Tether Cellphone Internet to a Laptop

Modern cellphone technology allows users to connect wirelessly to the Internet any time they have a data connection. You can transfer internet access from your phone to your laptop using WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB. Most modern phones and laptops can choose from any of these methods, each of which has its own advantages.

Steps

Tethering an iPhone to a Laptop

  1. Check your carrier plan. Some carriers add an extra data charge for tethering, or require you to purchase a tethering plan.[1]
  2. Choose a method. There are three ways to tether your phone's internet connection to your laptop. Here are the requirements for each method:
    • WiFi tethering is available on iPhone 4+ running iOS 4.3+. It connects to any number of laptops with WiFi capability running Mac OS 10.4.11+, or Windows XP SP2 or later.[2][3]
    • USB tethering works on iPhone 3G+. You'll need a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your laptop. Your computer needs a copy of iTunes 8.2+, and should run Mac OS 10.5.7+ or Windows XP SP2 or later.[3]
    • Bluetooth requires iPhone 3G+. It connects to one laptop with Bluetooth 2.0 capability, running Mac OS 10.4.11+ or Windows XP SP2 or later.[3]
  3. Enable Personal Hotspot. Go to your iPhone settings. Slide the Personal Hotspot slider to "On." Tap the method you'd like to use (WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB).
    • Depending on your device, you can find the Personal Hotspot settings under Settings → Cellular; Settings → General → Network; or the main Settings menu.[4][1][3]
    • When using WiFi, tap the WiFi Password button and type in a password. Use ASCII characters only.[5]
  4. Connect to a WiFi tether. WiFi tethering is the fastest wireless option, but consumes the most battery power.[6] To connect from your laptop, just enable WiFi, select your phone's network, and enter the password you chose. The network is usually named "iPhone" by default.
    • Your phone's WiFi tethering will turn off if you do not connect a device within 90 seconds.[6]
    • If you are on a 2G mobile network, the WiFi will disconnect when you make a phone call.[3]
  5. Connect via USB. Although unpopular due to needing a cable, USB is the fastest connection and the easiest to set up. Once Personal HotSpot is enabled, plug the USB cable into both devices. Tethering should start automatically. If it doesn't, go to your laptop's network settings and select the USB option.
    • You'll need a copy of iTunes on your laptop. You can download this for free.
  6. Connect to a Bluetooth tether. Bluetooth is slower than WiFi and can only tether to one other device. However, it will use up less battery power.[6] Here's how to Set-up-Bluetooth to your laptop:
    • Mac:
      • On your laptop, go to System Preferences → Bluetooth.
      • Click "Turn Bluetooth On," or click "Set Up a New Device" and follow the onscreen prompts. Select the iPhone on the list of devices.
      • Enter the pairing code on your iPhone.
      • On some iPhones, you'll need to tap "Use Device as a Network Port" after pairing.[3]
    • Windows 10:[7]
      • Select the action center icon (a speech bubble) on the taskbar, and click Bluetooth.
      • Click Connect, then select your iPhone.
      • Enter the pairing code on your iPhone.
    • Windows 7:
      • Go to Control Panel → Bluetooth → Bluetooth Settings → Options.[8] Enable Bluetooth discovery and connection.
      • Go to Start → Devices and Printers → Add a device. Select your iPhone.[9]
      • Enter the pairing code on your iPhone.
    • Windows Vista:
      • Go to Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Bluetooth Devices → Options.[8] Enable Bluetooth discovery and connection.
      • In the same Bluetooth Devices menu, click Add, then select your iPhone.[10]
      • Enter the pairing code on your iPhone.

