User level: Level 1 (9 points)How do lock (protect) my hotspot. It does not display the lock when in or out of use.
MacBook Pro
sequoia 15.7.9
Posted on Sep 21, 2026 9:22 AM
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)Sep 21, 2026 9:33 AM in response to nancyud
Macs don't have personal hotspot funcitonality unless you have additional hardware, like an ethernet port that let's you share your wi-fi connection out over ethernet.
If you mean the personal hotspot on your iPhone and not your Mac, it is protected by a passcode usually in Settings ➜ Personal Hotspot directly on the iPhone.
The Mac will connect to an iPhone's hotspot if they are using the same Apple Account, there is nothing insecure about this.
Nobody else can connect to or even see the hotspot if the "Allow others to Join" switch is off on the iPhone.
User level: Level 10 (148,617 points)Sep 21, 2026 9:29 AM in response to nancyud
Best Practice is to LOCK your Personal HotSpot with a password, so that only those who
• know the password or
• are part of the same Apple-account family group or
• are logged in with the exact same Apple-Account ...
...can use it
Connect to the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
Use Instant Hotspot to connect to your Personal Hotspot - Apple Support
User level: Level 10 (208,430 points)Sep 21, 2026 9:41 AM in response to nancyud
nancyud wrote:
How do lock (protect) my hotspot. It does not display the lock when in or out of use.
MacBook Pro
sequoia 15.7.9
From your iPhone(?)
ref: Share your internet connection from your iPhone – Apple Support
User level: Level 1 (9 points)Sep 21, 2026 10:40 AM in response to Phil0124
Thank you!
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256362040