Apple iPhone 7 Wireless Connectivity and USB Tethering Guide: How to Enable/Disable Wi-Fi, Set Up/Use Wi-Fi Hotspot, Tethering with iPhone 7

This post will help you get started in the use of Wi-Fi feature and manage Wi-Fi settings on the new #Apple iPhone 7 (#iPhone7) smartphone. Read on to learn how to activate wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity feature, connect to a wireless network, set up Wi-Fi hotspot, enable Wi-Fi hotspot, and configure Wi-Fi settings on the iOS version 10 platform with the iPhone 7.

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Congratulations for being one of the first few people who get a hold of Apple’s latest masterpiece and by far deemed the most powerful iPhone flagship ever released branded as the iPhone 7.  As what the Cupertino-tech giant has promised, your new iPhone comes with a number of significant enhancements on features and functionalities. Among the enhanced key features include an A10 Fusion 64 bit quad-core processor, brighter retina HD display, 12MP iSight camera, IP67 water and dust resistant, better battery life, and stereo speakers, to name some. It is running on the latest version of iOS mobile operating system, the iOS 10.

The following steps will help you get started in using and gauging the new iPhone 7’s wireless connectivity feature.

Enable Wi-Fi and Connect to a Wi-Fi Network on your iPhone 7

A faster way to enable and disable Wi-Fi on this new iPhone is through the Control Center. All you have to do is swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and then tap the Wi-Fi icon to turn the feature on or off.

Once Wi-Fi is enabled or turned on, follow these steps to connect to a new Wi-Fi network and start using the Internet with your preferred mobile app browser:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi from the Settings menu items.
  3. Toggle the Wi-Fi switch to enable Wi-Fi, if necessary.
  4. When enabled, you will see a list of Wi-Fi network(s) available. Tap to select a Wi-Fi network you want to connect to.
  5. If prompted, enter the correct password then tap Join to continue.
  6. Wait for the phone to establish connection with the selected Wi-Fi network and then connect to the Internet wirelessly.

Delete/Forget Network on your iPhone 7

Forgetting or deleting a network can also be used in troubleshooting wireless connectivity issues or when you are having trouble connecting to the wireless network. Also use these steps if you want to erase any unnecessary wireless networks from your device. Follow these steps whenever needed:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. On the next screen, tap the blue (i) icon located next to the Wi-Fi network you want to delete or forget.
  4. Next, tap Forget this Network.

The selected network will no longer show in the list of available wireless networks on your device.

If you want to add it back, you would be required to specify the network name and password to join. Please refer to the aforesaid steps on how to connect to a wireless network.

Set Up Mobile Hotspot on your iPhone 7

Just like the other highest-tiered smartphones available, Apple’s newest iPhone can also be used as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. You can configure a personal hotspot and connect to the Internet through your iPhone as a Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot.

Important Note: You may be required to have a separate Mobile Hotspot service plan in order to use your iPhone as a mobile hotspot. Please contact your carrier for more details on it.

Here’s how to share your mobile internet with other devices using your iPhone 7:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. From the Settings screen, tap Cellular.
  3. Next, tap Personal Hotspot.

Note: If you don’t see the Personal Hotspot option, then make sure the Mobile Hotspot feature is currently active on your account. If necessary, follow the onscreen prompts to add the Mobile Hotspot feature. Otherwise, contact your network carrier for further assistance.

  1. Continue by tapping the Personal Hotspot switch to enable or turn the feature on.

Note: In case you are prompted to turn on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, just tap the option you prefer.

  1. Tap Wi-Fi Password and enter the password you want to use for your Mobile Hotspot.
  2. Be sure to note or remember the password and then tap Done to save it.
  3. The personal hotspot should now be active. You can try to connect your other devices via Wi-Fi using your personal hotspot and see if it works.

Additional Tips:

  • Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled on your other devices.
  • In order to connect via Wi-Fi using your personal hotspot, search for wireless networks on your other device and then select the one that matches your iPhone’s name.
  • The Wi-Fi network name is similar to that of the device name found in Settings-> General-> About.

Once you are connected, you may start browsing the Internet, download files, stream videos, and do other online stuff you want.

How to Disable/Turn Off Wi-Fi hotspot on your iPhone 7

You can turn your Wi-Fi hotspot on or off, if needed. You need to disable or turn Wi-Fi hotspot off if not in use as it could quickly eat up your monthly data allowance. Here’s how it’s done on your new iPhone:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Tap Personal Hotspot to continue.
  3. On the next screen, tap the Personal Hotspot switch to turn the feature off or on.

You should now see the Personal Hotspot status is changed.

Tethering with your iPhone 7

Another way to share your mobile data connection is by means of tethering. In this process, you will use a USB cable to connect a device or laptop to your iPhone 7 and start browsing the web using the phone’s Internet connection. In order to get started, you will need to enable the hotspot option on your phone, configure wireless security with a password to prevent unauthorized persons from using your connection, then start connecting your other devices.

Here’s how to use USB tethering with your iPhone 7:

  1. Enable Personal Hotspot on your iPhone. Go to Settings-> Cellular-> Personal Hotspot-> then toggle the Personal Hotspot switch to enable the feature.
  1. If prompted, tap the USB Only option to continue.
  2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using the supplied USB cable. Make sure both devices are properly connected and connections are secured.
  3. Wait for the device to sync.

After syncing is complete, the device will begin tethering automatically.

Note: You may need to download and install some drivers for your computer. If necessary, you can download and install required computer drivers using the latest version of iTunes.

Connect with Us

If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the new Apple iPhone 7 smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone 7. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.

3 thoughts on “Apple iPhone 7 Wireless Connectivity and USB Tethering Guide: How to Enable/Disable Wi-Fi, Set Up/Use Wi-Fi Hotspot, Tethering with iPhone 7”

  1. I’ve been using my Iphone 5 as a hotspot with this Hp Laptop running Windows 10 Home. Now I need to set up the same connection with my new Iphone 7,

    The phone does not show up in available networks. I know I need to enter a password but there is no
    prompt to do this. I think I might have seen a pop-up asking me to download a new version of Itunes?

  2. So does “tethering” use the data from your phone plan, and “hotspot” use the data from your personal hotspot plan?

    Also, is there a way to tether a Nintendo Switch to an iPhone 7+?
    I have unlimited data from Sprint, so I’d like to use my phone plan data and not buy hotspot data.

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