iPad Air (M3) does not automatically connect to iPhone 11 via wifi in modem mode

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Level 1

8 points

iPad Air (M3) does not automatically connect to iPhone 11 via wifi in modem mode

On iPad ios 18.5, on iPhone ios 17.7

There is no "Auto-connection" item in the iPhone wifi network settings

I tried to connect to the public wifi network, in this network there is an item "Autoconnection" and the iPad automatically connects to this network without any problems, but it doesn't want to the iPhone network, only in manual, but it's a mockery, now is not the time for ios 1 or ios 2?

For the sake of the experiment, I tried to distribute wifi iPhone 6 with ios 12, in modem mode, there is also no "Autoconnection" item in this network, but the iPad automatically connects to this network

So there is a conflict between iOS 18.5 and ios 17.7?

How to fix the problem without updating the device, because after updating I will get even more other problems, because with each update I get a lot of problems that no one can solve

iPad Air, iPadOS 18

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 8:59 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 9, 2025 11:22 AM in response to XTZ660

XTZ660 wrote:

So there is a conflict between iOS 18.5 and ios 17.7?

How to fix the problem without updating the device, because after updating I will get even more other problems, because with each update I get a lot of problems that no one can solve

You really should keep your devices updated to the most recent supported versions of iOS and iPadOS - as updates include fixes for known issues and essential security updates. If you continue to unnecessarily use older versions of the respective OSs, you should expect to encounter issues.

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Answer 2

XTZ660 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2025 7:49 AM in response to LotusPilot

LotusPilot wrote:

You really should keep your devices updated to the most recent supported versions of iOS and iPadOS - as updates include fixes for known issues and essential security updates. If you continue to unnecessarily use older versions of the respective OSs, you should expect to encounter issues.

When trying to update ios, I can't load ios because I need to connect to the wifi network, but I'm connected to the iPhone's wifi network in modem

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2025 10:12 AM in response to XTZ660

Indeed, system software updates require that the target device is connected to a WiFi network. You may use a Cellular connection to perform an update using a Cellular Router (a.k.a. MiFi), or a high-bandwidth 5G Cellular connection.

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Answer 4

XTZ660 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2025 8:15 PM in response to LotusPilot

LotusPilot wrote:

Indeed, system software updates require that the target device is connected to a WiFi network. You may use a Cellular connection to perform an update using a Cellular Router (a.k.a. MiFi), or a high-bandwidth 5G Cellular connection.

It turns out that to update ios on iPad (wifi), then there should be 5G on the iPhone in modem mode, is this a mandatory minimum condition in ios 18?

But I have a maximum of 4G on my iPhone 11

Maybe there is some program like on android for a "mobile access point" so that this network is defined as a "wifi network", it doesn't matter, even if there will be 3G on this device, as long as it's not "modem mode"

Then the iPad will automatically start connecting to wifi

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Answer 5

Nov 11, 2025 3:44 AM in response to XTZ660

Your iPad will not be able to update using an iPhone's Cellular hotspot unless you have a high-bandwidth 5G Cellular connection. This is a restriction applied by iOS/iPadOS.

If you don't have access to a WiFi network with an internet connection, the workaround for Cellular is to either use a Cellular Router (as already suggested), or the WiFi hotspot of an Android mobile phone.

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Answer 6

bøng145

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2025 10:10 AM in response to XTZ660

11

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