iPhone Wi-Fi Tethering Setup on macOS

This article explains how to connect your Mac to your iPhone's personal hotspot over Wi-Fi, so you can use your iPhone's 4G/5G cellular connection on your Mac.

Let's Get Started

Step 1

On your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap Personal Hotspot. Toggle the switch on to enable it.

Step 2

On your Mac, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. You'll see a dedicated section for Personal Hotspots. Select your iPhone's hotspot from that list.

If you don't see the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar, open System Preferences and go to Network. Make sure Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar is checked.

Step 3

Enter the password for your iPhone's personal hotspot when prompted, then click Join. You can find or change this password on your iPhone under Settings > Personal Hotspot.

Step 4

To confirm the connection was successful, look for the two-links icon in your Mac's menu bar. That icon indicates your Mac is actively connected to your iPhone's personal hotspot.