How to Share PC's Internet with Android via USB or Wi-Fi?

Sharing your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone can be a lifesaver if you’re in a pinch. Whether you’re at home without Wi-Fi or on the go and don’t have a mobile data plan, being able to tether your phone to your PC can keep you connected. Learn how to share PC’s internet with Android.

There are two main ways to share your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone: via USB tethering or Wi-Fi hotspot.

USB tethering is the simplest way to share your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone. All you need is a USB cable.

How to use USB tethering to share the Wi-Fi from a PC to your Android device. The best internet connection is a direct Wi-Fi connection. But if your device cannot use Wi-Fi, then USB tethering is a great option in addition to using a mobile hotspot. USB tethering is not the same as using a hotspot.

Connect your Android phone to your PC using a USB cable.
On your Android phone, open the Settings app.
Tap on “Network & internet”.
Tap on “Tethering & portable hotspot”.
Tap on the “USB tethering” switch to turn it on.
Once USB tethering is turned on, your Android phone will be able to access the internet through your PC’s internet connection.

Configure Android Phone to use USB connection for Wi-Fi:

Your Android device and PC should already be connected with an USB cable
Open Settings

Touch and Open Connections

Touch and open Mobile Hotspot and Tethering

Touch to enable USB Tethering. If this option is greyed out, then the USB connection between your Android device and the PC is not connected and not working properly.

After you have established the connection between your Android device and your pc, you need to configure the settings for the USB connection. The USB connection will default to File Transfer mode. You need to change that to USB Tethering mode.

On the front screen of your Android phone or tablet, swipe down to see notifications.

Touch on USB for file transfer

Touch again on USB for file transfer to open options

Touch on This device under USB Controlled by
Touch on USB Tethering to change from Transferring files.

That’s it, You are all set.

If you don’t have a USB cable or if you want to share your internet connection with multiple devices, you can use Wi-Fi hotspot.

The most common method of sharing Wi-Fi is by using a Wi-Fi hotspot. (How to use Mobile Hotspot on Android?) It is easy to do and it works well. However, you also have the option to use an USB connection to share Wi-Fi. The only disadvantage of using a USB cable to share Wi-Fi, is you cannot move your phone further than the USB cable’s length.

On your PC, open the Settings app.
Click on “Network & Internet”.
Click on “Mobile hotspot”.
Under “Share my internet connection from”, select the internet connection that you want to share.
Under “Share over”, select “Wi-Fi”.
Click on the “Edit” button to change the network name and password, if desired.
Click on the “Turn on” button to start sharing your internet connection.

Once Wi-Fi hotspot is turned on, your Android phone will be able to connect to your PC’s hotspot network. To do this, open the Wi-Fi settings on your Android phone and select the network name of your PC’s hotspot. Enter the password if required, and tap on “Connect”.

Troubleshooting:

If you’re having trouble sharing your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone, try the following:

Make sure that your Android phone is running the latest version of Android.
Make sure that your PC is running the latest version of Windows or macOS.
Try restarting your Android phone and your PC.
Try using a different USB cable.
Try connecting your Android phone to a different USB port on your PC.
Try disabling your firewall on your PC.

If you’re using USB tethering, make sure to use a high-quality USB cable. This will help to ensure a reliable connection.
If you’re using Wi-Fi hotspot, consider using a strong password. This will help to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your internet connection.
Be aware that sharing your PC’s internet connection can reduce your internet speed. This is because your PC is now sharing its internet connection with multiple devices.
If you’re using a mobile hotspot plan, be aware of your data usage. Sharing your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone can use up a lot of data.

Problem: Your Android phone can’t connect to your PC’s internet connection.

Solution:

Make sure that your Android phone is running the latest version of Android.
Make sure that your PC is running the latest version of Windows or macOS.
Try restarting your Android phone and your PC.
Try using a different USB cable.
Try connecting your Android phone to a different USB port on your PC.
Try disabling your firewall on your PC.

Problem: Your internet speed is slow when you’re sharing your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone.

Solution:

Make sure that you’re using a high-quality USB cable.
If you’re using Wi-Fi hotspot, try moving your PC and Android phone closer together.
Try disabling any programs or apps that you’re not using.
If you’re using a mobile hotspot plan, be aware that your data usage may be affecting your internet speed.

Problem: You’re having trouble getting USB tethering to work.

Solution:

Make sure that USB tethering is enabled on your Android phone.
Make sure that you’re using the correct USB driver for your Android phone. You can download the latest USB driver from the manufacturer’s website for your Android phone.
Try restarting your Android phone and your PC.
Try using a different USB cable.
Try connecting your Android phone to a different USB port on your PC.

Problem: You’re having trouble getting Wi-Fi hotspot to work.

Solution:

Make sure that Wi-Fi hotspot is enabled on your PC.
Make sure that your Android phone is within range of your PC’s Wi-Fi hotspot.
Try restarting your PC and your Android phone.
Try using a different Wi-Fi channel. You can change the Wi-Fi channel on your PC by opening the Network and Sharing Center app and clicking on “Change adapter settings”. Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select “Properties”. Click on the “Configure” tab and then click on the “Advanced” tab. Under “Property”, select “802.11 Channel Number” and then change the value to a different channel.
Try disabling your firewall on your PC.

Q: What is USB tethering?

A: USB tethering is a way to share your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone by connecting them with a USB cable.

Q: What is Wi-Fi hotspot?

A: Wi-Fi hotspot is a way to share your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone by turning your PC into a Wi-Fi router.

Q: How do I share my PC’s internet connection with my Android phone via USB tethering?

A: To share your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone via USB tethering, follow these steps:

Connect your Android phone to your PC using a USB cable.
On your Android phone, open the Settings app.
Tap on “Network & internet”.
Tap on “Tethering & portable hotspot”.
Tap on the “USB tethering” switch to turn it on.

Q: How do I share my PC’s internet connection with my Android phone via Wi-Fi hotspot?

A: To share your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone via Wi-Fi hotspot, follow these steps:

On your PC, open the Settings app.
Click on “Network & Internet”.
Click on “Mobile hotspot”.
Under “Share my internet connection from”, select the internet connection that you want to share.
Under “Share over”, select “Wi-Fi”.
Click on the “Edit” button to change the network name and password, if desired.
Click on the “Turn on” button to start sharing your internet connection.

Q: What are the common problems with sharing PC’s internet connection with Android?

A: Some common problems with sharing PC’s internet connection with Android include:

The Android phone can’t connect to the PC’s internet connection.
The internet speed is slow when sharing the PC’s internet connection with the Android phone.
USB tethering is not working.
Wi-Fi hotspot is not working.

Q: How do I troubleshoot the problems with sharing PC’s internet connection with Android?

A: Here are some tips for troubleshooting the problems with sharing PC’s internet connection with Android:

Make sure that the Android phone is running the latest version of Android.
Make sure that the PC is running the latest version of Windows or macOS.
Try restarting the Android phone and the PC.
Try using a different USB cable.
Try connecting the Android phone to a different USB port on the PC.
Try disabling the firewall on the PC.

Conclusion

Sharing your PC’s internet connection with your Android phone is a great way to stay connected when you’re in a pinch. With a few simple steps, you can be up and running in minutes.