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Use your iPad to set up a hotspot
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When you haven’t got WiFi access, using your iPad to create a WiFi hotspot is a simple way of getting other devices online wirelessly
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 22 April 2025
How to set up a WiFi hotspot using an iPad
Creating a WiFi hotpost on your iPad means you can access its data using any of your other internet-enabled devices, such as smartphones and laptops. It’s really handy if you’re on the move or at a location with poor WiFi signal strength.
On your iPad, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Mobile Data’ or ‘Settings’ > ‘Personal Hotspot’
Tap the slider next to ‘Allow Others to Join’
Other devices can now join by searching for the hotspot using WiFi, Bluetooth or a USB
How do I connect when using an iPad as a hotspot?
Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Mobile Data’ > ‘Personal Hotspot’ or ‘Settings’ > ‘Personal Hotspot’ and make sure it’s on
Verify the WiFi password as well as the name of your phone
Remain on this screen until you’ve connected the other device to the WiFi network
Connect the other device by going to Settings > WiFi and locate your iPad in the list
Tap the WiFi network to join
Make sure that your iPad is discoverable
To do this go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Bluetooth’ and stay on that screen
On your Mac or PC, set up a Bluetooth network connection
1. Connect your iPad to your laptop with your USB cable.
If you need to get online using your Mac, you can also use your iPad as a WiFi hotspot.
Tap the ‘Settings’ icon on your iPad
Tap ‘General and then ‘Network’ to open the Network settings screen. Verify that the data switch is on
Tap ‘Personal Hotspot’
Tap the ‘Personal Hotspot’ switch from ‘Off’ to ‘On’
Copy the password displayed in the ‘WiFi Password’ field
Click the ‘Network’ icon in your laptop’s ‘Notifications’ area. The ‘Network’ icon is identifiable by a series of vertical bars
Click your iPad’s ‘Personal Hotspot’ on the list of available networks and click ‘Connect’
Enter an identifying name for your connection in the provided field. Enter your iPad’s ‘Personal Hotspot’ password when prompted
Select your desired Auto-connect method. Click ‘Always connect automatically’ if you want to connect your iPad and laptop automatically whenever they are in range
Click ‘Never connect automatically’ if you would rather enter your Personal Hotspot password each time you want access
Get the entire household online by allowing family members to join your Personal Hotspot.
1. On your Personal Hotspot device go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Personal Hotspot’ > ‘Family Sharing’
2. Turn on ‘Family Sharing’
3. Tap the name of each person in your home, while deciding if they need approval to join your hotspot automatically
How do I know my iPad is working as a hotspot?
When you have created the WiFi hotspot on your iPad, it’s been turned on and has devices connected to it, the status bar will turn blue and display the number of connected devices.
You can turn off the hotspot just as easily:
Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Personal Hotspot’ and switch to ‘Off’
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