How Apple quietly changed the Personal Hotspot feature in iOS 13.1

If you often use the personal hotspot feature on your iPhone and iPad, you may be a little confused after updating the system. You want to know how to turn off the personal hotspot in iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1, because you can't find the switch to turn off the hotspot in the settings, but it's not a bug. It's just that Apple has changed the usage logic of iOS personal hotspot, emphasizing the "always online" concept associated with the ecosystem.

1. Hotspots that can’t be turned off

Personal Hotspot is theoretically always on, but only for any device logged into the same iCloud account, including Family Sharing groups.

That is to say, under normal circumstances, the Macs, iPads, and iPhones we use for work or daily use will be logged in to iCloud. For these devices, the hotspot always exists and can be connected directly without access permission or passwords.

If you are pulled into a family sharing group, new options will appear in the settings. Click on "Personal Hotspot" and "Family Sharing" will appear. Select it and anyone in the family group will automatically access the personal hotspot. It should be noted that each access to the personal hotspot shared by the family must be authorized.

There's no dedicated switch for this feature, and the only way to turn it off is to disable cellular or enable airplane mode.

2. Allow others to join

The hotspot switch has actually been replaced by "Allow others to join". When it is turned on, other people with the password can join the corresponding hotspot network, and any device that can be paired (Bluetooth) or plugged in (USB connection) can use the hotspot.

Apple also details different ways for others to access the hotspot, including connecting via Wi-Fi; connecting via Bluetooth; and connecting via USB.

Since iOS 11 added a security lock feature to prevent other USB devices from cracking iPhone or iPad, USB sharing is still limited by the USB accessory switch (Settings > Touch ID/Face ID and Passcode > Pull down). When USB accessories are turned off, the device must be unlocked within one hour to support USB data interaction.

3. Control Center Mode

The Personal Hotspot option in the Control Center's Network Connections is equivalent to the "Allow others to join" switch.

Off: Appears as non-discoverable, preventing access by people other than iCloud and Family Sharing.

On: You are discoverable, and any device connected to your Personal Hotspot will be marked as on, and the system will turn the status bar blue to remind you that you are connecting to the hotspot.

Press and hold the network control to pop up a list of 6 available networks. If there is a discoverable hotspot, it will be displayed in the list.