One of the best features of the iPhone is the ability to share your cellular data connection with other devices, known as Personal Hotspot or tethering. Personal Hotspot may be easy to use, but there’s a lot to understand about it. Get answers to common questions and troubleshooting issues related to Personal Hotspot on iPhone in this article.

Tethering is a way to share your iPhone's data connection with other computers and mobile devices nearby (iPads with cellular connections can also be used as personal hotspots). When tethering is enabled, your iPhone functions as a cellular modem or Wi-Fi hotspot, broadcasting its Internet connection to other devices connected to it. Any data sent to and from those devices is routed through your iPhone to the Internet. With tethering, any computer or other device that can connect to a Wi-Fi network can get online anywhere you have Internet access on your phone.

They are the same thing. Personal Hotspot is just the name Apple uses for the generic tethering feature on the iPhone. When you use tethering on your iPhone, look for the Personal Hotspot options and menus.

Virtually any computing device that can use the Internet can also connect to an iPhone via tethering. Desktops, laptops, iPads, gaming systems, and other tablets are all compatible with Personal Hotspot.