How to Connect a Computer to a Computer Through a Mobile Phone

This is an article on how to connect a computer to the internet via mobile data on iPhone or Android. This process is called “tethering”. However, not all carriers support tethering; If your carrier supports it, keep in mind that tethering will count towards your monthly data plan.

Table of Contents

Share Wi-Fi Connection on iPhone

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/cc/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-1- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cc/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open Settings

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/7/7e/Iphonesettingsappicon.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/ Iphonesettingsappicon.png/30px-Iphonesettingsappicon.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:460,”bigWidth”:30,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

of the iPhone. It’s the app with the gray gear icon usually found on the home screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/ff/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-2- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/ff/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Personal Hotspot . This option is near the top of the Settings page, just below Cellular (or Mobile Data).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7e/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-3- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Push the Personal Hotspot slider to the “On” position on the right. Instant slide switch from “Off”

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/2/25/Iphoneswitchofficon.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/25/ Iphoneswitchofficon.png/47px-Iphoneswitchofficon.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:294,”bigWidth”:47,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

to “On”

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/1/15/Iphoneswitchonicon1.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/ Iphoneswitchonicon1.png/46px-Iphoneswitchonicon1.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:300,”bigWidth”:46,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

. Now the wireless hotspot on the iPhone is enabled.

Tap Wi-Fi Password to change the password for your iPhone’s hotspot.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/02/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-4- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/02/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Wi-Fi icon on your computer. Those are the curves in the bottom right corner of the Windows screen or in the upper right corner of the Mac screen.

On Windows, you may have to first click the ^ icon on the currently displayed desktop to see the Wi-Fi icon.

USB tethering on iPhone

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a9/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-8- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a9/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Connect iPhone to computer. You need to use your iPhone’s USB charging cable to do this.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/43/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-9- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/43/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open Settings

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/7/7e/Iphonesettingsappicon.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/ Iphonesettingsappicon.png/30px-Iphonesettingsappicon.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:460,”bigWidth”:30,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

on iPhone. It’s the app with the gray gear icon usually found on the home screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6a/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-10- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6a/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Personal Hotspot . This option is near the top of the Settings page, just below Cellular ( Mobile Data).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/bd/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-11. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-11.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/b/bd/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Push the Personal Hotspot slider to the “On” position on the right. Instant slide switch from “Off”

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/2/25/Iphoneswitchofficon.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/25/ Iphoneswitchofficon.png/47px-Iphoneswitchofficon.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:294,”bigWidth”:47,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

to “On”

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/1/15/Iphoneswitchonicon1.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/ Iphoneswitchonicon1.png/46px-Iphoneswitchonicon1.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:300,”bigWidth”:46,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

. After a while, the iPhone will become the wireless network connection for the computer.

Wi-Fi tethering on Android

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/12/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-12. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-12.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/1/12/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-12.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open Android’s Settings. It’s an app with a gear icon commonly found in the App Drawer.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/85/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-13. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-13.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/8/85/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap More . This option is below the “Wireless & networks” heading near the top of the Settings page.

On your Samsung device, you’ll tap Connections .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/80/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-14. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-14.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/8/80/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-14.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Tethering & portable hotspot . This is the option near the center of the screen.

On the Samsung device, tap Mobile HotSpot and Tethering .

READ More: How to Treat Bruises

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e3/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-15. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-15.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/e/e3/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-15.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Set up mobile hotspot . This option is at the top of the page.

On a Samsung device, you’ll tap Mobile Hotspot , tap ⋮ in the upper-right corner, and tap Configure Mobile HotSpot .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3f/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-16. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-16.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/3/3f/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-16.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Set up an hotspot on Android. To do this, you need to enter the following information:

Network name – This is the display name of the access point in the wireless network management section on the computer.
Security – Select WPA2 in this menu.
Password – Your preferred login password.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/42/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-17. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-17.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/4/42/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-17.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-17.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Save . This option is in the lower-right corner of the Wi-Fi Hotspot window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1d/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-18. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-18.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/1/1d/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-18.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-18.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Push the slide next to OFF to the “On” position on the right. This is the slider button at the top of the screen. Android Hotspot will be disabled after this operation.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/50/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-19. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-19.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/5/50/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-19.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-19.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click your computer’s Wi-Fi icon. It’s the curved icon in the lower right corner of the Windows screen or in the upper right corner of the Mac screen.

On Windows, you may have to first click ^ on the currently displayed screen to see the Wi-Fi icon.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ed/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-20. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-20.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/e/ed/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-20.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-20.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click your phone’s network system name. This is the name you entered earlier.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b6/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-21. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-21.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/b/b6/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-21.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-21.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the password of the personal hotspot you entered earlier.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/07/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-22. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-22.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/0/07/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-22.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-22.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Next on Windows or Join on Mac. Once you enter the correct password, the computer immediately connects to the Android hotspot.

USB tethering on Android

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c4/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-23. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-23.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/c/c4/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-23.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-23.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Connect Android to computer. You’ll use your Android’s charging cable to do this.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e1/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-24. jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-24.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/e/e1/Connect-to-the-Internet-On-Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-24.jpg/v4-728px-Connect-to-the-Internet-On- Your-Laptop-Through-Your-Cell-Phone-Step-24.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open Android’s Settings. This is an app with a gear icon commonly found in the App Drawer.

Advice

When tethering wirelessly, it is recommended that you place your phone about 3 meters away from your computer.
If you don’t see the tethering option in your phone’s settings, try contacting your carrier about activating this service – this is a feature that must be authorized before it can be accessed.

Warning

Keep an eye on your data monthly, as using data beyond the specified limit will incur additional charges.

Steps