User profile for user: Geoffph
Geoffph Author
User level: Level 1
22 points

How can I create a wifi network between a hot-spotted iPhone and a Mac?

I teach dancing, and until recently my Satechi Bluetooth remote control would start, stop, and cue my music tracks in Apple Music on my MacBook Air. But now it's unreliable— I've spent hours trying to get it working reliably— but that's not the thrust of my question (even though I would give an arm to get it working reliably again).

Apple's app called 'Remote' is recommended, but I don't seem able to get it working for want of a wifi network between the iPhone and the Mac. I would have thought the hotspot would qualify, but I can't get it (Remote) up and running . . . so:

How can I create, or do I need to create, a wifi network between a hot-spotted iPhone and a Mac so that I can control Apple Music on my Air remotely?

Does the hotspot qualify?

Thanks in anticipation... I should know this.

iPhone 13 Mini-IOS 26, MacOS-26 Tahoe.


MacBook Air 15″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Oct 14, 2025 9:43 PM

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
277,857 points

Posted on Oct 16, 2025 2:43 AM

A hotspot creates a gateway to the Internet, it doesn't generally support direct traffic between the host and the client in the way they would have if both were connected to the same wireless network that supports peer-to-peer connections. Short of using something like a portable wi-fi router, or getting access to some existing Wi-Fi network at the location, I don't think there is a way to do what you want.


tt2

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
277,857 points

Oct 16, 2025 2:43 AM in response to Geoffph

A hotspot creates a gateway to the Internet, it doesn't generally support direct traffic between the host and the client in the way they would have if both were connected to the same wireless network that supports peer-to-peer connections. Short of using something like a portable wi-fi router, or getting access to some existing Wi-Fi network at the location, I don't think there is a way to do what you want.


tt2

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User profile for user: Geoffph
Geoffph Author
User level: Level 1
22 points

Oct 15, 2025 3:05 PM in response to AlWeir

Thanks for that Al, but by hot-spotting the iPhone, the Mac is already connected to the internet.That's not my problem.

I want to find out:

  • Does the hot-spot qualify as a wifi network, and if so, why can't I get Apple's Remote to control Apple Music? (In fact, it doesn't even connect.)
  • If the hotspot does not qualify as a wifi network, then what do I need to do to create one between my iPhone, and my Mac?

Thanks anyway.

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How can I create a wifi network between a hot-spotted iPhone and a Mac?

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