iOS 26.4 Improves iPhone Personal Hotspot Feature
▼ Summary
– iOS 26.4 introduces a new feature in the Personal Hotspot menu that shows data usage per connected device.
– The data usage statistics are accessible in Settings under Personal Hotspot and only appear after recent hotspot use.
– This update is useful for monitoring data consumption across your own devices or when sharing your hotspot with others.
– The per-device data breakdown can be reset by clearing the overall cellular usage statistics in the Cellular settings.
– The author notes that this data was previously stored elsewhere in Settings but was not easily discoverable for many users.
The latest iOS 26.4 update introduces a significant enhancement for a core iPhone feature, making it far easier for users to monitor their mobile data consumption. This improvement is centered on the Personal Hotspot functionality, a tool many rely on to share their cellular connection with other devices. For users on limited data plans, keeping track of this shared usage is now more straightforward than ever.
Previously, monitoring how much data each connected laptop or tablet consumed required navigating through general system statistics. The new software streamlines this process. Within the Settings app, users can now navigate to the Personal Hotspot section. At the bottom of that screen, a new Data Usage menu appears, but only after the hotspot has been active. This menu provides a clear, per-device breakdown of exactly how much cellular data has been consumed through the shared connection.
This is a practical upgrade for anyone who frequently uses their iPhone as a mobile internet hub. Whether you’re connecting your own iPad while working remotely or occasionally allowing a friend’s device to join your network, having immediate access to these statistics helps prevent unexpected overage charges. The data can be reset by clearing the overall cellular statistics, found in the Cellular settings menu, offering a fresh start for each billing cycle.
Interestingly, this detailed per-device data was reportedly available in older iOS versions but was tucked away in a less intuitive location within the system settings. Its new, prominent placement in the Personal Hotspot menu makes it a genuinely useful feature that many users will discover for the first time with this update. For individuals managing tight data budgets, this small but meaningful change in iOS 26.4 provides essential visibility and control over their shared connection.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
