Explains the causes and remedies when iPhone cannot tether

If "Internet Sharing" is displayed on the "Settings" screen of the iPhone, you can judge that the tethering option is enabled.

2) Internet sharing settings

If your carrier's tethering option is enabled (subscribed), you should be able to see the switch "Allow others to connect" by opening the "Settings"> "Internet Sharing" screen. Tap "Wi-Fi" password below it, register the password, and turn on the "Allow others to connect" switch to enable tethering.

However, if the device connected to the iPhone is a Mac or iPad signed with the same Apple ID, the status of the "Allow others to connect" switch is irrelevant. Even if the switch is off, you can use iPhone tethering by starting the connection operation from the Mac or iPad side. This is a feature called "Instant Hotspot" that is only available to Apple products.

3) Enter password

If you use iPhone tethering from a device that does not support instant hotspots, such as a Windows computer or Android smartphone, you will be asked to enter the password. Check the password displayed on the "Settings"-> "Internet Sharing" screen of the iPhone, and check whether it matches the character string entered on the tethering slave unit such as a personal computer.

4) APN setting

Depending on the SIM card / eSIM used, it may be necessary to set the APN (Access Point Name, mobile line connection information). Note that some carriers / MVNOs require manual APN settings when using tethering, even if APN settings are not required for data communication due to automatic processing.

Taking the eSIM service provided by IIJmio as an example, open the screen in the order of "Settings" → "Mobile communication" → "Line name (secondary line)" → "Mobile data communication network", and open the APN name and user name in the Internet sharing column. , Enter the password and it's OK.

If you're happy with your iPhone's tethering settings, the next thing to try

If tethering is still not available, try the following: Since tethering is closely related to the mobile communication function, it is possible to return to the initial state (immediately after turning on the power) by resetting the iPhone once.

1) iPhone system restart

Open the screen in the order of "Settings" → "General" → "System shutdown", and slide "Slide to power off" to the right. About 30 seconds after the iPhone is turned off, press the side button to turn it on.

2) iOS update

Open the screen in the order of "Settings" → "General" → "Software Update" and check for updates. If it exists, tap "Download and Install" to start downloading and updating immediately.

3) Reset network settings

Open the screen in the order of "Settings" → "General" → "Reset" and tap "Reset network settings" to initialize the communication related settings such as mobile line, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Not only the mobile line but also the Wi-Fi access point information (password etc.) and pairing information with the Bluetooth device are initialized, so use it as a last resort.

If you can't tether your Wi-Fi connection

If you cannot tether with a Wi-Fi connection, check the Wi-Fi settings on the client (computer / tablet) side. For Windows 10, you can turn Wi-Fi on / off with the "Wi-Fi" button in the network list that appears by clicking the balloon (Action Center) → "Network" at the right end of the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen. increase. For Mac, click the fan button at the top of the screen and select "Turn on Wi-Fi".

If you cannot tether the USB connection

For tethering with a USB connection, the iPhone must be recognized as a USB device by the system on the connected computer / tablet side. Normally, for both Windows 10 and Mac, simply connecting with a Lightning cable will recognize the iPhone as a communication device and start tethering as it is.

If your iPhone isn't recognized, try plugging and unplugging the Lightning cable. If that doesn't work, try restarting your computer and iPhone. It's also possible that the Lightning cable is broken or a bad cable that isn't Apple's MFi certified is causing the glitch.

If you can't tether your Bluetooth connection

For tethering with Bluetooth, first complete the pairing with the iPhone on the computer side. For Windows PC, the following settings are required after pairing. First, click the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar and select "Join Personal Area Network". Right-click the iPhone in the device list on the next screen and click "Connection method"-> "Access point" to start tethering.

For Mac, once pairing is complete, all you have to do is select your iPhone from the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and select "Connect to Network".

If the connection between your computer and iPhone fails, open the screen in the order of "Settings" → "Bluetooth" on your iPhone and turn the "Bluetooth" switch on / off. Tethering with Bluetooth tends to cause more trouble than with Wi-Fi or USB, and it is not uncommon for it to be difficult to identify the cause. Try turning Bluetooth on / off on the client (computer / tablet) side as well.

Shinobu at sea

IT / AV columnist. Many serials and books related to UNIX-based OS and smartphones. While writing technical articles, he also likes to write soft columns for the entry tier. In Mynavi News, he is serializing "Why the iPhone I can't hear now" and "(New) OS X Hacking!" That has continued since the last century. Other than his writing, he is passionate about developing Linux distributions for audio-focused Raspberry Pi. Since 2012, he has been a judge for the AV equipment award "VGP".