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How to share Wi-Fi. How to distribute mobile Internet from an Android phone via Wi-Fi

The Internet has penetrated almost everywhere - even in small provincial towns it is not a problem to find free Wi-Fi access points. However, there are still places where progress has not yet reached. Of course, you can use mobile data, but this is not an option for a laptop, much less a desktop PC. Fortunately, modern phones and tablets running Android can distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi. Today we will tell you how to enable this feature.

Please note that Internet sharing via Wi-Fi is not available on some firmware versions of Android 7 and higher due to software features and/or restrictions on the part of the operator cellular communications!

In order to distribute the Internet from your phone, you can use several options. Let's start with applications that provide this option, and then look at the standard features.

Method 1: PDANet+

A well-known application for sharing the Internet with mobile devices, presented in the Android version. It can also solve the problem of Wi-Fi distribution.

There are options in the application "Wi-Fi Direct Hotspot" And "Wi-Fi Hotspot (FoxFi)".

The second option is implemented through a separate application, which does not even require PDANet itself, so if you are interested in it, see Method 2. Option with "Wi-Fi Direct Hotspot" will be discussed in this way.
Download and install the client program on your PC.
After installation, launch it. After making sure that the client is running, move on to the next step.
Open PDANet+ on your phone and check the box next to it "Wi-Fi Direct Hotspot".

Once the hotspot is turned on, you will be able to view the password and network name (SSID) in the area marked in the screenshot above (note the hotspot's activity timer is limited to 10 minutes).

Option "Change WiFi Name/Password" will allow you to change the name and password of the created point.
After these manipulations, we return to the computer and the client application. It will be minimized to the taskbar and look like this.

Single-click on it to get a menu. You should click on it "Connect WiFi...".

The Connection Wizard dialog box appears. Wait for it to detect the point you created.

Select this point, enter the password and press "Connect WiFi".
Wait for the connection to occur.

When the window automatically closes, it will indicate that you are connected to the network.

The method is simple, and also gives almost one hundred percent results. Its downside is the lack of Russian language both in the main application for Android and in the client for Windows. In addition, the free version of the application has a connection time limit - when it expires, Wi-Fi hotspot will have to be created again.

Method 2: FoxFi

In the past - a component of the above-mentioned PDANet+, as indicated by the option "Wi-Fi Hotspot (FoxFi)", which can be clicked on in PDANet+ to take you to the FoxFi download page.

This method is terribly simple, and yet it has disadvantages - this application, like PDANet, does not have Russian localization. In addition, some cellular operators do not allow the use of traffic in this way, which is why the Internet may not work. In addition, FoxFi, like PDANet, is characterized by a limit on the time the point can be used.

There are also other applications for distributing the Internet via Wi-Fi from a phone, but for the most part they work on the same principle as FoxFi, using almost identical names of buttons and elements.

Method 3: System Tools

In order to distribute the Internet from your phone, in some cases you don’t have to install separate software, since this feature is present in the built-in functionality of Android. Please note that the location and name of the options described below may vary depending on your different models and firmware options.

Go to "Settings" and find the option in the network connection settings group "Modem and access point".

On other devices this option may be located along the path "System"—"More"—"Hot spot", or "Networks"—"Shared modem and networks"—"Dot Wi-Fi access» .

We are interested in the option "Mobile hotspot". Tap on it 1 time.

On other devices it may be called as "Wi-Fi hotspot", “Create a Wi-Fi hotspot”, etc. Read the help, then use the switch.

In the warning dialog, click "Yes".

If you do not have this option, or it is inactive, most likely your version of Android does not support wireless Internet distribution.
The phone will go into mode mobile router Wi-Fi. A notification will appear in the status bar.

