
An Apple USB cable is recommended and using the cable that came with one of the devices will provide the best results. If there is some reason Wi-Fi can’t be used or Instant Hotspot isn’t compatible with the devices available, a USB cable can be connected from the iPhone or iPad that has cellular capability to the Mac. The mobile device and the Mac need to be signed in with the same Apple ID for Continuity features to work. For example, pages in Safari may be preloaded and background internet usage will not be constrained. It's important to remember that macOS is not designed for mobile internet in the way that iOS and iPadOS are, so data usage will be higher when using a MacBook or Mac desktop than when using an iPhone or iPad. iPad tablets originally ran iOS, so any version of iPadOS will also work. Using Instant Hotspot requires a Mac running OS X Yosemite or later and an iPhone or iPad with iOS 8.1 or later and a cellular connection to provide internet. Selecting this option will automatically connect to the iPhone without the need for a password or any other setup. If the iPhone has an internet connection, it will appear in the list under the Personal Hotspot heading, above any other network choices. It should be as simple as clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the Mac’s status menu in the top left of the screen. The easiest solution is to use Apple’s Instant Hotspot, which is one of the nicest Continuity features for those that own a MacBook and an iPhone. Since neither the MacBook Air nor MacBook Pro is available with cellular capability, either a wired connection or some sort of hotspot is needed when Wi-Fi isn’t available.

Related: How To Transfer Data From An Android To An iPhone

It’s not a requirement or coercion, but rather an invitation to take advantage of the complete package that Apple can provide and the benefits are quite compelling. There are so many automatic connections that Continuity acts as an extra incentive to stay within Apple’s ecosystem. Images, videos, and text can be copied on one device and pasted on another. An Apple Watch can unlock a Mac or an iPhone. An iPad can be used as a second screen for a Mac. iPhone calls can be answered on an iPad tablet, Mac computer, or Apple Watch. As long as the iPhone has a cellular connection, other Apple devices can share its internet.Ĭontinuity is Apple’s name for the great integration of its various products.

This allows uninterrupted internet use with a MacBook or iPad while traveling or during an outage, without the need to manually create a Wi-Fi hotspot. Apple provides several special features that iPhone owners enjoy when using other Apple products, such as the quick and easy tethering that is possible for Mac computers and iPad tablets.
