It's no secret that you can distribute the Internet from your phone to other mobile devices and computers. And in this article, I will show you how to use an Android phone as a modem for a computer or laptop. When connected with a USB cable. This scheme is suitable primarily for stationary computers that do not have a Wi-Fi module. And we will not be able to connect them to a Wi-Fi access point, which can also be launched on the phone.
Almost all Android smartphones can distribute mobile Internet (in modem mode) via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or via USB cable. How to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot, I have already shown in these articles:
- How to distribute the Internet from a Samsung smartphone (Android 7.0) via Wi-Fi
- How to distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi on an Android smartphone Meizu
But if you have a PC, or Wi-Fi does not work on a laptop, then you simply cannot connect your computer to a Wi-Fi network. In this case, you can use a USB cable. Connect the phone to the computer, and turn on the "USB modem" mode on the phone. And the computer will have access to the Internet via the phone (via a mobile operator).
When the phone works as a modem via a cable, it immediately becomes infected from the computer. And if you use it as a Wi-Fi access point, then the battery runs out very quickly, and you have to connect it to charging all the time.
By the way, an Android smartphone can also be used as a Wi-Fi adapter for a computer.
I checked on Samsung Galaxy J5. Everything is very simple. You don't need to install any drivers on your computer, create connections, etc. Just turn on mobile data on your phone (Internet via EDGE, 3G, 4G), connect it to your computer via USB and activate the "USB-modem" mode in the settings.
I think this feature works exactly the same on all phones that run Android. I can't check it now on phones from Huawei, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Sony, LG, etc., but if there are any differences in the settings and names, then they are not critical.
Android smartphone in USB modem mode
You don't need to configure anything on your computer. By the way, my computer that I tested everything on is running Windows 10.
Please note that in modem mode, the computer connected to the phone will use the Internet connection through the mobile operator. Therefore, if you do not have unlimited mobile Internet, then it is possible that an Internet connection fee will be charged from your account. I recommend checking with the support for the terms of your tariff plan.
Turn on mobile internet (cellular data) on your phone.
Next, connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
Then, in the phone settings (somewhere in the "Connections" section - "Access point and modem"), turn on the "USB modem".
After a few seconds, the computer should have access to the Internet via a smartphone.
And if you open the "Network adapters" window, you will see a new "Ethernet" connection.
The main thing is that the computer has access to the Internet. To disable it, just turn off the "USB modem" mode in the phone settings.
Possible problems in configuring the phone as a USB modem
Since our equipment, operators, settings are different, it is possible that some problems may arise. Let's take a look at the most popular ones.
- If an Internet connection appears, but the Internet does not work, then you need to make sure that the mobile Internet is working on the phone. Try to open a website on your phone through a browser. Perhaps you have some restrictions on the part of the operator.
- Some operators prohibit distributing mobile Internet using a phone as a modem. And not only via USB, but also via Wi-Fi. Therefore, if you are doing everything correctly, and the Internet is still not working, then check with the provider's support about such a block.
- You can try temporarily disabling your antivirus / firewall on your computer.
- If websites do not open through such a connection (and programs work), then manually register DNS. In the properties of a new network connection that appeared after setting up an Android smartphone as a modem.
- If you have another computer or laptop, then try setting up on it. So we can find out what is the cause of the problems.
If on your phone such a connection is configured in another way, or you have some useful information on this topic, then share it in the comments (you can also attach a screenshot, for this special thanks). You can also ask a question there.
