New MBP: Connecting to internet via iPhone hotspot..

[kali89]

this is a BIG problem am having with new MBP...

LOTS OF DIFFICULTIES connecting to wifi with iPhone hotspot..
(it's all I have, there's no broadband where I live..)

it wouldn't connect, Diagnostics thingie popped, or it would connect and throw me off in a few minutes..
got to chatting with Apple over Twitter.. after lots of back-and-forth they said reset network settings on iPhone..

that worked, but now I find that every time I want to connect, after not having used the computer for a while, I have to reset network settings on the phone..
also, I can't connect at all to wifi on my OLD computer, with hotspot on iPhone, not at all... (have new iPhone also, iPhone 12, with my old iPhone 6 never had a problem with that..)

this is very annoying, as have lots of data to transfer from old to new comp, and I also can't connect any flash drive to new computer...
I wonder who had the brilliant idea of eliminating USB ports... :-(

would appreciate ideas and insights.. thank you very much..

 

[Rod]

I take it you are living remotely if you have no home internet?
In Settings on your iPhone 12 lookup "hotspot". It should be under Mobile data, make sure it's on and Allow Others to Join is on also.
Now, open WiFi settings from the WiFi icon on the menu bar and you should see the name of your iPhone in the list of networks available.
Be aware that you need Bluetooth on as well on both devices. Macs and iPhones use a combination of Bluetooth and WiFi to communicate.

I'm assuming you have Monterey on your new MBP, what iOS are you running on your iPhone?

You should not have to reset your network settings each time.

"I wonder who had the brilliant idea of eliminating USB ports... :-(". Simple answer, Apple did. You can buy a simple USB-A to USB-C adaptor on line from any major mail order site (once you are reliably online of course).

Like this, or smaller.

 

[ferrarr]

Old computer to new computer should connect over ethernet and transfer extremely fast. You may need an ethernet to USB c adapter though.

 

[kali89]

I take it you are living remotely if you have no home internet?
In Settings on your iPhone 12 lookup "hotspot". It should be under Mobile data, make sure it's on and Allow Others to Join is on also.
Now, open WiFi settings from the WiFi icon on the menu bar and you should see the name of your iPhone in the list of networks available.
Be aware that you need Bluetooth on as well on both devices. Macs and iPhones use a combination of Bluetooth and WiFi to communicate.

I'm assuming you have Monterey on your new MBP, what iOS are you running on your iPhone?

You should not have to reset your network settings each time.

"I wonder who had the brilliant idea of eliminating USB ports... :-(". Simple answer, Apple did. You can buy a simple USB-A to USB-C adaptor on line from any major mail order site (once you are reliably online of course).

Like this, or smaller.

View attachment 36986

hi.. tgank you or your resoonse..

 

[kali89]

thank you for your response.. "living remotely"? not sure what you mean...
there's no BB where I live as I live in a rural area..
Apple has suggested two things: 1) restart comp in safe mode, 2) re-installing OS...
crap.. can't believe I have to deal with all this with a brand new computer..
at any rate it seems to be working now.. maybe the latest upgrade did it, maybe it was a security issue?
still weird for a brand new computer..

Bluetooth? have never tried with that, but you seem to imply it HAS to be with Bluetooth?
yes, OS is Monterrey 12.6.. I upgraded just yesterday.. so I have the latest of everything..

remaining problem: can't connect in OLD computer with hotspot in new phone.. which totally sucks as I have tons of data to transfer (& am not going into town until Wed to get an adapter for the flash drive..)
to connect to wifi with old computer now I have to borrow another phone in my household...

do you have any idea why this is? because I never had a problem connecting with my old iPhone 6
(I guess I can try Bluetooth, but I have never been to hook anything up with Bluetooth in old computer..)

thank you again..

 

[MacInWin]

I wonder who had the brilliant idea of eliminating USB ports... :-(

They aren't eliminated. They are upgraded to the latest standard for USB-c. As Rod suggested, to connect to legacy USB devices, get the adapter he showed. I have the one from Apple and it works flawlessly.

 

[Rod]

Sorry, my error. In Australia the only areas that do not have broadband are usually remote locations.
Have you considered a 3G/4G router? These devices are usually available from your mob network provider and provide wide domestic WiFi coverage for multiple devices using a dedicated SIM card and Mobile plan.

 

[kali89]

what a jerk I am.. of course by "living remote" you mean living in a remote area.. it's actually not too remote, but still a rural area, and unfortunately there's no broadband here yet....

I think I know what you mean by that router, yes they have that here also, it's a small portable router more or less the size of a cell phone, right? I've had it, but it's not much faster than the internet over the cellular carrier...

at any rate the SPEED of the connection is the issue here, it's the fact that with the new computer it's nowhere nearly as smooth to connect to the Hotspot wifi as it was with my old computer, or with any computer, but... it's gotten better lately... although it still throws me off sometimes.. and sometimes right after I just connected... it's just not as stable as it should be..