September 16, 2026

Make an iPhone hotspot visible to an older laptop

Turn on Maximize Compatibility under Personal Hotspot. It uses 2.4 GHz, which older devices can see.

• Wi-Fi & Home tech
• Easy · 1 min
• iPhone on iOS 18 and iOS 26
• Fix: make an iPhone hotspot easier to find
• Cheat sheet

How to do it

1. 01

   Open Settings > Personal Hotspot.

2. 02

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

3. 03

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

4. 04

   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.