Personal Hotspot is greyed out or missing on iPhone

Personal Hotspot needs Cellular Data, a carrier plan that includes hotspot, and correct carrier settings. If one is missing, iPhone dims the option or hides it.

Fix this with your agentCopies a prompt for Claude Code, Codex or any agent that can use Terminal.

My Mac has this problem: Personal Hotspot is greyed out or missing on iPhone. Read https://kilobat.app/guides/personal-hotspot-greyed-out-iphone.md and work through it with me. Install the Kilobat CLI if it’s missing: brew install seifip/kilobat/kilobat. Run the guide’s Terminal and kilobat checks yourself and tell me what you find. List the steps only I can do. Ask before you change any setting.

Applies to: Current iOS versions. The Mac steps are for macOS 14 and later.Checked: 7 November 2026

Symptoms

  • Personal Hotspot is dimmed in iPhone Settings, or it is not there at all.
  • Settings > Cellular does not show Set Up Personal Hotspot.
  • Allow Others to Join is dimmed.
  • The option went away after an iOS update, a new eSIM or a new carrier plan.
  • The Mac does not show the iPhone in its Wi-Fi menu.

Likely causes

  • Cellular Data is off. Apple says that Personal Hotspot is dimmed or unavailable when Cellular Data is off.
  • The plan does not include Personal Hotspot. The carrier must allow Personal Hotspot, and the plan must support it. Only the carrier can add it.
  • The data line has no hotspot. With two lines, Personal Hotspot uses the line chosen for cellular data. A travel eSIM plan can leave hotspot out.
  • Carrier settings or APN values are missing. Some carriers need APN values. Apple says that an iOS update resets APN changes, unless a configuration profile set them.
  • A device management restriction. On a work iPhone, a device management policy can stop Personal Hotspot.

How to check

  1. On the iPhone, open Settings. Tap Cellular. Make sure that Cellular Data is on.

  2. In Cellular, look for Personal Hotspot or Set Up Personal Hotspot.

  3. If you use two lines, tap Cellular Data. Write down the line that it uses.

  4. In the carrier's app or account, make sure that the plan of that line includes hotspot or tethering.

  5. Open Settings > General > About. Look at the Carrier version, and install an update if iOS offers one.

  6. On a work iPhone, ask your administrator whether a policy blocks Personal Hotspot.

How to fix it

  1. Turn on Cellular Data in Settings > Cellular.

  2. If Set Up Personal Hotspot is still missing, ask the carrier to add hotspot to the plan.

  3. If a travel eSIM is the data line, ask its provider whether the plan allows hotspot.

  4. To test, choose the other line in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. Charges can apply on that line.

  5. Install a carrier settings update in Settings > General > About, if one appears.

  6. Update iOS to the latest version.

  7. If the carrier gives you APN values, enter them in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Network.

  8. Restart the iPhone.

  9. Reset network settings in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

  10. If the plan includes hotspot, ask the carrier to check the line or to give you a new eSIM.

With Kilobat

  1. Kilobat runs on the Mac. It cannot see or change the iPhone's settings or the carrier plan.

  2. List the carriers that have a hotspot-rules page in Kilobat. Each page says which plans leave hotspot out.

    kilobat hotspot carriers

  3. The same pages are in hotspot limits by carrier.

  4. When the hotspot works again, Kilobat shows which apps use its data. See See which app uses data on a hotspot.

  5. On a metered network, Kilobat can switch to Essentials. Only the apps you allow can then connect. This needs Pro and the network filter.

Questions

Personal Hotspot went away after an iOS update. Why?

Apple says that an iOS update resets APN changes that you made by hand. If your carrier needs APN values, enter them again. Many users also report that the carrier had to refresh the line or the eSIM.

Does Reset Network Settings delete my data?

No. Apple says that it removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings.

Can I use a travel eSIM for Personal Hotspot?

Only if its plan allows hotspot. Personal Hotspot always uses the line chosen for cellular data.

Do I need Allow Others to Join for my Mac?

No. Apple says that Instant Hotspot works without it for devices with the same Apple Account or in your family group.

Sources

Checked on 7 November 2026.