My personal hotspot is not working due to update 17.4.1

Wanted to add to this problem report (though I don't know this author): My hotspot would connect every single time before iPadOS 17.4.1 seamlessly. My iPhone and iPad both have the latest updates. However, I run into problems sporadically with hotspot access after this update. I do not have a VPN. I have not changed anything in my settings re device management or cell network access, cell service provider. Even though I use my hotspot a lot (I use 5G cell access rather than unsecure coffee shops or libraries wifi networks), my type of use is rather plain and ordinary. I would not be so quick to dismiss these two things as unrelated events.

Same here, it worked just fine before 17.4.1, every update breaks something.

This same issue is happening to me and everyone I know. Is there a way to undo the update?

This fixed it for me. I have an iPhone 13 Pro and after updating to IOS 17.5 I could no longer use my iPhone as a hotspot while using Express VPN on my iPhone. I tried several things to fix and this did.

I use pay for and use Express VPN on my MacBook Pro 2021 running Sonoma 14.5 and on my iPhone 13 Pro. When I followed Lawrence Finch's directions above and deleted Express VPN on my iPhone I was then able to use it as a hotspot. Express VPN on my laptop still worked.

For clarity, I did not remove Express VPN from my iPhone. I just deleted it which means when I am not using my iPhone as a hotspot, I just turn Express VPN back on and then delete it again when i need my iPhone as a hotspot.

Hope this helps. Thank you, Lawrence. I greatly appreciate you taking time to post to help others like me.

Your personal hotspot is not working.

You updated to iOS 17.4.1.

These are unrelated, independent events.

First step: Do you use VPN? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN. Delete it, don’t just turn it off.

Does Personal Hotspot appear in Settings/Cellular? If not, contact your carrier.

If it does appear, can you turn it on?

I would not accuse the update of causing the issue.

See this article.

If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) - Apple Support

Try restarting iPhone, toggle hotspot off/on, check cellular data, update carrier settings, or reset network settings.

worked. thx!

My personal hotspot is not working since I updated my iOS 17.4.1