In order to get my iPad to connect to my phone I have to take the phone out of my back pocket. I don’t have to unlock the phone or anything. Just take it out. If my phone is in my back pocket the iPad can’t detect the phone. Once the two are connected I can put the phone back into my bank pocket, and use the phone as a hotspot
I don’t think it’s interaction that is needed. Somebody else suggested that the human body is a huge chunk of water and that might be blocking the signal. I just checked. Could I use my phone as a hotspot without even touching the phone at all? The phone is sitting on the table, not too far for me. it works. And I didn’t do anything with the phone. So I think it’s just a matter of being in the back pocket and the human body blocking the signal.