How is iOS tethering supposed to work now?

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Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#245106 18-Jan-2019 17:51

They’ve screwed with something since last time I used iOS to iOS tethering. Last time I used it, it was effortless. I could see my iPhone from my iPad regardless of whether hotspot was enabled, and I just tapped my phone in the list and it connected without a password. Now the only convenience remaining is the not needing a password bit.

I have to turn on the hotspot to connect and have the hotspot menu open for it to be detectable by the iPad. Also, every time I put the iPad down, it disconnects, requiring the opening of the phone’s hotspot menu again.

Is there some setting to bring back the old behaviour?

dfnt

1511 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2163392 18-Jan-2019 18:07

Instant hotspot still works as long as the below is met

The iPad and iPhone need to be logged onto the same iCloud account, have bluetooth enabled and handoff enabled

gehenna

8495 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2163399 18-Jan-2019 18:37

Yip everything still works the same as it always has as long as criteria is met. It works if you enable Personal Hotspot manually on the iPhone right? If everything is set up correctly try doing a full restart of the devices, if that doesn't work reset the network settings.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#2163445 18-Jan-2019 21:07

dfnt:

The iPad and iPhone need to be logged onto the same iCloud account, have bluetooth enabled and handoff enabled

From experience, handoff is not needed, but both devices need to be logged into the same iCloud account, and personal hotspot activated on the phone device.

You can still do it the other way as well, turn on personal hotspot, then wifi/bluetooth/usb to whatever.

Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2163449 18-Jan-2019 21:13

Thanks for the suggestions. What finally fixed it was logging out of iCloud on the iPad and back in.

nzlogan

76 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2163471 18-Jan-2019 23:07

I don't think you're the only one that's had this issue - my father has recently complained about the exact same issue.

Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2163699 19-Jan-2019 13:28

Well that worked for one pair of devices, but I just tried to get it working on a second pair (following all the same steps) and the iPad flatly refuses to see the iPhone.

nzlogan, you’re right. I’ve been googling it (now that I know that it’s called “Instant Hotspot”) and there are plenty of other people with the same problem. it’s just seems to be a fragile, unreliable system. So much for Apple “just working”.

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2165249 22-Jan-2019 11:22

Oubadah: Well that worked for one pair of devices, but I just tried to get it working on a second pair (following all the same steps) and the iPad flatly refuses to see the iPhone.

nzlogan, you’re right. I’ve been googling it (now that I know that it’s called “Instant Hotspot”) and there are plenty of other people with the same problem. it’s just seems to be a fragile, unreliable system. So much for Apple “just working”.

Check my thread I just posted about the "Just works" stigma given to the iphone..
I did notice when I tried to air drop recently, that my airdrop settings and other share settings where completely off and hidden. Maybe check these out?