iPhone Hotspot VPN Not Working? Fix It Fast

💡 Why your iPhone hotspot and VPN aren’t getting along (intro)

Ever tried to share your iPhone internet and realised the VPN works on your phone but the laptop or mate’s tablet shows your real IP? Annoying, right — and super common. Whether you’re on an iPhone 16 or an older model, Personal Hotspot is a lifesaver on trains, cafes, or while camping, but mixing that with a VPN can trip over a few technical and policy landmines.

This guide walks you through why hotspot VPN failures happen, quick fixes you can try in minutes, smarter workarounds (including a travel-router option), and how to choose the right approach for Aussie life — whether you’re streaming, working remotely, or just keeping your banking secure on the go. I’ll keep things practical and skip the fluff.

📊 Hotspot VPN behaviour: quick comparison table

This table shows the trade-offs: a solid paid VPN like NordVPN usually gives the best balance of speed and privacy on the phone, but tethered traffic can still be hit-or-miss depending on iOS and the VPN app. Free VPNs may “work” in some cases but bring privacy, speed, and reliability questions — not ideal for hotspot security (see the free-VPN analysis for more). For bulletproof hotspot protection, a portable router that runs the VPN itself (e.g., the GL.iNet Slate 7) pushes all client traffic through the tunnel reliably [TechRadar, 2025-08-09].

😎 MaTitie SHOW TIME

Hi — MaTitie here. I test VPNs for a living and spend too much time arguing with routers in cafes. If you want the short version: your phone is great, but iOS doesn’t always act as a perfect VPN gateway for devices you tether to it. If you’re after consistent privacy and streaming on devices that join your hotspot, treating the hotspot client or the local router as the VPN endpoint is often the better move.

If you want a reliable tester I keep coming back to, try NordVPN — it’s fast on iOS, simple to use, and has the server coverage that matters when you hop between regions. 👉 🔐 Try NordVPN now — 30-day risk-free. This page contains affiliate links. If you sign up through this link, MaTitie might earn a small commission — it helps keep the site running. Cheers!

💡 Why hotspot VPNs fail — the technical and policy checklist

• iOS routing limits: iPhone’s Personal Hotspot shares the phone’s network, but iOS doesn’t guarantee that the VPN tunnel on the device will NAT/forward tethered client traffic through that tunnel. Some VPN apps only capture traffic from the phone itself.

• VPN killswitch & per-app settings: Modern VPN apps can include a killswitch that blocks non-VPN traffic. If the app thinks tethered traffic can leak, it may block it entirely. Per-app VPN features can also mean only certain apps are protected.

• Protocol compatibility: Certain protocols behave differently with NAT and tethering. WireGuard and IKEv2 are often more reliable on iOS than some legacy OpenVPN builds when it comes to re-establishing connections after network changes.

• Carrier/APN restrictions: Some telcos restrict tethering or mark tethered traffic differently. If your carrier flags tethering, that can cause traffic shaping or blocking.

• IPv6 vs IPv4: Some VPN services route IPv4 but not IPv6, or vice versa. Tethered devices with IPv6 may leak or bypass a VPN that only covers IPv4.

• Battery and app backgrounding: iOS may pause or limit background network activity when on low power, or the VPN app may be suspended — causing disconnects. See tips to avoid battery drain and keep your VPN happy [Clubic, 2025-08-09].

• Free VPN trust problems: Free services often have catch-22s — limited servers, poor uptime, tracking or logging — so even if they “fix” tethering, they may not be safe or private [Phonandroid, 2025-08-09].

🙌 Quick checklist — fixes you can try right now

Do these in order; each one usually takes under a minute.

1. Toggle things:

   • Turn Personal Hotspot off and on.
   • Turn your VPN off, then re-enable it.
   • Reconnect the client device to the hotspot.

2. Restart devices:

   • Restart iPhone and the hotspot client (laptop/tablet).

3. Update:

   • Update iOS.
   • Update the VPN app.

4. Switch protocol:

   • In your VPN app, switch to WireGuard or IKEv2. These re-establish faster after topological changes.

5. Disable killswitch temporarily:

   • If your VPN app has a killswitch, disable it to see if tethered traffic routes; re-enable if it causes leaks.

6. Test a client-side VPN:

   • Install the same VPN on the laptop/tablet. If the client device can use the VPN there, the hotspot is the issue (good temporary fix).

7. Reset network settings (last resort):

   • Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings. Note: this removes saved Wi‑Fi passwords.

