Hello, I recently switched back to Apple and use hotspot regularly. When turning on hotspot why do I need to also enable wifi/bluetooth for my other device to connect to the hotspot? I tried to click the other option which is USB only OR to turn off bluetooth and wifi (hotspot sharing and cellular data still on) and hotspot wont work. I just don’t understand why they are mutually dependent in Apple iPhone when it’s not the case for Android (turning on data and hotspot in control center with no need to on bluetooth and wifi). I am on the road often and just don’t want strangers to discover my device when I only need 1 phone to connect
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minimyday OP t1_j61wuk0 wrote
No worries, thank you, appreciate your message. My apologies if I wasn’t able to properly describe the experience . My cellular data plan is on the iPhone, and I sometimes use it as hotspot for other android devices so that other devices can connect to my data. Whenever I want to do this, I have to -turn ON cellular data -under “personal hotspot” I turn ON “allow others to join” (“maximize compatibility” is also ON) There will be a message prompt that says: “Wifi and Bluetooth are off. Personal hotspot will only be available over USB. Do you also want to enable over WiFi and Bluetooth?” Button 1: Turn on Wifi and Bluetooth Button 2: USB only
I always have to choose button 1 for it to work, but the downside is while I am traveling other strangers nearby can see my device since wifi and Bluetooth have to be turned ON for hotspot. It might also consume additional battery power because wifi is on and the phone displays different networks I pass by. The moment I turn it off, the hotspot connection breaks off too. Also sometimes even if I do it correctly others can’t connect so I have to turn off wifi, Bluetooth and cellular data to redo the process for it to work haha
When I was using Android before, I just had to turn ON cellular data and the button for Hotspot (both in dropdown menu/control center). No need to turn on wifi or Bluetooth for other devices to connect to my android as hotpot
Comparing both, I was just wondering if my Apple IPhone hotspot experience is normal, if it’s really like that? Where Wifi and Bluetooth has to also be ON for my iPhone Hotspot to work
Equal-Being8094 t1_j61xuhx wrote
Simple answer is that on your iPhone your Wifi OR Bluetooth NEED to be on (doesn’t have to be both) and on the other device the Wifi or Bluetooth also needs to be on (again, not both). Put another way: your iPhone is being used as a communication device (either via Wifi or BT), so it needs to be ‘On’… likewise, the device you want to be able to connect TO the iPhone needs to be ON in order to connect (via Wifi or BT). Apple is probably a little more stringent on security that Android…
minimyday OP t1_j62wg8g wrote
Got it, thank you for the clarification
tsdguy t1_j627573 wrote
Why would you ever turn off Bluetooth? It takes no data and is used extensively for Apple device services including personal hotspot detection and management.
minimyday OP t1_j62wy0f wrote
I was concerned about having Bluetooth on while on the road/traveling since I saw some articles saying hackers can use Bluetooth to access personal data. Also wanted to confirm if it’s normal since I did not have to turn on wifi or Bluetooth to be able to use hotspot before when I was using Android. Based on the replies here it seems to be normal to turn them on when using iPhone as hotspot
Equal-Being8094 t1_j61iil3 wrote
Not sure I fully understand your question, so I am going to state what I “think” it might be, in case this might be helpful. I “think” you are asking why, if you want to use your iPhone as the ‘hotspot’ for another device to connect to it, why you need to enable Wifi/BT on the other device as well. IF that is the question, then I think the answer is that the hotspot connection goes thru either the Wifi or BT connection (depending which you select). Put another way… your phone connects to the second device either via Wifi or bluetooth… and in order to connect to that other device Wifi (or BT) has to be on/enabled on that other device. If I didn’t understand your question correctly… my apologies!