It is not uncommon for a situation when you need to distribute the Internet from your iPhone or iPad. And there is such an opportunity. This is called a modem mode, it allows you to distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi, USB cable, and via Bluetooth. Having started the modem mode, our iPhone or iPad turns into an access point, performs the functions of a Wi-Fi router.
It works as follows: turn on the mobile network on the iPhone (if necessary, then select 3G, or LTE), then turn on the modem mode, and the phone starts broadcasting a Wi-Fi network to which you can connect other devices, and they will receive Internet from the iPhone ... Also, you can distribute the connection via Bluetooth (not a very popular method), or via cable (convenient for stationary computers that do not have a Wi-Fi receiver).
Everything is very easy to set up. I tested all three methods, and now I will show you in detail how to start Internet sharing from iPhone. I tested everything on iPhone 6. But, this method will work for all iPhone models: 5, 5S, 6S, etc. In the same way, tethering mode will work on iPad if you have a 4G version and a SIM card is inserted.
Please note that devices that connect to the network you created will use mobile internet... Therefore, if you do not have an unlimited tariff, the traffic can run out very quickly. Or an additional fee will be charged, depending on your tariff plan.
Well, when the iPhone distributes the Internet to everyone, it certainly runs out of battery very quickly. Therefore, it is better to put it on charge.
The most popular way is, of course, to create a Wi-Fi hotspot. When you can distribute the Internet, and connect different devices via Wi-Fi network. Other phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Therefore, we will consider this method first.
How to distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi from iPhone 6
We go into the settings, and go to the "Cellular" tab (if your mobile Internet is turned on, you can immediately select "Modem mode"). Turn on "Cellular data", if necessary, select 3G, LTE, and click on the "Modem mode" item.
Then everything is very simple. We activate the modem mode. If your Wi-Fi is turned off, the phone will offer to turn it on. You can agree, depending on how you want to distribute the Internet. Everything, our iPhone, or the same iPad distributes the Internet via a Wi-Fi network, and by cable. I don't even know if anyone needs this function, but via Bluetooth you can also connect to the Internet via iPhone.
In the window with the modem mode settings, the password will be indicated. By default, it's a little tricky. A strong password is good, but such a complex password is hardly needed on the hotspot that is running on the iPhone. Therefore, by clicking on it, the password can be changed. This is optional.
All we need is to connect to the Wi-Fi network distributed by the iPhone and use the Internet. You can connect laptops, smartphones, tablets (Android), and other equipment. For example, I connected a Windows 10 laptop.
Just enter the password that is set in the modem settings on the iPhone, and you're done.
IPhone (iPad) in tethering mode via USB cable
The next way that you will probably use is to use the iPhone in tethering mode, but not via Wi-Fi, but via a USB cable. The method is perfect for connecting computers to the Internet that do not have the ability to connect via Wi-Fi.
As I understand it, iTunes must be installed on the computer. I tried on the same Windows 10 computer where iTunes is not installed and the computer could not see my iPhone 6 and use it to connect to the internet. And on Windows 7, where there is iTunes, when you turned on the modem mode, another network connection appeared, through which the computer got access to the Internet.
I didn't launch iTunes. I just turned on the data transfer on the iPhone, and modem mode (as shown above), and connected the phone to the laptop.
The computer immediately appeared connected to the Internet.
Everything works very cool and stable. By the way, at the moment when the iPhone distributes the Internet via cable, you can still connect devices to it via Wi-Fi. The number of connected devices will be displayed at the top.
We distribute the Internet from iPhone via Bluetooth
As I wrote above, hardly anyone will use this method, but decided to write about it. The trick is that by turning on Bluetooth on the iPhone and activating the modem mode, we will be able to connect devices to the Internet via Bluetooth. I checked it on a laptop with Windows 10. The only condition is that your computer must have a Bluetooth module, and drivers must be installed on it (as a rule, Windows 10 installs them itself). If anything, you can take a look at the article: How to enable and configure Bluetooth on a laptop with Windows 10.
After starting the modem mode, go to the computer. Go to control panel, tab "Devices" - "Bluetooth". Our iPhone or iPad should appear in the list of available ones. Select it and click on the "Link" button.
On the iPhone, a request will appear to create a pair, click "Create a pair", and in Windows 10 we confirm the match of the code.
The connection will be established. Next, you need to use a bluetooth connection as an Internet connection. To do this, right-click on the Bluetooth icon in the notification bar and select "Show Bluetooth Devices".
Next, select our iPhone, select "Connect via" - "Access Point".
According to the idea, after these steps, the Internet on the computer should already work. But, for some reason, the sites did not open for me. I solved this problem by replacing the DNS addresses. Go to "Network Connections", right-click on the adapter "Bluetooth Network Connection", and select "Properties". Then, highlight the "IP version 4 (TCP / IPv4)" item, and click on the "Properties" button.
Register static DNS:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
Like the screenshot below.
After these steps, the Internet on my laptop worked. The iPhone began to act as a modem over a Bluetooth connection.
If the iPhone does not have a "Modem Mode" item
It is not uncommon to encounter a problem when there is no "Modem Mode" section in the settings on the iPhone or iPad. Then the question arises, how to distribute the Internet. In the comments, Maxim suggested a working solution. I decided to add it to the article.
Go to "Settings" - "Cellular" - "Data options" - "Cellular data network" and in the "Modem mode" section, in the APN field enter the word "internet"... But on condition that you have nothing specified there. In general, it seems to me that this is wrong. There should be data, depending on your operator. You can check them in operator support. As in my screenshot on the right:
After that, "Modem Mode" should appear in the settings of your iPhone.
If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. I will definitely answer!
