready to hand out an IP address.
Newer models can share over 5 GHz for better speed. Older Wi-Fi cards only scan 2.4 GHz, so the network won’t appear for them. That’s where the Maximize Compatibility switch helps: it forces a 2.4 GHz broadcast that older laptops can see. Speed may dip a bit, yet the connection shows up and holds steady. Apple’s official playbook covers these steps in Personal Hotspot troubleshooting.
Fix It From The IPhone Side
1) Toggle, Then Re-Join
Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot. Turn Allow Others to Join off, wait five seconds, then turn it on. On the laptop, refresh the Wi-Fi list and try the join again.
2) Turn Radios Off And On
Still missing? Toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, then on. These radios support sharing and discovery. A quick cycle clears temporary glitches.
3) Switch On Maximize Compatibility
On iPhone 12 or newer, open Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn on Maximize Compatibility. This forces 2.4 GHz so older adapters see the hotspot. After you connect, you can switch it back for speed.
4) Check The Password Carefully
Tap the password to reveal it. Match capitals, numbers, and symbols exactly. If the laptop previously saved the network, remove that entry and join fresh.
5) Stay On The Hotspot Screen
Keep the phone unlocked and parked on Settings > Personal Hotspot until the laptop finishes the handshake. That keeps the broadcast active and avoids timeouts.
6) Rename The IPhone
Some adapters dislike punctuation or emojis in SSIDs. Rename your device to something short and plain in Settings > General > About > Name, then toggle Hotspot once and scan again.
7) Update IOS And Carrier Settings
Out-of-date system files can block tethering. Install the latest iOS. While connected to a network, open Settings > General > About and accept any carrier update prompt. Then test Hotspot again.
8) Reset Network Settings (Last Resort)
On iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This wipes saved Wi-Fi networks, VPN profiles, and APN edits, then rebuilds the stacks. Reconnect and try the join.
Fix It From The Laptop Side
On A Windows Laptop
Confirm Wi-Fi is on and Airplane Mode is off. Open the list and look for your iPhone’s name. If it’s missing, flip Wi-Fi off and back on, then select Manage known networks and remove any entry for that iPhone. Update the wireless driver from your PC maker. If the radio still won’t find the SSID, run a Network reset and reboot. For step-by-step screens, see Microsoft’s Wi-Fi connection guide.
On A Mac Laptop
Click the Wi-Fi menu and look for your iPhone under both personal networks and the Instant Hotspot area. Turn Wi-Fi off and on. If you see iPhone USB in System Settings > Network, make it Active, then test a USB join. When Wi-Fi still won’t list the phone, remove the saved network, update macOS, and join with Maximize Compatibility enabled on the iPhone.
When Wi-Fi Still Won’t Show: Try USB Or Bluetooth
You don’t have to wait on the Wi-Fi list. USB and Bluetooth joins work well and confirm that the iPhone side is healthy.
USB Tethering
Connect the phone to the laptop with a cable. Tap Trust when asked. On a Mac, you should see iPhone USB in Network and can mark it Active. On Windows, iTunes supplies the driver; once installed, a new adapter appears and brings your laptop online.
Bluetooth Tethering
Pair the devices. Keep Personal Hotspot on. From the laptop’s Bluetooth menu, pick your iPhone and choose the option to join the network. Speed is modest, yet it’s a handy fallback when Wi-Fi is stubborn.
Table Of Handy Settings Paths
| Task | Where On IPhone | Where On Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Turn Hotspot on/off | Settings > Personal Hotspot | Join from Wi-Fi list (Windows taskbar or macOS menu bar) |
| Force 2.4 GHz | Settings > Personal Hotspot > Maximize Compatibility | Rescan networks; older adapters now see the SSID |
| Forget saved network | — | Windows: Manage known networks; macOS: Wi-Fi Details > Forget |
| Update system | Settings > General > Software Update | Windows Update / Software Update |
| Reset networking | Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset Network Settings | Windows: Network reset; macOS: remove service, then add it back |
| Rename device (SSID) | Settings > General > About > Name | — |
Wi-Fi Bands, Names, And Password Tips
Pick A Simple Phone Name
Short and plain works best. Avoid slashes, emojis, and non-standard symbols. After renaming, switch Hotspot off and on so laptops see the refreshed SSID.
Use A Clean Password
Strong doesn’t mean unreadable. A tidy mix of letters and numbers beats a string that invites typos. If a join fails, reveal the password on the iPhone and re-enter it slowly.
Know When To Use 2.4 GHz
Old Wi-Fi cards, tiny dongles, and some enterprise laptops prefer 2.4 GHz. Flip on Maximize Compatibility for the first join, then test speed with the switch off later.
Edge Cases Worth Checking
Dual SIM Or eSIM Setup
If you use multiple lines, set the line that carries data as the one used for Personal Hotspot in Cellular settings. Toggle Hotspot once and retry.
Battery Saver Modes
Low Power Mode can slow radio activity. Charge the phone or switch that mode off while you test.
Security Apps And VPNs
Some security suites and VPN clients filter local joins. Pause them on both devices, connect, then re-enable after the first successful test.
Too Many Connected Devices
Personal Hotspot supports a limited number of joins at once. Disconnect one device, toggle Hotspot, and connect the laptop.
When To Call Your Carrier
If the Hotspot menu won’t appear, or every join attempt fails across Wi-Fi, USB, and Bluetooth, the plan may block tethering or the carrier profile needs a refresh. Ask an agent to confirm that Personal Hotspot is enabled on your line and to push any pending updates to your device. After that, repeat the quick checks at the top.
Keep Things Smooth Next Time
Once you’re back online, keep a simple playbook: a short device name, a tidy password, and one quick scan with Maximize Compatibility on when you’re pairing with older gear. Most laptops then see the iPhone hotspot instantly and connect without drama.