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How to make an iPhone hotspot show up on a laptop

Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn on Maximize Compatibility. The hotspot switches to 2.4 GHz, which older laptops can see.

How to do it

  1. Open Settings > Personal Hotspot.

  2. Turn Allow Others to Join on, if it is off.

  3. Turn Maximize Compatibility on and ask the other device to look for the network again.

  4. Turn Maximize Compatibility off when you are done, if the other device can join without it. 2.4 GHz is slower and more crowded.

The other person still needs the Wi-Fi password. It is on the Personal Hotspot screen. Family Sharing can join without it when that option is on.

Questions people ask

Why can't my laptop see my iPhone hotspot?

Many older laptops can't see the 5 GHz band. Maximize Compatibility fixes that. It also helps to keep the Personal Hotspot screen open while the laptop searches.

Is Maximize Compatibility slower?

Yes. 2.4 GHz is slower and more crowded, so turn it off when you don't need it.

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