Last updated: June 2026 • Reviewed by Compare The Networks
Personal Hotspot turns your iPhone 16 / 16 Pro into a portable Wi-Fi router, sharing your mobile data connection with laptops, tablets, and other devices. It’s perfect for working on the go.
Turn On Personal Hotspot
Steps
- Open Settings
- Tap Personal Hotspot
- Toggle Allow Others to Join to on
- Note the Wi-Fi Password shown on screen (tap it to change)
- On the device you want to connect, open Wi-Fi settings and select your iPhone 16’s name
- Enter the password and connect
Quick access from Control Centre
- Swipe down from the top-right corner
- Press and hold the connectivity panel (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane)
- Tap Personal Hotspot to toggle on
Turn Off Personal Hotspot
- Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot
- Toggle Allow Others to Join to off
Tip: For better battery life, turn off Personal Hotspot when you’re not using it. You can also connect devices via USB or Bluetooth for lower power consumption.
Hotspot Not Working?
- Check your plan — some business plans restrict hotspot usage or have a separate hotspot data allowance
- Toggle mobile data off and on
- Restart your iPhone 16
- Reset network settings if the hotspot option is greyed out — Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
Data usage warning: Hotspot usage consumes your mobile data allowance. Streaming video or downloading large files through your hotspot can use several GB quickly. Monitor usage in Settings > Mobile Service.