Finally: Mac can automatically connect to iPhone hotspot

In the past, many MAC owners with a small hotspot box from Huawei, ZTE or Netgear are likely to have been on the road to have an internet far from a WLAN. In the meantime, however, most users have switched directly to the iPhone: thanks to the ones that have been integrated for years Personnel hotspot function You can connect directly to the Apple cell phone that you usually have with you anyway-and use its data volume. But a problem is probably annoying users at least as long: Apple has so far not provided a way to do this automatically. That means: If you are without WLAN supply, you always had to wait until the personal hotspot appeared-then click on it so that the connection is established.

Not just indicate, connect directly

With MacOS 26, Apple is finally changing this: Apple will provide the option of autojoin in the WLAN settings in the future. That means: just like with regular WLAN networks with which the Mac is automatically connected, this is now also implemented for the personal hotspot. The extended feature “request access to hotspots” under the area “Red to Network”. Instead of just offering to connect to a personal hotspot (“point”), the connection can also be placed on “automatically”.

So that the Personal Hotspot does not praise itself, this only happens if there are no known WLAN networks (i.e. those that you have ever joined) are nearby. For example, if you always want to use the personal hotspot of the iPhone at the airport, you should adjust the list of WLAN networks in advance and delete the airport WLAN that was previously used. Because the function means: “Allow this Mac to automatically recognize personal hotspots nearby if no WLAN is available.” “No WLAN” means “no known WiFi” – otherwise the function would never start.

No more annoying inquiries

Now one may say that you just had to click beforehand to establish the connection as soon as the hint appeared. However, the automatic connection of the start of the hotspot usage accelerates a good deal. In addition, the hint was not always reliable-or you clicked when it appeared and then had to call the network manually via the WLAN icon in the menu bar.

How well the new function in practice works remains to be seen – MacOS 26 is not already running round at all points. A “Quality of Life” feature that many users have wanted for a long time has now implemented Apple with the automatic personal hotspot.