8 Easy Fixes for Android Hotspot Not Working on iPhone or iPad

ByJim Miller

Enabling your Android's hotspot allows you to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share your data connection with nearby devices. However, there may be times when your Android hotspot stops working with an iPhone or iPad. Whether it's due to a temporary network glitch or improper settings, fixing this issue is not overly complicated. Here are 8 simple fixes to get your Android hotspot working again on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Disable Hidden Network Option on Android

If you have set your Android phone's hotspot as a hidden network, it won't show up on an iPhone or iPad. To unhide it, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app and go to Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.
  2. Tap on Mobile Hotspot and select Configure.
  3. Tap on Advanced, disable the toggle next to Hidden network, and tap Save.

After completing these steps, check if your Android phone's hotspot appears on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Make Sure Mobile Data Is Working on the Android

Ensure that the internet is working on your Android phone. You can do this by loading a few websites or playing a video on YouTube. If the mobile data isn't working, check if you have exceeded your daily or monthly data limit.

3. Toggle Airplane Mode on Both Phones

Toggling airplane mode is a simple way to refresh all network connections on your phone without having to restart it. This can often resolve any temporary glitches preventing the iPhone from connecting to the Android hotspot.

On Android, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to access the Quick Settings panel. Tap the airplane icon to enable Airplane mode, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it off.

On the iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen and tap the airplane icon to enable Airplane mode. Wait for a few moments and tap the icon again to disable it.

4. Forget and Reconnect to the Hotspot

Disconnecting and reconnecting your iPhone to the hotspot can help fix any issues caused by improper setup or the wrong password. Here's how to do it:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap on Wi-Fi. Then, tap the info icon next to the hotspot network.
  2. Tap Forget This Network and select Forget to confirm.

5. Disable Battery and Data Saver Mode on Android

Enabling battery or data saver mode on your Android can cause issues with the hotspot. It's best to disable these features while sharing the hotspot. To turn them off:

  • To turn off battery saver mode, open the Settings app and go to Battery and device care > Battery. Then, disable the toggle next to Power saving.
  • To turn off data saver mode, open the Settings app and go to Connections > Data usage. Tap on Data saver and disable the toggle next to Turn on now.

6. Disable VPN on Android

If you're connected to a VPN server on your Android, it's possible that your network provider has imposed restrictions that prevent you from sharing your internet. Temporarily disable the VPN connection on your Android to avoid any conflicts.

7. Reset Network Settings on iPhone

If your iPhone or iPad still can't connect to the Android hotspot while other devices can, there may be an issue with the network settings. To fix this, you can reset all the network settings on your iPhone and start over:

  1. Open Settings and go to General > Reset iPhone.
  2. Tap on Reset and select Reset Network Settings from the menu.
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to finish resetting the network settings.

8. Use Bluetooth Tethering

If none of the above tips work, you can consider using Bluetooth tethering to share your Android phone's internet connection with an iPhone or iPad. Here's how:

  1. On your Android, open the Settings app and go to Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.
  2. Turn on the toggle next to Bluetooth tethering.
  3. On the iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap on Bluetooth.
  4. Turn on the toggle next to Bluetooth and select the Android device sharing the internet.

Once connected, the iPhone or iPad should have access to the Android's internet connection.

Bridge the Gap

Being able to share your Android hotspot can be useful when you want to share your internet with a friend. We hope that one of the above tips has proven useful and the Android hotspot is now working on your iPhone or iPad as expected.