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elishasmile
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

MacBook fails to load certain websites via iPhone Personal Hotspot

Certain websites and services fail to load on my MacBook when using iPhone Personal Hotspot (ERR_CONNECTION_RESET / ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED)



I'm experiencing a strange networking issue when connecting my MacBook to the internet through my iPhone's Personal Hotspot.

Some websites and web services work perfectly fine, while others intermittently fail to load or return network errors.


Symptoms:

  • Certain websites and services fail to load.
  • Chrome Developer Tools shows errors such as:
    • net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESET
    • net::ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED
  • Some API requests fail repeatedly with 0.0 kB transferred, while other API requests succeed with HTTP 200.
  • The affected websites sometimes display a "Failed to fetch" error.
  • The same websites and services work normally on my iPhone.


My network setup:

  • Device: MacBook
  • Internet connection: iPhone Personal Hotspot
  • Browser: Google Chrome
  • Connection type: Wi-Fi through Personal Hotspot

This makes me suspect that the issue might be related to how the MacBook handles certain network connections through the iPhone hotspot, rather than the websites themselves.


What I've tried / would like to investigate:

  1. Could this be related to DNS resolution, IPv6, MTU, or TCP connection handling?
  2. Could iOS Personal Hotspot or the mobile carrier be resetting certain connections?
  3. Are there any macOS network settings that could cause this behaviour?
  4. Is there a way to diagnose whether the issue is occurring at the DNS, TCP, TLS, or HTTP level?

Has anyone experienced something similar when using an iPhone as a hotspot for a Mac?


I'd appreciate any suggestions for diagnosing and resolving this issue.

I've attached screenshots showing the network errors and failed API requests.


Thank you!



Posted on Oct 30, 2026 1:12 PM

5 replies

elishasmile Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 30, 2026 1:26 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

When I access the same websites through the same network on my windows machine, it works fine. it also works fine on the same iphone device while i try to access (hence, issue ain't with the iphone or internet or google tool).

Kilgore-Trout
User level: Level 8 (43,363 points)

Oct 30, 2026 1:22 PM in response to elishasmile

The first place I would start is your carrier. The hotspot service is provided by it. Next, you are using Google tools, including Chrome. Check with Google support.

Kilgore-Trout
User level: Level 8 (43,363 points)

Oct 30, 2026 1:38 PM in response to elishasmile

Nevertheless, my recommendations still stand. I supported enterprise internet-based applications for over three decades. “hence, issue ain't with the iphone or internet or google tool” is a statement you have no real evidence for.


But you do you.

elishasmile Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 30, 2026 1:43 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

websites/services that i can use otherwise through hotspot on win machine (or) the same device.

can an isp block those for a specific device using internet over hotspot?

like, they can't control network over hotspot? (is what i think, if i'm wrong.. then...)

Kilgore-Trout
User level: Level 8 (43,363 points)

Oct 30, 2026 3:05 PM in response to elishasmile

see my previous response. And good luck.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256386094