This wikiHow teaches you how to share the data connection of an iPhone or Android device to be able to access the web via a computer. This procedure is called "tethering" in technical jargon. It is good to know that not all mobile carriers support it (some offer it as a paid feature). If you have the possibility to activate tethering, know that it affects the data traffic included in your monthly rate plan.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Wi-Fi tethering with iPhone
Step 1. Launch the iPhone Settings app by selecting the icon
It is gray in color and characterized by a gear; it is normally positioned within one of the pages that make up the device's Home screen.
Step 2. Choose the Personal Hotspot option
It is located at the top of the "Settings" menu, more precisely under the heading Mobile phone or Cellular data.
Step 3. Activate the Personal Hotspot slider by moving it to the right
This way it will switch from the inactive position
to the active one
. At this point the iPhone should act as a Wi-Fi router.
Tap the item Password to be able to change the password for accessing the Wi-Fi network generated by the iPhone.
Step 4. Click the computer's wireless network connection icon
It is characterized by a series of parallel curved lines and is located in the lower right corner of the desktop (on Windows systems) or in the upper right corner (on Mac).
If you are using a Windows computer, you may need to click the icon first ^ located in the notification area of the taskbar, to be able to see the icon of the wireless network connection.
Step 5. Select the name of the Wi-Fi network generated by the iPhone
The complete list of all wireless networks in the area where the one generated by the iPhone should also appear in the window that appears.
If you are using a Windows system, press the button Connect in the lower right corner of the box that appeared after selecting the network name.
Step 6. Enter the iPhone hotspot security password
This information is stored in the "Password" field of the "Personal Hotspot" section of the iPhone settings.
Step 7. Press the Next button (Windows systems) or OK (on Mac).
If the password entered is correct, the computer will connect smoothly to the Wi-Fi network generated by the iPhone.
Method 2 of 4: USB tethering on iPhone
Step 1. Connect iPhone to computer
Use the USB cable that came with the iOS device at the time of purchase.
Step 2. Launch the iPhone Settings app by selecting the icon
It is gray in color and characterized by a gear; it is normally positioned within one of the pages that make up the device's Home screen.
Step 3. Choose the Personal Hotspot option
It is located at the top of the "Settings" menu, more precisely under the heading Mobile phone or Cellular data.
Step 4. Activate the Personal Hotspot slider by moving it to the right
This way it will switch from the inactive position
to the active one
. After a while the computer will recognize the iPhone as a router for internet access.
Method 3 of 4: Wi-Fi tethering with Android device
Step 1. Launch the Android System Settings app
It features a gear icon located within the "Applications" panel.
Step 2. Choose the Other option
It should be located within the "Wireless & Networks" section at the top of the "Settings" menu.
If you are using a Samsung device, you will need to choose the voice instead Connections.
Step 3. Choose the Tethering / Portable Hotspot option
It is located approximately in the middle of the displayed screen.
If you are using a Samsung device, select the item instead Wi-Fi router and tethering.
Step 4. Select the Configure Wi-Fi hotspot option
It is located at the top of the page.
If you are using a Samsung device, choose the voice Wi-Fi router, push the button ⋮ placed in the upper right corner of the screen and finally tap the option Configure Wi-Fi router.
Step 5. Configure the Android device as a Wi-Fi router
To do this, you will need to enter the following information:
- Network name - is the name of the Wi-Fi network that will be detected by the computer when you need to establish the connection;
- Safety - select the protocol WPA2 from its drop-down menu;
- Password - is the security password you will need to use to make the network connection.
Step 6. Press the Save button
It is located in the lower right corner of the Wi-Fi router setup pop-up window.
Step 7. Activate the slider on the right of the "Deactivate" item by moving it to the right
It is located at the top of the screen. This way your Android device will act as a hotspot for accessing the web.
Step 8. Click the computer's wireless network connection icon
It is characterized by a series of parallel curved lines and is located in the lower right corner of the desktop (on Windows systems) or in the upper right corner (on Mac).
If you are using a Windows computer, you may need to click the icon first ^, located in the notification area of the taskbar, to be able to see the icon of the wireless network connection.
Step 9. Select the name of the Wi-Fi network generated by the Android device
The complete list of all wireless networks in the area will be displayed in the window that appears, and the one generated by the Android device should also appear.
Step 10. Enter the security password to access the network
This is the one you entered in the "Password" field during the configuration procedure of the Wi-Fi router.
Step 11. Press the Next button (Windows systems) or OK (on Mac).
If the password entered is correct, the computer will connect smoothly to the Wi-Fi network generated by the Android device.
Method 4 of 4: USB tethering with Android device
Step 1. Connect your Android device to the computer
Use the USB cable that came with your smartphone at the time of purchase.
Step 2. Launch the Android System Settings app
It features a gear icon located within the "Applications" panel.
Step 3. Choose the Other option
It should be located within the "Wireless & Networks" section at the top of the "Settings" menu.
If you are using a Samsung device, you will need to choose the voice instead Connections.
Step 4. Choose the Tethering / Portable Hotspot option
It is located at the top of the appeared screen.
If you are using a Samsung device, select the item instead Wi-Fi router and tethering.
Step 5. Activate the USB tethering slider by moving it to the right
After a few moments you should see the USB connection icon appear in the upper left corner of the Android device screen and the computer should recognize it as a web access router.
Advice
- When using your mobile device as a Wi-Fi router, remember to keep it less than 3 meters away for maximum efficiency.
- If the option to share your smartphone's data connection in tethering is not present, try contacting your carrier's customer service to find out how to activate this feature. It may be a paid option or may require pre-approval to activate.
