If your carrier supports it, you can set up a personal hotspot with your iPhone so other devices like a MacBook or iPad can access the Internet. You can also connect with a dock cable or via Bluetooth.
Depends on your provider. For instance, I don't think you lose it with AT&T (GSM network) but you would with Verizon (CDMA network). Try it and see.
David
12 years ago
That's true Gary. I use AT&T. The hotspot works very well providing an Internet connection to my iPad. I talk on the phone, send text messages and surf the web all at the same time using the hotspot wirelessly from my iPhone.
My wife and I thought it would be a great way to save money by not buying the 4G iPad. It works!
mike
12 years ago
Gary
I am in a hotel that provides free in room broadband connection but not wifi, I do not have my Macbook just my iPhone and iPad. Can I by using Airport Express set up a wifi network that I can then use with my mobile devices?
I have thought about this a lot but would appreciate your input.
Yes, you should be able to. I've never done it with an Airport Express, but I have done it with other wifi routers.
Dick
12 years ago
Excellent video. I have the new iPad with a mobile data connection (Verizon). Would connecting my MacBook using the USB option on the iPad create a faster connection and be kinder to the two batteries?
Well, it would attempt to charge your iPad with your MacBook -- so it would drain your MacBook's battery faster and keep your iPad's battery stable or charging -- I think, at least. Never tried it.
The connection would be slightly better as you wouldn't deal with any potential wifi interference. But it might not be enough for you to notice.
I had hughes net rural satellite connection for my mac, but needed new phones for wife and I. Found the iphone 4s with hotspots as a great solution for my mac and her macbook. Problem comes with everybody working in the house at the same time. I think the solution is to connect both iphones to our respective computers, but as a technoNOT, I can't figure out the docking terminology and the requirements. I have been hooking up via the power cable the iphone to the mac, but it still seems to work off of the airport. Great system, saves money, increased speeds, unfortunately there is conflict.
Simply turn off wifi on the Mac when trying to use the cable -- that will at least get you started.
J
12 years ago
Your awesome, I don't have an ethernet connector, but tomorrow after a techstore run, I expect that turning off the AirPort and restarting will produce results. For anyone else, this I expect will eliminate the ATT airwaves conflict and bump offs. Thanks Gary!
Lori
12 years ago
Hi! I would love your advice. I need to buy a new iPad. Current one with 3G has shattered screen and it is warped so I don't think buying a new screen is an option. I'm trying to decide if I should get one with 3G or not because both my husband and I have iPhones that have personal hotspot. Problem is we are under a grandfathered AT&T data plan that offers unlimited data usage for $30/month (for each phone so 60 total). In order to use personal hotspot we have to change plan to 5gb per month at $50 each and we would never be able to get back the unlimited. What would you suggest? I am thinking that I should hold on to the unlimited deal as long as possible but based on our last 2 bills it appears we each use approximately 700MB of data per month.
Go to the AT&T site and look at your data usage history as far back as you can go. If that 700MB per month is normal, then there's probably no point in hanging on to the unlimited plan. I went through this myself earlier this year. I'm on wifi so much that I rarely got to 2GB, let alone 5.
Mark
12 years ago
Gary I dont have network as an option under settings general? 4s?
The latest iOS puts Personal Hotspot settings right at the top level. Look for it and you'll find it.
Bryce
12 years ago
my iphone 5 wont connect to my mac via wifi when I try to use it as a hotspot. i have tried calling to have it troubleshot many times and no one has an answer as to why this happens to both mine and my wifes phone. what could be doing this?
Hard to say without a first-hand look. Perhaps a visit to the Genius Bar will sort it out.
Bryce
12 years ago
The phones wont sync with eachother either. even when my mac pics up the wifi signal from my device, it drops it within 1-5 minutes, even though I can pick up multiple signals around my neighborhood.
Caleb
12 years ago
I have an Att Iphone 5, and work on the 5th floor of a large building, downtown in a large city. I receive decent, sometimes spotty reception in the building. Using the hotspot feature is soooooo slow, it's almost not worth it. I was wondering if I purchased at&t's microcell device, would that boost LTE/data speeds inside the building? If not, is there anything tat will?
