iPad Pro iPad Pro > iPhone Tethering

[techfirth]

Hi Guys + Girls

I have a pre-purchase question about the iPad Pro that I’m hoping someone can help out with.

I have a MacBook Air 2019 that when connected to my iPhone via USB-C > Lightning cable, automatically tethers itself for data while charging the phone.

I’m mulling an iPad Pro purchase and trying to decide between WiFi only and cellular, and it would be really helpful to know if the iPad also reacts the same way when connected to an iPhone via USB-C/Lightning.

I know it can join a hotspot via WiFi and that’s great, but I’d love to know if it can do it using the cable connection too.

Thanks in advance for any advice / anyone willing to test it.

Mike

 

[AutomaticApple]

I know it can join a hotspot via WiFi and that’s great, but I’d love to know if it can do it using the cable connection too.

Yes, it can do so VIA a wired connection.

 

[techfirth]

Yes, it can do so VIA a wired connection.

Thank you very much! I’ve been scouring the forums and Reddit looking for this answer. You’re my hero of the day. 🙏

 

[sparksd]

Yes, it can do so VIA a wired connection.

What is the setup for that? How does the iPhone show up in the iPad's settings? When tethered (12.9 Pro connected to XS Max via USB-C to Lightning cable) the phone will only show under WiFi as an available wireless hotspot - I don't see any connection settings for the wired connection if I turn off WiFi on the iPad (or leave it on).

 

[AutomaticApple]

You’re my hero of the day. 🙏

Oh, shucks!

 

[sparksd]

!

Oh, shucks!

But how to do it?

 

[sparksd]

Hi Guys + Girls

I have a pre-purchase question about the iPad Pro that I’m hoping someone can help out with.

I have a MacBook Air 2019 that when connected to my iPhone via USB-C > Lightning cable, automatically tethers itself for data while charging the phone.

I’m mulling an iPad Pro purchase and trying to decide between WiFi only and cellular, and it would be really helpful to know if the iPad also reacts the same way when connected to an iPhone via USB-C/Lightning.

I know it can join a hotspot via WiFi and that’s great, but I’d love to know if it can do it using the cable connection too.

Thanks in advance for any advice / anyone willing to test it.

Mike

Tried testing this but could not make it work (iPad Pro + XS Max).

 

[techfirth]

Tried testing this but could not make it work (iPad Pro + XS Max).

On macOS (which I realise is totally not the same) nothing is required to make it work other than connecting the cable, at which point the iPhone displays the little blue ‘hotspot’ icon in the top left and macOS displays the funky little hotspot icon instead of the regular WiFi symbol.

 

[sparksd]

On macOS (which I realise is totally not the same) nothing is required to make it work other than connecting the cable, at which point the iPhone displays the little blue ‘hotspot’ icon in the top left and macOS displays the funky little hotspot icon instead of the regular WiFi symbol.

Right. But on the iPad, with the phone tethered to the iPad, there was no indication of anything to connect to other than the phone's WiFi hotspot when it was on.

 

[techfirth]

Right. But on the iPad, with the phone tethered to the iPad, there was no indication of anything to connect to other than the phone's WiFi hotspot when it was on.

I eventually caved in and spoke to Apple chat support (who initially sent me a link to the wireless hotspot article 🤦‍♂️). But eventually I did get an answer via a supervisor, and it’s not good:

 

[techfirth]

Tried testing this but could not make it work (iPad Pro + XS Max).

Thank you for testing this. Very much appreciated!

 

[sparksd]

I eventually caved in and spoke to Apple chat support (who initially sent me a link to the wireless hotspot article 🤦‍♂️). But eventually I did get an answer via a supervisor, and it’s not good:

View attachment 977558

Thanks for that - I wondered if I was missing something.

 

[techfirth]

Thanks for that - I wondered if I was missing something.

No problem. Thanks for testing. It seems it’s Apple who are missing something - seems like such an obvious feature to save battery and connectivity steps.