
Are you annoyed with the slow hotspot on your iPhone? A hotspot is an easy way to share your internet connection with other devices. However, many users do not know why the hotspot acts up on their devices.
The hotspot may run slow on iPhone due to poor network coverage, temporary glitch in iOS, running background apps, outdated iOS version, or a congested network.
We took the time to write a comprehensive guide on why my hotspot is slow on my iPhone and how to fix the issue with quick troubleshooting steps.
- Why Is My Hotspot Slow on an iPhone?
- Speeding Up a Slow Hotspot on Your iPhone
- Method #1: Disabling Automatic Updates
- Method #2: Disabling Background App Refresh
- Method #3: Turning Off the Maximize Compatibility Feature
- Method #4: Closing the Apps
- Method #5: Turning Off Low Data Mode
- Method #6: Restarting Your iPhone
- Method #7: Resetting Network Settings
- Method #8: Updating Your iPhone to the Latest Version of iOS
- Summary
Why Is My Hotspot Slow on an iPhone?
If the hotspot on your iPhone is running slow, it could be due to the following reasons.
- You are running an outdated iOS version on your iPhone.
- Multiple devices are connected to the hotspot.
- There is poor network coverage.
- A lot of apps are running in the background.
- There is a temporary glitch in iOS.
Speeding Up a Slow Hotspot on Your iPhone
If you are wondering how to speed up a slow hotspot on your iPhone, our 8 step-by-step methods will help you accomplish your goal quickly.
Method #1: Disabling Automatic Updates
If you are experiencing slow hotspot speed on your iPhone, try disabling Automatic Updates on your device with the help of the following steps.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Software Update”.
- Tap “Automatic Updates”.
- Tap the toggle next to the “Download iOS Updates” and “Install iOS Updates” options to turn them off.
Method #2: Disabling Background App Refresh
To solve the issue of slow hotspots on iPhone, you can also disable Background App Refresh by following the given steps.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Background App Refresh”.
- Select “Off” from the list of options on the screen.

When Low Power Mode is enabled, Background App Refresh is automatically disabled on the iPhone.
Method #3: Turning Off the Maximize Compatibility Feature
If you have a slow hotspot, try turning off the Maximize Compatibility feature on your iPhone using the following steps.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap “Personal Hotspot”.
- Move the toggle next to “Maximize Compatibility” to the “Off” position.

Once you disable Maximize Compatibility, the hotspot of your iPhone will switch from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz, boosting internet performance.
The “Maximize Compatibility” feature is only available on iPhone 12 and later models.
Method #4: Closing the Apps
Closing unwanted apps can also fix the slow hotspot on iPhone in the following way.
- Unlock your iPhone and swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Swipe up the app you want to close on your iPhone.
- Tap the blurred background to return to the Home screen.
Double tap the Home button to close unwanted apps on iPhone 8, SE, and older models, and swipe up the app you want to close. Tap the blurred background to return to the Home screen.
Method #5: Turning Off Low Data Mode
Another way to speed up the slow hotspot on iPhone is to turn off Low Data Mode on iPhone with the help of the following steps.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap “Mobile Data”.
- Tap “Mobile Data Options”.
- Toggle Off “Low Data Mode”.

Method #6: Restarting Your iPhone
You can also try restarting your iPhone to fix the issue of a slow hotspot by using the steps stated below.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Shut Down”.
- Slide the power off icon on the screen to turn off your iPhone.
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn on your iPhone again.

You can also restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds and sliding the power off icon to turn it off. Wait a few seconds; press and hold the power button to turn on your iPhone.
Method #7: Resetting Network Settings
If the problem of a slow hotspot on your iPhone persists, you can also reset Network Settings with these steps.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Transfer or Reset iPad”.
- Tap “Reset Network Settings”.
- Enter your passcode.

After your iPhone restarts, reconnect to your network, and your hotspot will work fine.
Method #8: Updating Your iPhone to the Latest Version of iOS
You can also fix the problem of a slow hotspot on your iPhone by updating your phone to the latest version of iOS.
- Open Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Software Update”.
- Tap “Download and Install”.
- Enter your passcode and agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Once the update has been downloaded on your iPhone, tap “Install” to complete the process.
Summary
In this write-up on why my hotspot is slow on iPhone, we have discussed different reasons contributing to a sluggish hotspot. We also explained 8 different ways to speed up the slow performance.
Hopefully, after going over this guide, your questions are answered, and you can now enjoy a fast hotspot on your iPhone.