Use tethering to share my mobile internet

Using your phone to connect a laptop, tablet or even another phone to the internet is called tethering. It's a bit like using 4GEE WiFi - but you can use either Bluetooth, USB cable or portable WiFi hotspot to connect your phone to another device.

How do I tether using my iPhone?

To set up your iPhone:

  1. open your iPhone settings
  2. tap Personal Hotspot
  3. slide the Allow Others to Join switch to on

You then need to connect your iPhone to your laptop or tablet. Follow the instructions below to connect using either a USB cable, a portable WiFi hotspot or Bluetooth.

Connecting using a USB cable

  • you'll need a laptop or tablet running Windows XP SP2 or later, or Mac OS 10.5.7 or later; a USB port; iTunes 8.2 or later; an iPhone USB cable
  • plug the USB cable into your iPhone and then into your laptop or tablet
  • you may need to set up a new network connection. If so, follow the instructions on your laptop or tablet screen

Connecting using a portable WiFi hotspot

  • you'll need a WiFi-enabled laptop or tablet; a laptop or tablet running Windows XP SP2 or later, or Mac OS 10.4.11 or later; your WiFi password
  • then connect your laptop or tablet to your phone by searching for the phone as you would for any other WiFi network

Connecting using Bluetooth

  • you'll need a laptop or tablet able to use Bluetooth 2.0; a laptop or tablet running Windows XP SP2 or later, or Mac OS 10.4.11 or later
  • switch on Bluetooth on both your iPhone and your laptop or tablet

Once you're connected you need to pair your iPhone with your laptop or tablet.

To pair your iPhone with an iPad or Mac

  1. click on Set Up New Device and follow the onscreen instructions
  2. when you've paired your iPhone with your iPad or Mac, choose the option Use Device as a Network Port on your iPhone
  3. click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar of your iPad or Mac
  4. click on your iPhone, and then choose Connect to Network
  5. your iPhone should now have a blue bar at the top of the screen to show that it's tethered to your iPad or Mac

To pair your iPhone with a Windows tablet or laptop

  1. click on the Bluetooth icon in your iPhone's notification area
  2. select Add a Bluetooth device and follow the onscreen instructions
  3. when you've paired your devices, click on the Bluetooth icon in the notification area (the system tray) again
  4. select Show Bluetooth devices
  5. highlight your iPhone, then click the Properties button
  6. click the Services tab
  7. tick the Wireless iAP checkbox and click OK
  8. click on the Bluetooth icon in your iPhone's notification area again
  9. click on Join A Personal Area Network
  10. click Connect

You can tether on most, but not all, 3G, 4G and 5G devices.

How do I tether using my Android phone?

You'll need an Android phone with version 2.2 or later.

To set up your phone:

  1. open your phone menu
  2. go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Portable WiFi hotspot
  3. open Portable WiFi hotspot settings to set up a password and name your phone's hotspot

You then need to connect your phone to your laptop or tablet. Follow the instructions below to connect using either a USB cable, a portable WiFi hotspot or Bluetooth.

Connecting using a USB cable

  • you'll need a laptop or tablet running Windows XP SP2 or later, or Mac OS 10.5.7 or later; a free USB port; a USB cable
  • plug the USB cable into your phone and then into your laptop or tablet
  • follow the on-screen instructions if you need to set up a new network connection on your laptop or tablet

Connecting using a portable WiFi hotspot

  • you'll need a WiFi-enabled laptop or tablet; a laptop or tablet running Windows XP SP2 or later, or Mac OS 10.4.11 or later; your WiFi password
  • then connect your laptop or tablet to your phone by searching for the phone as you would for any other WiFi network

Connecting using Bluetooth

  • you'll need a laptop or tablet able to use Bluetooth 2.0; a laptop or tablet running Windows XP SP2 or later, or Mac OS 10.4.11 or later
  • switch on Bluetooth on both your phone and your laptop or tablet

Once you're connected you need to pair your phone with your laptop or tablet.

To pair your Android device with your laptop or tablet

  • on your Android phone or device go to Settings > Wireless & networks > More > Tethering & portable hotspot
  • slide Bluetooth tethering to On

Next, set up Bluetooth on your other device. To do this:

  • Android: tap your Android device's name then Internet Access
  • Windows: right click your Android device's name, select Connect using and then click Access Point
  • Mac: click your Android device's name, then the settings gear at the bottom of the window and select Connect to Network
  • iPhone: should be automatically enabled if there's no WiFi

Pairing instructions for Android phones may be slightly different for each device.

You can tether on most, but not all, 3G, 4G and 5G devices.

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