Help Center - Can I Share my Internet without a Wi-Fi Router?

Can I Share my Internet without a Wi-Fi Router?

Yes, internet can be shared through USB cable, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Hotspot tethering even without a Wi-Fi router.

Tethering is sharing internet from one device to another. It can be done through several ways:

USB Cable

Using a USB cable is the easiest way to tether your smartphone. The cable not only tethers your smartphone to a device such as a laptop, it also powers the smartphone in the process.

If You are Using an Android

  1. Enable mobile Internet or mobile data on your Android device.
  2. Connect your Android to your computer with a USB cable. (Wait for the computer to install its driver if its a new cable.)
  3. On your Android, go to Settings.
  4. Select Network & Internet or Connections.
  5. Go to Hotspot & Tethering or More.
  6. Enable USB tethering.
  7. Your computer will then notify an established wired connection in its notification bar.
  8. To disable the connection, deactivate USB tethering on your phone.

If You are Using an iPhone

  1. If you're going to connect to a Windows PC, download and install the latest version of iTunes.
  2. In your iPhone, go to Settings and enable your Personal Hotspot.
  3. Connect your iPhone to your PC with your USB cable. Your phone will then be detected by your computer and appear in the iTunes window under Devices.
  4. If your iPhone does not appear in the iTunes window, go to your Windows' search bar.
  5. Type Device Manager. Click the option that will appear.
  6. Go to Other devices. Right-click iPhone and select Update Driver.
  7. If iTunes still doesn't detect your iPhone, restart your PC and try again.
  8. Your computer will then notify an established wired connection in its notification bar.

Wi-Fi Hotspot

Your phone can be used as a modem with its mobile Internet or mobile data.

Don't forget to have your phone plug in its charger. Using its Wi-Fi Hotspot can drain the phone's battery. You can also regular its temperature by removing it from its case.

If You are Using an Android

  1. Go to Settings. Open Network & Internet or Connections.
  2. Go to Mobile Network. Enable Mobile data.
  3. Go back to Network & Internet or Connections. Select Hotspot & tethering. Enable Wi-Fi hotspot.
  4. To set up Wi-Fi hotspot, create its Network name and password.
  5. In your computer, go to Networks or Connection settings. Turn on its Wi-Fi detector. After your computer has detected your Android's mobile data, your Android's network name will appear. Click on it.
  6. Type in your Android's network password in order to connect to its mobile data.

If You are Using an iPhone

  1. Go to your iPhone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi Password and create a strong password. This will prevent others from using up your mobile data.
  3. Enable Personal Hotspot.
  4. In your computer, go to Networks or Connection settings. Turn on its Wi-Fi detector. After your computer has detected your iPhone's mobile data, your iPhone's network name will appear. Click on it.
  5. Type in your iPhone's network password in order to connect to its mobile data.
  6. On your iPhone, a blue bar will appear along the top to show that your computer is connected.

Bluetooth

Unlike using Wi-Fi Hotspot, traffic from using Bluetooth tethering is unlikely to be intercepted. This is because Bluetooth tethering encrypts traffic.

However, Wi-Fi Hotspot has better speed and connection. Wi-Fi Hotspot is better for browsing. For safer traffic of sensitive data, Bluetooth tethering is recommended.

If You are Using an Android

  1. Go to Settings. Open Network & Internet or Connections. Go to Mobile Network. Enable Mobile data.
  2. Go back to Network & Internet or Connections. Select Hotspot & tethering. Enable Bluetooth tethering.
  3. Pair your Android with PC. If you're using Windows 8, click the Bluetooth icon in the Start menu taskbar in the lower right corner of the screen.
  4. Select Add a Bluetooth Device.
  5. Enable Bluetooth. Your computer will then look for other Bluetooth devices.
  6. When your Android is detected, click its icon to pair with it.
  7. Back in the Start menu taskbar, click the Bluetooth icon and select Join a Personal Area Network.
  8. Click on Connect using and select Access point.
  9. Go to Networks or Connection settings. Turn on your computer's Wi-Fi detector. After your computer has detected your Android's mobile data, your Android's network name will appear. Click on it.
  10. Type in your Android's network password in order to connect to its mobile data.

If You are Using an iPhone

  1. Go to your iPhone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi Password and create a strong password. This will prevent others from using up your mobile data.
  3. Enable Personal Hotspot.
  4. Go back to Settings. Tap Bluetooth. Enable Bluetooth.
  5. Pair your iPhone with PC. If you're using Windows 8, click the Bluetooth icon in the Start menu taskbar in the lower right corner of the screen.
  6. Select Add a Bluetooth Device.
  7. Enable Bluetooth. Your computer will then look for other Bluetooth devices.
  8. When your iPhone is detected, click its icon to pair with it.
  9. Back in the Start menu taskbar, click the Bluetooth icon and select Join a Personal Area Network.
  10. Click on Connect using and select Access point.
  11. Go to Networks or Connection settings. Turn on your computer's Wi-Fi detector. After your computer has detected your iPhone's mobile data, your iPhone's network name will appear. Click on it.
  12. Type in your iPhone's network password in order to connect to its mobile data.

Third-party Apps

Third-party apps enable tethering mode that may not be available to old devices.

These apps allow USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi tethering.

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