Android Phone Tethering - Internet sharing without the carriers approval - No root required!

in technology •  6 years ago  (edited)

Tethering Logo

If you're in a situation where you want to tether your Internet connection from your phone to a PC but you find that the carrier has blocked tethering, all you need is a USB cable. Try this:

Step 1

Get the PdaNet+ app on your Android phone.

Once installed, click the "USB Tether" checkbox:
USB Tether Checkbox

Step 2

Install PdaNet+ on a Windows PC.

Once you plug your phone, you get a greeting message from PdaNet+:
USB Greet

Right click the tray icon and select "Connect USB":
Connect USB

That's all!

Now you have an internet connection on your Windows OS regardless if the carrier allows to tether your Internet or not. The best part is that you don't need to root your phone!

Troubleshooting and Q&A

Q: What if I have no Internet on my PC but want to get the .exe file?
A: Use your phone to download the file then transfer it to your Windows PC via the USB cable.

If you get no connectivity make sure "USB Debugging" is enabled on your phone. It is inside 'developer mode' in Android. Add your PC as a trusted device once connected.

PdaNet+ is a shareware app. It does nag you every once in a while to purchase the full app for 8 EUR. Click "Cancel" on Android and click again the "USB Tether" checkbox.

PdaNet+ also works on MacOS but I haven't tested it. No idea about Linux :(

I did get it to work inside of a VM. Of course the host OS has no Internet, but the guest VM has Internet.

Backstory
In 2013 it was the first time it happened to me where I happily got a SIM card with Internet from Rogers in Toronto, Canada only to find out that I can't share my Internet on my laptop. It was not a disaster. The local data center I worked in also had free WiFi. The Hotel where I stayed at had free WiFi too.

Now many years later in 2018 I got the amazing 8 EUR unlimited Internet for 1 month deal on my mobile from MTS in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Too good to be true. The carrier blocks tethering. My AirBnb has no Internet included either. That lead me to check my options and this blog post ;)

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