Tether With Android

Most modern smartphones can be turned into portable networks through a process called tethering. Devices can connect to your phone’s network, using its data signal to access the internet. Follow this guide to get tethering set up on your phone.

Steps

Tethering With a Service Plan

  1. Open the Settings menu. This can be accessed either by hitting your phone’s Menu button while on the home screen, or by tapping the Settings app in your Application drawer.
  2. Open the “Tethering and portable hotspot” menu. This will be accessible underneath the “Wireless and network” section of the Settings menu. Depending on your device, you may have to tap “More settings” in order to find the option.
  3. Slide the Mobile Hotspot switch to On. If your plan allows you to use Mobile Hotspot, you will be taken to the settings screen. If you do not have access to Mobile Hotspot on your plan, a message will open telling you how to add it for your particular carrier.
  4. Adjust your settings. You can set passwords and limit the number of devices that can connect to your hotspot. It is highly recommended that you set a password to keep unknown devices from using your data. The SSID that you enter is the name of the network that you will connect to with your other devices.
  5. Connect your devices. Once tethering is enabled, open the network settings on the device that you want to connect. Scan for the network that you created by tethering. Enter the password and your device will connect to your hotspot.

Tethering with Third-Party Apps

  1. Download a third-party app. Some carriers have blocked the ability to download third-party tethering apps from the Play store, because they allow circumventing of the paid tethering service. To download these apps, you will need to get them directly from the developers’ websites.
    • Download the .APK file through your phone’s web-browser. When it is finished, tap on the file in your notification bar to install it.
    • You will need to make sure that third-party apps can be installed to your phone. Open your Settings menu and scroll down to the Security option. In the Security menu, check the box next to “Unknown sources”. This will allow you to install apps that have not been downloaded through the Play store.
  2. Run the app. You will presented with options for configuring your Wi-Fi hotspot. You can set the network name as well as the security type and password. Check the box to activate the hotspot.
  3. Connect your devices. Once the third-party app is running, your network will be joinable by other devices. Select the correct network name and enter the password to connect.

Warnings

  • Tethering consumes a significant amount of battery life. Plug your phone in before tethering to ensure a stable connection.
  • Tethering multiple devices can burn through a data plan very quickly. Tethering works best with unlimited data plans.
  • Tethering with a third-party app is against most carriers’ Terms of Service. If you are caught tethering without paying for the service, your contract may be canceled. Tether at your own risk.

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