Tethering an Android Phone to a Laptop

  1. Refer to your data plan. Most phone carriers charge extra for tethering, or include tethering in your data limit. Some plans don't allow tethering at all.[11]
  2. Confirm your device is compatible. Android released WiFi and USB tethering in version 2.2. Bluetooth tethering requires Android 3.0 or later.[12]
    • Your phone model and your laptop operating system must have tethering capabilities as well. This is rarely a problem unless a device is more than a few years old.
    • Some devices with earlier versions of Android can install an app to enable tethering.[13]
  3. Tether with WiFi. WiFi provides a fast connection, and can support up to ten devices. However, it drains battery very quickly. Here's how to set it up:[14]
    • Open Settings on your Android phone. Under the Wireless section, tap More → Tethering & portable hotspot.
    • Turn on "Portable WiFi hotspot."
    • A hotspot notification should appear. Tap this notification and select "Set up Wi-Fi hotspot." Enter a password using ASCII characters only. (Optionally, enter a network name as well.)
    • On your laptop, turn on WiFi and select your phone's network. Enter the password you chose.
  4. Send internet access via USB. A USB cable provides the fastest connection speed. However, USB tethering is (officially) only available on Windows. Just connect the two devices with a USB cable, then enable tethering on your phone with Settings → More → Tethering & portable hotspot → USB tethering.[14]
    • Windows XP users must download a configuration file first, following the instructions on this Google Support page.
    • Mac users can install third-party drivers on their laptop to enable USB tethering. These are not vetted by Google or Apple. Only install from trustworthy sources.
  5. Connect over Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a slower wireless option, but puts less strain on the phone battery.[11] Use it to create an internet connection for one device, as follows:[15][14]
    • Turn on Bluetooth under your phone Settings.
    • Set-up-Bluetooth. Do this from System Preferences on a Mac; from the "action center" → "Connect" option on the Windows 10 taskbar; or by searching for "Bluetooth" in the Search Bar on earlier versions of Windows.
    • On your phone, select the laptop under Available devices. (If you don't see it, press "Search for devices" or touch the menu icon and tap "Refresh.")
    • Follow instruction to pair the devices. You may need to enter a passcode on one of the devices. (Try 0000 or 1234 if the other device doesn't display a code.)
    • On your phone, go to Settings → More → Tethering & portable hotspot → Bluetooth tethering.

Minimizing Battery Drain

  1. Turn off all unnecessary phone tasks. Turn off GPS, auto sync, notifications, updates, and wi fi. The only thing you need is your phone's network signal.
    • If you use an Android device, go to Settings → Apps → Running and close all processes. Go to All Apps and disable any Apps you don't need, such as Hangouts or Play.
    • If you use a Windows Phone 8.1, turn on Battery Saver.
  2. Turn down brightness. Put your phone's brightness on minimum.
  3. Remove the SD card. If possible, remove your phone's SD card. This can be a significant battery drain on some phones.
  4. Stick to lightweight internet use. Keep sessions short. If you'd like a longer internet session, limit yourself to emails and simple web pages. Avoid streaming videos, downloading, and browsing in multiple windows.
  5. Lower your phone's tethering range. Check your phone settings to see if there's a tethering range option. Lower this to the minimum range and keep your phone next to your laptop.
  6. Plug your phone in to your laptop. Most modern phones can be charged by plugging them into the USB port of your computer, although you may need to buy the right cable. Note that charging from your computer is much slower than charging from the power outlet on your wall.
    • You may even be able to tether to your computer via USB at the same time as charging.
  7. Buy a portable phone charger. This may be useful if your phone won't charge from your laptop, or if your laptop has a short battery life. This is also sold as a "power bank."
    • Some companies, including EE in the UK, sometimes offer these for free. Be sure to check your service provider's website before purchasing one.
  8. Carry a backup battery. If your phone's battery is removable, this will get you double the internet time. Remember to charge the backup battery as well once you get home.

Tips

  • You only need to pair Bluetooth devices once. After that, they'll recognize each other automatically.
  • If Bluetooth pairing is not working, refer to your cell phone's user manual.

Warnings

  • Some phone carriers such as Sprint and T-Mobile can terminate your contract for doing this if your plan does not include tethering. Ask your carrier about tethering restrictions.

Things You'll Need

  • Web-enabled phone
  • Cell provider data plan with tethering included
  • Either:
    • Wi-Fi enabled laptop
    • USB cable compatible with phone and laptop
    • Bluetooth-enabled laptop
    • Laptop & Bluetooth adapter

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.pcworld.com/article/240794/how_to_tether_your_iphone.html
  2. ↑ http://www.simonblog.com/2011/02/11/how-to-use-personal-hotspot-on-iphone-4-ios-4-34-2-6/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 http://ee.co.uk/help/add-ons-benefits-and-plans/wifi-and-tethering/tethering-your-device/tethering-with-your-iphone
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204023
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204023
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.macworld.com/article/1159258/smartphones/bluetooth-tethering.html
  7. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-connect-to-bluetooth-devices
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-bluetooth-device-settings
  9. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/add-a-bluetooth-enabled-device-to-your-computer
  10. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/set-up-a-bluetooth-enabled-device
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://www.androidauthority.com/what-is-tethering-android-280456/
  12. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/news/history-of-android/
  13. ↑ http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/how-tether-google-android-phone-image-3279408/
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/2812516?hl=en&rd=1
  15. ↑ https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/2819579
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