To share a wireless connection with a wired computer, the direct method is to use USB tethering from a phone, not a router. This lets you share your phone's mobile internet connection with a desktop or laptop that lacks Wi-Fi by connecting them with a USB cable.
Share wireless connection with wired computer via iPhone USB
Apple documents Personal Hotspot for sharing an iPhone or iPad's cellular connection with a computer over USB. Apple's support pages apply to iPhone or iPad Personal Hotspot and to a Mac using USB or Instant Hotspot.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot (or Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot) and turn on the hotspot. Apple documents the Allow Others to Join control for Personal Hotspot on iPhone.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer using the USB cable that came with the device. Apple's Personal Hotspot support page says to use the cable that came with the device.
- If the "Trust This Computer?" alert appears on your iPhone, tap Trust.
Your computer should now have internet access through the iPhone's cellular data connection.
Share internet from an Android phone using USB tethering
Google documents that most Android phones can share mobile data by USB tethering. This is the documented route for connecting a wired computer. Google's help page says Android phones can share mobile data by Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, or USB from the hotspot/tethering settings. Google's support page applies to most Android phones.
- Connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Open the hotspot and tethering settings on your phone. The exact menu path varies by device, but look for USB tethering under network or connection settings.
- Enable USB tethering.
Your computer should now be using the phone's mobile data connection.
Use Instant Hotspot with a Mac
Apple also documents Instant Hotspot, a wireless method for sharing from an iPhone or iPad to a Mac without a cable. Then on your Mac, choose the iPhone or iPad from the Wi-Fi menu bar. This method does not require a USB cable, but it still shares the phone's cellular connection directly to the computer.
What you don't need: a wireless router
The documented phone-to-computer methods described here, USB tethering and Instant Hotspot, do not require a wireless router or modem. The phone itself provides the internet connection directly to the computer. This eliminates the need for setting up wireless connections through additional networking hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an iPhone share internet with a wired computer?
Yes. Apple documents USB Personal Hotspot, which lets you connect an iPhone or iPad to a computer using a USB cable for internet access.
Can an Android phone share internet with a wired computer?
Yes. Google documents USB tethering on most Android phones as a way to share mobile data with a computer over a USB cable.
Is a wireless router required?
No. The official phone support pages document direct tethering from the phone to the computer, without any router or modem in between.
