You need an internet connection to your laptop or PC, but you don’t have public Wi-Fi. Connect your smartphone’s internet connection to your computer. This is called tethering.
Tethering your tablet or laptop to the internet may seem faster than using the public network at your favorite café, but it can also have its problems. This article will explain how to connect your Android mobile internet to your computer using tethering.
What is Tethering?
Tethering refers to the process of connecting your mobile device and your computer via your phone’s data connection. It can be used via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or USB.
This was in the pre-iPhone era. You could use an old-style feature telephone to call a number that provided internet access from anywhere. You could connect to the internet from multiple cell phones, which would allow you to access the APN on your device network.
Tethering plans were added to many phone networks’ bills after the iPhone was released in 2007. This money-grabbing practice was eventually stopped. Tethering is now usually free, with the exception of your data allowance.
Android Mobile Tethering Options Explained
Three options are available for Android users to share a mobile internet connection:
- Bluetooth Connect
- Your phone can be used as a wireless hotspot
- Use USB to connect your phone with your computer
We’ll be looking at each one to see which drains your battery the fastest and which transfers data the fastest.
Before you proceed, ensure that your phone has enabled mobile internet. Mobile signal strength can have an impact on your connection speed. Tethering can cause your phone’s battery to drain quickly. Wireless tethering is especially power-intensive.
For comparison, we provide speed results from speedtest.net.
1. How to connect mobile internet to a computer using a USB cable
The modem function on mobile phones has been around for a while. It allows you to connect your phone to your computer via USB tethering. This allows you to share your mobile internet connection with other devices or laptops via a wired connection.
It is easy. The USB cable included with your phone should be connected to your computer. Next, plug it into your phone’s USB port. Next, configure your Android device to share mobile internet.
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced > Hotspot & tethering.
- To enable the USB Tethering slider, tap it. If the slider appears grayed, ensure that both ends of the USB cable are properly connected.
- You will see the Hotspot warning and the tethering warning. These will inform you that any data transfers between your phone’s and your computer will be interrupted by continuing.
- To proceed, tap OK
To confirm active tethering, a notification icon should be displayed. We found these results during testing:
- Speed 97Mbps Download, 2.02Mbps Upload, with an average of 66ms.
- Battery Impact It all depends on whether you have your laptop plugged in. The USB connection will slowly charge the phone, so if it is plugged in, the battery impact should be minimal to none.
Please Note: Your phone’s battery can drain your computer’s battery.
2. Bluetooth Tethering with Mobile Devices
You want to learn how to connect mobile internet to your computer without using a USB cable?
Bluetooth is the answer. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that has sufficient bandwidth to transmit data between your phone and a paired device.
Pair your phone and computer first
- Open the Bluetooth settings on your Android phone. This can be done by long pressing the Bluetooth icon in Quick Settings or browsing to Settings > Related devices.
- Select Pair your new device to make it discoverable.
- To open the Settings app, simply press Win+ I on your Windows 10 computer.
- Select Devices > Android & Other Devices.
- If Bluetooth is not switched to , you can do so by clicking strong>Add Bluetooth or another device/strong> followed by strong>Bluetooth/strong>. Click Add Bluetooth, or another device, then Bluetooth.
- When your phone appears, select it and follow the pairing steps. For assistance if you have any problems with the pairing process, please refer to our guide to setting Bluetooth up in Windows 10—the exact steps can also be used in Windows 11.
- Once you have been paired, go to Settings > Network > Hotspot, Internet > Tethering, and then turn on Bluetooth.
You can share your mobile internet connection once the phone has been paired with your computer.
- Expand the Windows System Tray and locate the Bluetooth symbol. Right-click it to select Join A Personal Area Network.
- Find your phone’s icon in the menu and right-click it.
- Select Connect using > Access Point.
The notification should appear on your phone that Bluetooth tethering has been activated. Our testing revealed:
- Speed 35Mbps Download, 0.78Mbps Upload, with an average of 289ms.
- Battery Impact Bluetooth heavy use really strains your battery. Five percent of my battery was depleted after ten minutes of use.
3. How to connect your mobile internet to a computer wirelessly
The best tethering method is one that combines the wireless benefits and speed of Bluetooth with USB.
Your phone can create a private network using your Wi-Fi and mobile internet connection to connect all your devices. This is the best choice. How to set up Wi Fi tethering
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Hotspot & Tethering.
- Tap Wi Fi hotspot (also known as Portable hotspot for some phones).
- Switch the slider on to the next screen.
- This page allows you to adjust network options. You can change, for example, the Name of hotspot , Security Type, or open the Advanced You can turn off the hotspot when there are no devices using it.
- You may need to open the Configure hotspot menu on some devices to modify these options.
- To view the password, tap the Hotspot Password (sometimes called Display password).
Next, open the following program on your Windows PC
- To open Settings, press Win+ I.
- Go to Network and Internet > Wi-Fi.
- To find the network that your phone has created, click Show available Networks. You can also click the wireless internet icon within the System Tray.
- Click Connect on the network you choose.
- To establish the connection, enter the password displayed on your phone.
These are the results that we got from this option:
- Speed 10.45Mbps download, 4.45Mbps upload with an average ping time of 55ms.
- Battery Impact Heavy use can reduce battery life by up to five percent within ten minutes, just like Bluetooth tethering. Wi-Fi tethering is more efficient for standard usage, but it could last between 5-6 hours.
It’s very easy to activate wireless tethering again after you have set it up for the first time. Swipe down twice from the top to open the Quick Settings panel. Wait for your computer’s connection to occur by tapping the Hotspot icon. It should automatically reconnect as long as the network name and password are not changed.
How to connect an iPhone Mobile Hotspot with a computer
Not using Android? You don’t have an iPhone but need to borrow a phone for internet access.
You can activate the hotspot mode on iPhones at Settings > Your Personal Hotspot. This hotspot is available to any wireless-enabled device.
iOS supports Bluetooth and USB-tethering for even more compatibility. How to connect your iPhone to the internet using the hotspot function.
Mobile Tethering For the best battery life, use a USB
You now know how to connect to mobile internet via Wi-Fi, USB or Bluetooth.
Which is the best?
Our tests have shown that USB tethering drains the battery the fastest. Bluetooth, however, offers the fastest speeds. However, Bluetooth technology has made improvements that have allowed for a positive impact on the battery.
It is easy to link your mobile internet connection to a computer
Are you stuck between a Wi-Fi hotspot or USB tethering? Although USB isn’t the fastest, Wi-Fi is the best option for all purposes. If Wi-Fi is not available, you can rely on USB tethering.