I'm not that familiar with the microcell -- don't you hook that up to the Internet to create your own mini cell tower? In that case, it wouldn't help you. If you have Internet, then it wouldn't make sense. Don't you have access to wifi at work? If so, why the need for the hotspot?
Landy
11 years ago
Does my iPhone have to have a wifi connection in order for my iPad to be able to connect? I tried to use the hotspot while my husband was driving and it recognized the iPhone, but after putting in the password the circular progress bar just kept going round and round and never would connect. Seems sort of useless if that's the case... Thanks in advance.
The personal hotspot doesn't use wifi. Your iPhone connects to the mobile data network (AT&T, etc). Then it creates a little wifi network for other devices to connect to. Wouldn't make sense for the iPhone to need wifi as if you already have wifi you don't need the hotspot.
Try it again. Perhaps in a different location or while not driving. Maybe your mobile connection was bad there, or maybe you didn't wait long enough. I find it sometimes take a minute or two the first time you try it.
Michael
11 years ago
I have an unlimited wifi hotspot package with my iPhone contract, but it won't let me use my iPad on it.
Is there any way I can connect the iPad to my phone and use the wifi hotspot through that?
If you set up your iPhone as the hotspot, and then connect to that wifi network with your iPad it should definitely work. Lots of people do exactly that.
G
11 years ago
My iPhone 5 can't connect to a Samsung Galaxy 3 Hotspot. Mine is Verizon and the Hotspot is T Mobile. Help?
Nothing to do but to check and recheck your settings. Are you sure the hotspot is live and working? Have you tested it with another device? Call their support if not.
Helen Fox
11 years ago
Both my husband and I have iphones. We both use them as a hotspot. Can they both have the same wifi password? I have to change the Brother printer wifi setting from his to mine everytime I want to print.
You can set the password to anything you want. But I don't see how the password would make a difference (other than being easier to remember). You'll still have to switch networks on the printer to use it.
Matthew
11 years ago
Hi Gary, another great use is for travellers. I use personal hotspots for when I'm not in my home country (Switzerland) and for friends visiting me. I ask my friend if I can show them how to turn their hotspot on and hop on their connection to quickly check emails, etc. that way I don't have to roam $$$.
Does using booth tooth or wifi use up more battery? I have only connected via wifi.
PS love your videos and probably have watched some 100 of them through the times. Thank you!!
I use this when i dj, if i need a quick track, great video.
Gary - When you use your device as a hotpsot do you lose the ability to send and receive phone calls and text messages?
Depends on your provider. For instance, I don't think you lose it with AT&T (GSM network) but you would with Verizon (CDMA network). Try it and see.
That's true Gary. I use AT&T. The hotspot works very well providing an Internet connection to my iPad. I talk on the phone, send text messages and surf the web all at the same time using the hotspot wirelessly from my iPhone.
My wife and I thought it would be a great way to save money by not buying the 4G iPad. It works!
Gary
I am in a hotel that provides free in room broadband connection but not wifi, I do not have my Macbook just my iPhone and iPad. Can I by using Airport Express set up a wifi network that I can then use with my mobile devices?
I have thought about this a lot but would appreciate your input.
Yes, you should be able to. I've never done it with an Airport Express, but I have done it with other wifi routers.
Excellent video. I have the new iPad with a mobile data connection (Verizon). Would connecting my MacBook using the USB option on the iPad create a faster connection and be kinder to the two batteries?
Well, it would attempt to charge your iPad with your MacBook -- so it would drain your MacBook's battery faster and keep your iPad's battery stable or charging -- I think, at least. Never tried it.
The connection would be slightly better as you wouldn't deal with any potential wifi interference. But it might not be enough for you to notice.
Can I use my 3G Ipad as a hotspot for my macbook?
Yes, if your mobile provider supports it.
I had hughes net rural satellite connection for my mac, but needed new phones for wife and I. Found the iphone 4s with hotspots as a great solution for my mac and her macbook. Problem comes with everybody working in the house at the same time. I think the solution is to connect both iphones to our respective computers, but as a technoNOT, I can't figure out the docking terminology and the requirements. I have been hooking up via the power cable the iphone to the mac, but it still seems to work off of the airport. Great system, saves money, increased speeds, unfortunately there is conflict.
Simply turn off wifi on the Mac when trying to use the cable -- that will at least get you started.
