Many users are familiar with the situation when their landline internet suddenly goes down and their laptop urgently requires an internet connection to complete important work. In such moments iPhone 13 becomes a real salvation, turning into a powerful modem capable of providing a stable connection Wi-Fi protocolModern Apple smartphones feature advanced communication modules that enable 4G and 5G signal transmission at high speeds comparable to those of your home provider.
The process of activating modem mode in iOS has been simplified as much as possible by developers, but there are nuances that can cause difficulties for inexperienced users. The iPhone 13 lacks a physical button for instantly turning on the modem mode; all control is carried out programmatically through the interface. Understanding the logic behind the traffic distribution system will help you avoid common mistakes and quickly establish communication between devices.
In this guide, we'll detail the steps required to create a personal hotspot. You'll learn how to configure security settings to prevent unauthorized access to your network, and what steps to take if your laptop can't see your smartphone's network. Proper configuration will allow you to use your mobile internet with maximum efficiency.
Activating Personal Hotspot in iOS Settings
The first and most important step is to properly activate the internet tethering feature directly on your smartphone. To do this, you need to unlock iPhone 13 and go to the main apps menu. Find the icon Settings, usually located on the first screen, and click on it to enter the device's system management menu.
In the list of available options you should find the section Modem modeIn some versions of the operating system iOS This item may be hidden inside the menu. Cellular communications, if it's not in the main settings menu. After navigating to the desired section, you'll need to activate the switch. Allow others, moving it to the active position, which is usually indicated by the green color of the slider.
Please note that when you first enable the system, you may be prompted to confirm with your mobile carrier. In this case, a pop-up window will appear prompting you to contact your provider or confirm your plan. Without an active mobile data package or enabled tethering, internet tethering will not work, even if all settings are correct.
After successful activation, an informational message will appear on your smartphone's screen with the name of the network being created and the connection password. You'll need this information to configure the Wi-Fi adapter on your laptop. It's recommended that you keep the settings window open until the devices are successfully paired to monitor the connection status.
Connecting a Windows laptop to an iPhone network
Once the smartphone is in sharing mode, you need to turn your attention to the laptop. The procedure for the operating system Windows 10 or Windows 11 is almost identical. In the notification area, in the lower-right corner of the screen, find the Wi-Fi icon (usually a picture of waves or a globe) and left-click on it.
A panel of available wireless networks will open. Find the name of your network in the list. iPhone 13, which by default matches the device name specified in the system settings. If you haven't previously changed the smartphone name, it will look like this: iPhone or iPhone (owner's name)Click on the network name to expand its options.
The system will prompt you to enter a security key. Here you will need to enter the password displayed on the smartphone screen in the section Modem modePlease be careful when entering your password: it is case-sensitive, so it is important to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters. After entering, click the button Connect and wait until you receive an IP address.
☑️ Connection check
If the connection is established successfully, the following text will appear next to the network name: Connected, and a monitor icon with waves will appear in the system tray. Your laptop is now using your smartphone's mobile internet.
Setting up a network name and security password
Apple's default security settings are quite secure, but for personal use, they often require customization. Changing the network name (SSID) makes it easy to identify your smartphone in the list of available connections, especially in crowded areas such as offices or cafes.
To change the settings, return to the menu Settings on iPhone 13. Go to the section Main, and then select the item About this deviceAt the very top of the list is a field NameBy clicking on it, you can enter any convenient name that will be displayed when searching for Wi-Fi networks on other devices.
You can also change the password for your hotspot to make it more memorable or more complex. In the section Modem mode click on the field Wi-Fi passwordThe system will require you to enter a password of at least 8 characters. Using complex passwords protects your network from unauthorized access.