8. Check carrier plan & APN:

   • Ensure your plan allows tethering and the APN isn’t blocking VPN tunnels.

9. Consider hardware:

   • Use a travel router with built-in VPN (e.g., GL.iNet Slate 7) so the router manages the VPN and every client is protected [TechRadar, 2025-08-09].

🧩 Deep dive: how to test exactly what’s failing

• Step A — Phone-only test: Turn off hotspot. Load ipleak.net on the phone. Confirm VPN IP is active.

• Step B — Hotspot client test: Connect laptop to hotspot. On laptop, visit ipleak.net. If it shows your real IP, the hotspot traffic isn’t going through the phone’s VPN.

• Step C — Client-VPN test: Install VPN on the laptop and connect. If the laptop’s IP changes to the VPN’s IP, you know the client-side VPN works and the problem is hotspot tunneling.

• Step D — Protocol test: On the iPhone, switch the VPN protocol and repeat steps A–C (some protocols are more tolerant to NAT/timeouts).

• Step E — DNS & IPv6 check: On the client device, check DNS servers and IPv6 address. If the client has an IPv6 route that bypasses the VPN, that explains leaks.

These tests help you decide whether to fix the iPhone routing or just run the VPN on each client (or the router).

⚠️ Common gotchas and how to avoid them

• Don’t assume all VPN apps treat hotspot traffic the same. Some explicitly state tethering support; others don’t.

• If you rely on hotspot for work, test before you travel. Nothing worse than arriving at a cafe and discovering half your devices aren’t private.

• Watch battery: Keeping a VPN + hotspot on is a heavier load. Use power saving cautiously and check these battery tips to avoid frequent disconnects [Clubic, 2025-08-09].

• Avoid free VPNs for sensitive tethering — they can be unreliable and risky [Phonandroid, 2025-08-09].

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Why can’t my hotspot clients see the VPN IP even when the iPhone shows it’s connected?

💬 Because iOS doesn’t always forward tethered traffic through the phone’s VPN. Some VPN apps only protect traffic originated by apps on the phone; tethered devices might bypass the tunnel — that’s by design or due to app limitations.

🛠️ Will changing VPN protocol fix disconnections during tethering?

💬 Yes, often. Switching to WireGuard or IKEv2 is a fast, effective test. These protocols reconnect more reliably after network changes and can solve intermittent hotspot issues.

🧠 Is buying a travel router overkill for casual hotspot users?

💬 If you hotspot daily or care about every client being protected (especially for streaming or work), a small router can be a one-time investment that removes fiddly phone-based issues. For occasional use, client-side VPNs or reliable VPN apps may be enough.

🧩 Final Thoughts…

Hotspot + VPN problems are usually solvable with a few smart tests: determine whether the problem lives on the phone, the client, or the carrier. For a quick fix, install the VPN on the client device. For a long-term, low-drama solution, consider a compact VPN-capable travel router so every device you connect is protected without fuss. Paid, reputable VPNs tend to be more reliable than free options for tethering. And remember — test before you need it on a deadline.

📚 Further Reading

Here are 3 recent articles that give more context to this topic — all from verified sources. Feel free to dig in 👇

🔸 “NordVPN is the most popular VPN amongst UK politicians – but they’re not getting the best deals”
🗞️ Source: Tom’s Guide – 📅 2025-08-09
🔗 Read Article

🔸 “How to Watch Man United vs. Fiorentina From Anywhere: Stream Preseason Friendly Soccer”
🗞️ Source: CNET – 📅 2025-08-09
🔗 Read Article

🔸 “VPN vs Fingerprinting : jusqu’où peut-on protéger son identité numérique ?”
🗞️ Source: CNET France – 📅 2025-08-09
🔗 Read Article

😅 A Quick Shameless Plug (Hope You Don’t Mind)

Look, most VPN review folks put NordVPN near the top for a reason. It’s consistently fast on iOS, easy to use, and works well with streaming and global servers — which matters if you’re swapping locations or fighting ISP throttling. If you want the simplest route to fewer headaches, it’s worth a try.

🎁 NordVPN usually offers a 30-day money-back guarantee — test it with your hotspot setup and get a refund if it’s not right.

📌 Disclaimer

This post mixes hands-on troubleshooting advice with publicly available reporting and some editorial opinion. I aim to be accurate, but networks, carriers, and apps change — so test changes carefully and back up settings where needed. For carrier-specific rules or critical business needs, contact your provider or IT team.