How to Stop iPhone Personal Hotspot From Turning On Automatically
Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.
Arshmeet has been a tech tinkerer since childhood, but she realized her love for technology and writing about 5 years ago. Since then, she has been honing her skills and helping people figure out how things work, troubleshoot problems, choose the right app and products, and dig deep into the new and old concepts of technology. She is a self-professed Apple Enthusiast who loves debating what’s good and what’s not. It is her passion for finding techniques, hacks, apps, and products that make everyday life simpler.
Fix 1. Disable Auto-Join Hotspot
Do you have an iPad (or a secondary iPhone) without its own cellular data plan? If you use the same Apple ID across your devices, the iPad (or iPhone) can automatically activate your primaryiPhone’s Personal Hotspotwhen there are no nearby Wi-Fi hotspots to join.
That ensures constant online connectivity, but you may not want that. Strangely, you can’t disable Personal Hotspot for devices that use the same Apple ID — it’s always available by design. However, you can stop other devices from automatically joining your iPhone by diving into each device’s Settings app.
Step 1:Open theSettingsapp of the device (iPhone or iPad) that you want to prevent from connecting to your iPhone.
Step 2: Next, tapWi-Fi> selectAuto-Join Hotspotfrom the options.
Step 3:On the following screen, choose betweenNeverorAsk to Join.
Select Never if you want to completely stop the device from activating Personal Hotspot on your iPhone. Alternatively, select Ask to Join if you want the device to ask for your permission to connect to your iPhone.
Note:Since Personal Hotspot is available on your iPhone, you can still connect other devices manually viaSettings>Wi-Fi.
Fix 3. Modify the Family Sharing Settings
Do you haveFamily Sharingenabled? If so, your family members can activate your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot from their iOS or iPadOS devices and start consuming cellular data. Yes, without asking you for permission.
Thankfully, you don’t have to disable Family Sharing to put a stop to that. Briefly diving into the Personal Hotspot settings screen should suffice.
Step 1:Open theSettingsapp →Personal Hotspot.
Step 2: Here, tapFamily Sharing.
Note:You can also access your Personal Hotspot settings viaSettings>Cellular>Personal Hotspot.
Step 3:Here, you can then manage how each family member connects to your iPhone. Switch from Automatic toAsk for Your Approval.
Don’t want to play favorites? Disable Personal Hotspot for all family members by turning off the toggle for Family Sharing.
Fix 4. Disable Personal Hotspot for Other Devices
Have you allowed other people to connect to the Personal Hotspot on your iPhone? If so, they can connect to it again without your permission.
That isn’t as prevalent an issue as with your own devices or family members since the iPhone must be actively broadcasting the Personal Hotspot for that to happen. If you don’t want to take chances, here’s what you must do to stop that.
Open theSettingsapp →Personal Hotspot. Turn off the toggle forAllow Others to Join. That should stop others from connecting to your iPhone.
However, this will also prevent your own non-Apple devices from detecting the Personal Hotspot if you must connect to it. In that case, head back and re-enable the Allow Others to Join option.
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Last updated on 29 July, 2024
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