---
title: "USB tethering iPhone to Mac not working: iPhone USB service · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/usb-tethering-iphone-mac"
description: "Share an iPhone's internet with a Mac over a USB cable, and fix the iPhone USB network service when the tethered connection does not work."
---

Ethernet and tethering

# Connect a Mac to an iPhone hotspot with a USB cable

A USB cable gives a Mac the iPhone's internet connection and charges the iPhone. The Mac shows the connection as the iPhone USB network service.

Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings steps. Earlier versions use System Preferences > Network. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Symptoms

- The iPhone is connected with a cable, but the Mac has no internet.
- iPhone USB does not appear in Network settings.
- iPhone USB appears, but it is not connected.

## Likely causes

- **The Mac is not trusted.** The iPhone asks “Trust This Computer?” the first time. Without Trust, the Mac cannot use the connection.
- **The service is missing or inactive.** The iPhone USB network service can be missing or turned off in Network settings.
- **Personal Hotspot is not available.** The carrier plan must include Personal Hotspot, and Cellular Data must be on.
- **Out-of-date software.** Apple recommends that you update macOS first.

## How to check

1. Connect the iPhone to the Mac with a USB cable.
2. If the iPhone asks to trust the computer, tap Trust. Enter the passcode if it asks.
3. Make sure that the iPhone appears in the Finder sidebar.
4. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Network. Look for iPhone USB.
5. List the network services from Terminal. An asterisk means that a service is inactive.

   ```
   networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder
   ```

## How to fix it

1. Update macOS. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If iPhone USB is in the list, click it. Click Make Inactive, then click Make Active.
3. If iPhone USB is not in the list, add it. In Network settings, click the Action pop-up menu, then choose Add Service.
4. Choose iPhone USB from the Interface pop-up menu. Click Create.
5. Restart the iPhone and the Mac if the connection still does not work.

## With Kilobat

1. If macOS does not mark the tethered connection as metered, mark it in Kilobat.

   ```
   kilobat networks cost metered
   ```
2. Then see which apps use the data, and set a budget. See [See which app uses data on a hotspot](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/hotspot-data-by-app) and [Set a monthly data budget that resets on renewal day](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/monthly-data-budget).

## Questions

**Does the Mac treat USB tethering as expensive?**

Find out with `nettop -P -l 1 -t expensive` while apps use the network. If no process appears, pause sync and updates by hand. See [Make a Mac treat a network as metered](https://kilobat.app/guides/metered-network-mac).

**Can I add the service from Terminal?**

Yes. `sudo networksetup -detectnewhardware` finds new network hardware and creates a default service for it. It needs an administrator password.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119837)
- [Apple Support: Share the internet connection from your iPhone or iPad with your Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchl7403f0ee/mac)
- [Apple Support: Set up a network service on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-a-network-service-on-mac-mchlp1176/mac)
- networksetup(8), man page installed with macOS 27.2

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

## Related guides

- [iPhone hotspot does not show on the Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/instant-hotspot-not-showing): Instant Hotspot lets a Mac join your iPhone or iPad hotspot without a password.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Mac uses the wrong network connection](https://kilobat.app/guides/network-service-order): When more than one connection is active, the Mac tries the service at the top of the list first.