I can't connect my phone's internet to my laptop.

[rMontana]

I can't connect my phone's internet to my laptop. The problem is that I can share someone else's phone's internet to my laptop, but when it comes to my phone, I can't share the internet. I talked to Apple support. The problem is not with the phone. I talked to the telecom guys. They say there is no problem. So where is the problem? I did all the updates.

[Max3Aj]

@rMontana, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
Thanks for sharing all that—it definitely sounds like you've done your homework. Since your HP Victus laptop can connect to other phones' hotspots but not to your own, and your iPhone can share hotspot with other devices, the issue is likely tied to compatibility or configuration between your laptop and your specific phone.

Let’s dig into possible causes and solutions:
 

✅ Quick Checklist First:

1. iPhone hotspot is ON, visible, and shows up on your laptop’s Wi-Fi list?
2. You've tried connecting via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB (just to rule out each one)?
3. Your iPhone's hotspot works with other devices (e.g. another laptop or phone)?
4. Your laptop’s Wi-Fi driver is up to date from HP or Realtek/Intel directly (not just Windows Update)?

🔍 Key Troubleshooting Steps:

Forget the Network & Reconnect

On your HP laptop:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks
• Remove your iPhone's hotspot if it's there
• Then reconnect from scratch

Check for MAC Address Filtering on iPhone

• iPhone → Settings > Personal Hotspot > Maximize Compatibility
• Turn ON “Maximize Compatibility” – this uses a broader 2.4GHz band instead of 5GHz, which helps with device compatibility.

Update Wireless Driver from HP Website

Even if Windows says it's up to date:

• Go to HP Support
• Download the latest Wi-Fi (Realtek or MediaTek/Intel) driver directly from HP, not Windows Update.
• Reboot after installing.

Try USB Tethering (as a test)

• Connect iPhone to your laptop via Lightning cable
• Trust the computer on your phone if prompted
• Go to iPhone Settings > Personal Hotspot > Turn ON
• Check if the network shows up on your laptop (under wired or USB network)

Disable Random MAC Address on Laptop

Sometimes Windows uses randomized MAC addresses, which can confuse certain hotspot setups.

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks
• Click on your iPhone hotspot > Properties > Set "Use random hardware addresses" to Off

📌 Extra Notes

• iPhone names with emojis/special characters can confuse older network stacks. Try renaming your iPhone to a simple name like MyiPhone.
• Make sure your iPhone is not low on battery or in Low Power Mode (it may silently disable hotspot).
• Turn Airplane Mode ON > wait 10s > OFF again on both devices, then retry.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support