Updated
July 13, 2016.
Ever been stuck in a situation where you need to get a computer or tablet online with no Wi-Fi nearby? If you've got an iPhone with a 3G or 4G data connection, that problem can be easily solved thanks to Personal Hotspot.
RELATED: Personal Hotspot on iPhone: What You Need To Know
Personal Hotspot Explained
Personal Hotspot is a feature of iOS that lets iPhones running iOS 4.3 and higher share their cellular data connection with other nearby devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB.
This feature is generically known as tethering. When using Personal Hotspot, your iPhone acts like a wireless router for the other devices, transmitting and receiving data for them.
Personal Hotspot Requirements
In order to use Personal Hotspot, you need:
- An iPhone 4 or newer
- iOS 4.3 or higher
- A data plan that supports tethering/Personal Hotspot
- A USB cable, if you want to connect devices that way.
Adding Personal Hotspot to Your Data Plan
These days, most major phone companies include Personal Hotspot by default as part of their data plans for iPhone. AT&T and Verizon include it on all of their plans, while T-Mobile offers it as part of its unlimited data plan. Sprint charges for it, with prices depending on how much data you want to use.
Most regional carriers and pre-paid carriers support it as part of their data plans, as well. If you're not sure whether you have Personal Hotspot on your data plan, check with your phone company.
NOTE: For important information about Personal Hotspot data use, see step 3 of this article.
Another way to know if you have it is to check your iPhone. Tap the Settings app and look for the Personal Hotspot menu beneath Cellular. If it's there, you likely have the feature.