Personal Hotspot

Allows sharing of cellular internet connection. Can be restricted via MDM to prevent unauthorized network access or control data usage.

What to Know

Personal Hotspot restrictions prevent users from tethering unauthorized devices to corporate cellular data plans, which can drive up data costs and create security risks by extending corporate network access to unmanaged devices. When employees enable Personal Hotspot, they may connect personal laptops, tablets, or family devices to the corporate data plan, consuming bandwidth intended for business use. Personal Hotspot also creates network security risks by allowing unmanaged devices to access network resources through the corporate-connected iPhone or iPad.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT restricts Personal Hotspot on devices with limited or metered cellular plans to prevent data overage charges. For employees with unlimited corporate data plans, IT may allow Personal Hotspot as a convenience feature for legitimate business use (e.g., connecting a corporate laptop when WiFi is unavailable). IT typically restricts Personal Hotspot on shared devices like company phones used in retail or delivery roles where tethering serves no business purpose.

MSP: MSPs configure Personal Hotspot restrictions based on client cellular plans and data governance policies. Clients with per-device data caps typically restrict hotspot functionality to control costs, while clients with unlimited plans may allow it for employee convenience. MSPs should monitor cellular data usage after enabling hotspot to detect excessive personal use that drives up costs.

Education: Schools universally restrict Personal Hotspot on student devices to prevent students from tethering personal devices to school cellular plans, consuming bandwidth, or sharing internet access with unauthorized devices. Teacher devices may have Personal Hotspot enabled for field trip connectivity or classroom use cases where WiFi is unavailable.

In Addigy

Addigy’s Restrictions payload includes an “Allow Personal Hotspot” toggle that prevents devices from enabling Personal Hotspot when disabled. This restriction requires a supervised iOS/iPadOS device and applies immediately upon profile deployment. Disabling Personal Hotspot prevents users from turning on the feature in Settings and removes the Personal Hotspot toggle from Control Center. The restriction applies to cellular devices only—WiFi-only devices do not have hotspot functionality regardless of restriction settings.