---
title: "Instant Hotspot not showing on Mac: what to check · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/instant-hotspot-not-showing"
description: "Fix an iPhone or iPad Personal Hotspot that does not appear in the Mac's Wi-Fi menu: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple Account, cellular data and auto-join."
---

Hotspots and data

# iPhone hotspot does not show on the Mac

Instant Hotspot lets a Mac join your iPhone or iPad hotspot without a password. It needs Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the same Apple Account on both devices.

Applies to: Current macOS and iOS versions. The Automatic option for hotspots is in macOS Tahoe 26 and later. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Symptoms

- The iPhone or iPad does not appear in the Mac's Wi-Fi menu.
- The Mac asks for a password to join your own hotspot.
- The Mac joined the hotspot once, but it does not find it now.

## Likely causes

- **Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is off.** Both devices must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and they must be near each other.
- **Different Apple Accounts.** Instant Hotspot works for devices signed in with the same Apple Account, or for members of a family group.
- **Cellular data is off.** If Personal Hotspot is dimmed on the iPhone, Cellular Data is off.
- **The plan does not include Personal Hotspot.** The carrier plan must support Personal Hotspot.

## How to check

1. On the Mac and on the iPhone or iPad, make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on.
2. Make sure that both devices use the same Apple Account.
3. On the iPhone, open Settings. Make sure that Personal Hotspot is not dimmed.
4. Put the two devices near each other.

## How to fix it

1. If Personal Hotspot is dimmed, turn on Cellular Data in the Cellular settings of the iPhone.
2. On the Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar or Control Center.
3. Choose the name of the iPhone or iPad that provides the hotspot.
4. To join on its own, open Wi-Fi Settings. Set “Ask to join hotspots” to Ask to Join or Automatic.
5. Restart the iPhone or iPad and the Mac if the hotspot still does not appear.
6. If nothing works, connect with a USB cable. See [Connect a Mac to an iPhone hotspot with a USB cable](https://kilobat.app/guides/usb-tethering-iphone-mac).

## With Kilobat

1. Kilobat's Wi-Fi menu does not join Instant Hotspot devices. Use the Wi-Fi controls of macOS for them.
2. After the Mac joins, Kilobat shows which apps use the hotspot data. See [See which app uses data on a hotspot](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/hotspot-data-by-app).

## Questions

**Do I need Allow Others to Join for Instant Hotspot?**

No. Apple says that Allow Others to Join is not necessary for Instant Hotspot. Other devices that join with the password need it.

**Can a family member use Instant Hotspot?**

Yes. On the iPhone, open Personal Hotspot > Family Sharing. Set each member to Automatic or Ask for Approval.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: Use Instant Hotspot to connect to your Personal Hotspot](https://support.apple.com/en-us/109321)
- [Apple Support: If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119837)

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [Connect a Mac to an iPhone hotspot with a USB cable](https://kilobat.app/guides/usb-tethering-iphone-mac): A USB cable gives a Mac the iPhone's internet connection and charges the iPhone.
- [Mac uses Personal Hotspot data in the background](https://kilobat.app/guides/hotspot-background-data): A Mac on a phone hotspot can use a lot of data with no action from you.
- [Make a Mac treat a network as metered](https://kilobat.app/guides/metered-network-mac): macOS marks some connections as expensive, such as an iPhone Personal Hotspot.
- [See which app uses data on a hotspot](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/hotspot-data-by-app): Kilobat shows the upload and download of each app on your Mac.