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Welcome to the 'How to hotspot on an iPhone video course. In this video, you'll learn how to share your phone's mobile internet connection with other devices, such as a tablet or computer, when Wi-Fi isn't available. This is called hotspotting and is useful for when you're on the go and as backup for your home Wi-Fi network. For this demonstration, we'll hotspot from an iPhone to an iPad, and the steps will be similar for other devices.
Hotspotting means your phone and any connected devices will use mobile data instead of Wi-Fi. This could affect your data allowance, so check your plan and monitor usage to avoid extra costs. You can hotspot to multiple devices at once, but it can slow internet speeds and drain your phone's battery. Starting from the Home screen, tap the Settings app to open it. Tap on Personal Hotspot to see the options.
Next to Allow Others to Join, tap the switch to turn it on. Just below that you'll see the Wi-Fi password. This is the password you or anyone else will need to connect. You can tap it to change the password to something more memorable if you'd like. At the top of the screen, this icon lets you know that hotspotting is active, and your phone is ready to share its internet connection.
Let's connect an iPad to your iPhone now. For a reliable signal, make sure the devices are within 10 metres of each other. On the iPad Home screen, open the Settings app. Then from the menu on the left, tap Wi-Fi, Your phone's name will appear in the list of available networks. Tap on it, then enter the Wi-Fi password shown earlier on your iPhone. When you've finished, tap the tick in the top right.
After a few moments, the iPad will show it's connected. If you are signed in to both devices with the same iCloud account, you won't need to enter your hotspot password. When you're done, it's a good idea to turn off your hotspot to save data and battery. On your phone, return to the Settings app and tap on it. Tap Personal Hotspot, then switch off Allow Others to Join. This will disconnect all devices and stop sharing your phone's mobile data.