Your awesome, I don't have an ethernet connector, but tomorrow after a techstore run, I expect that turning off the AirPort and restarting will produce results. For anyone else, this I expect will eliminate the ATT airwaves conflict and bump offs. Thanks Gary!
Hi! I would love your advice. I need to buy a new iPad. Current one with 3G has shattered screen and it is warped so I don't think buying a new screen is an option. I'm trying to decide if I should get one with 3G or not because both my husband and I have iPhones that have personal hotspot. Problem is we are under a grandfathered AT&T data plan that offers unlimited data usage for $30/month (for each phone so 60 total). In order to use personal hotspot we have to change plan to 5gb per month at $50 each and we would never be able to get back the unlimited. What would you suggest? I am thinking that I should hold on to the unlimited deal as long as possible but based on our last 2 bills it appears we each use approximately 700MB of data per month.
Go to the AT&T site and look at your data usage history as far back as you can go. If that 700MB per month is normal, then there's probably no point in hanging on to the unlimited plan. I went through this myself earlier this year. I'm on wifi so much that I rarely got to 2GB, let alone 5.
Gary I dont have network as an option under settings general? 4s?
The latest iOS puts Personal Hotspot settings right at the top level. Look for it and you'll find it.
my iphone 5 wont connect to my mac via wifi when I try to use it as a hotspot. i have tried calling to have it troubleshot many times and no one has an answer as to why this happens to both mine and my wifes phone. what could be doing this?
Hard to say without a first-hand look. Perhaps a visit to the Genius Bar will sort it out.
The phones wont sync with eachother either. even when my mac pics up the wifi signal from my device, it drops it within 1-5 minutes, even though I can pick up multiple signals around my neighborhood.
I have an Att Iphone 5, and work on the 5th floor of a large building, downtown in a large city. I receive decent, sometimes spotty reception in the building. Using the hotspot feature is soooooo slow, it's almost not worth it. I was wondering if I purchased at&t's microcell device, would that boost LTE/data speeds inside the building? If not, is there anything tat will?
I'm not that familiar with the microcell -- don't you hook that up to the Internet to create your own mini cell tower? In that case, it wouldn't help you. If you have Internet, then it wouldn't make sense. Don't you have access to wifi at work? If so, why the need for the hotspot?
Does my iPhone have to have a wifi connection in order for my iPad to be able to connect? I tried to use the hotspot while my husband was driving and it recognized the iPhone, but after putting in the password the circular progress bar just kept going round and round and never would connect. Seems sort of useless if that's the case... Thanks in advance.
The personal hotspot doesn't use wifi. Your iPhone connects to the mobile data network (AT&T, etc). Then it creates a little wifi network for other devices to connect to. Wouldn't make sense for the iPhone to need wifi as if you already have wifi you don't need the hotspot.
Try it again. Perhaps in a different location or while not driving. Maybe your mobile connection was bad there, or maybe you didn't wait long enough. I find it sometimes take a minute or two the first time you try it.
I have an unlimited wifi hotspot package with my iPhone contract, but it won't let me use my iPad on it.
Is there any way I can connect the iPad to my phone and use the wifi hotspot through that?
If you set up your iPhone as the hotspot, and then connect to that wifi network with your iPad it should definitely work. Lots of people do exactly that.
My iPhone 5 can't connect to a Samsung Galaxy 3 Hotspot. Mine is Verizon and the Hotspot is T Mobile. Help?
Nothing to do but to check and recheck your settings. Are you sure the hotspot is live and working? Have you tested it with another device? Call their support if not.
Both my husband and I have iphones. We both use them as a hotspot. Can they both have the same wifi password? I have to change the Brother printer wifi setting from his to mine everytime I want to print.
You can set the password to anything you want. But I don't see how the password would make a difference (other than being easier to remember). You'll still have to switch networks on the printer to use it.
Hi Gary, another great use is for travellers. I use personal hotspots for when I'm not in my home country (Switzerland) and for friends visiting me. I ask my friend if I can show them how to turn their hotspot on and hop on their connection to quickly check emails, etc. that way I don't have to roam $$$.
Does using booth tooth or wifi use up more battery? I have only connected via wifi.
PS love your videos and probably have watched some 100 of them through the times. Thank you!!
Any radio signals you send or receive will use battery power. So using wifi does, and using Bluetooth does.