In the access point management window, you can view short instructions and also become familiar with the network identifier (SSID) and password for connecting to it.
Important note: Most phones allow you to change both the SSID and password, as well as the encryption type. However, some manufacturers (for example, Samsung) do not allow this to be done using standard means. Also note that the default password changes every time you turn on the access point.
The option for connecting a computer to such a mobile access point is completely identical to the method with FoxFi. When you no longer need router mode, you can disable Internet distribution from your phone by simply moving the slider in the menu "Modem and access point"(or its corresponding analogue in your specific device).

This method can be called optimal for users who, for some reason, cannot or simply do not want to install on their device separate application. The disadvantages of this option are the operator restrictions mentioned in the FoxFi method.

As you can see, nothing complicated. Finally, a small life hack - don’t rush to throw away or sell your old Android smartphone or tablet: using one of the methods described above, you can turn it into a portable router.

Any modern phone can distribute the Internet to other devices using a Wi-Fi access point. This requires minimal effort from the user. You just need to go to the settings and enable the appropriate function. In this article we will talk about how this is done on phones with the operating system Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

How to share Wi-Fi from an Android phone

In order to distribute Wi-Fi from a phone based on the Android operating system, you need to open the phone settings and go to the “Other networks” section. If you cannot find a settings section with this name, it means that this section is called differently on your phone. In order to find the desired section, pay attention to the sections that are located immediately after “Wi-Fi” and “Bluetooth”.

Next, open the “Modem and access point” section. If there is no section with exactly the same name, then look at sections with similar names. The section you need may be called “Modem Mode”, “Connecting an Access Point”, “Modem” or simply “Access Point”.

After this, a warning may appear on the screen about enabling the access point and disabling Wi-Fi. If such a warning appears, then click on the “Yes” button to continue.

That's it, the access point has been created and your phone is already distributing Wi-Fi. But in order to connect to it you need to know at least the password. To do this, open the “Mobile access point” settings section (it is located next to the switch).

As a result, a window should open with information about the created access point. Here you can see the name of the access point and the password for connecting to it.

How to share Wi-Fi from iPhone

If you have an iPhone, then in order to distribute Wi-Fi you need to open the settings and go to the “Modem Mode” section. If you don’t have such a settings section, then most likely you need to enable and configure mobile internet.

After you get to the “Modem Mode” settings section, you need to activate this mode. To do this, move the switch to the “On” position.

In the same settings section, the name of the Wi-Fi access point and the password for connecting to it will be displayed.

Distributing WiFi from a phone based on Windows Phone 8

On phones with the Windows Phone 8 operating system, you can also distribute WiFi. To do this, you need to open your phone settings and go to the “Internet Sharing” section.

After this, the phone will automatically start distributing WiFi. The name of the access point and the password for connecting to it will be displayed in the same settings section.

Constantly improving the quality of coverage of 3G and 4G networks allows you to comfortably watch videos and quickly load pages not only on the screen of a smartphone or tablet, but also on a laptop or phone. This is convenient, allowing you to get rid of Wi-Fi networks, and the unlimited or conditionally unlimited traffic offered by operators tariff plans Often they allow you to completely abandon the landline Internet. At the same time it remains topical issue distribution to a laptop or your personal computer, which can be solved quite quickly by switching the Android phone to modem mode. This will ensure quality and convenient internet on the road, in a park, in a cafe or other establishment, allowing you to solve some work issues or just have a good rest. This option is very convenient for students, leaders and managers, allowing them to use time more efficiently.

How to enable WiFi distribution on Android

Most modern smartphones or tablets work under this mobile system. The OS shell may differ slightly depending on the brand of the gadget, but the principle of operation is similar, so it is enough to consider setting up the distribution of Internet access using a Samsung phone. To do this, follow these steps:

Go to your phone's settings and click on the " Network connections", where the "Other networks" or "More" section is located.
Open the “Modem and Access Point” menu (it may also be called “Modem Mode”) and launch “Portable Access Point”, confirming the action if necessary. Please note that at this moment the smartphone or tablet’s access to the Internet via Wi-Fi is disabled, since the adapter starts working in router mode, so pay attention to this if you have limited mobile traffic.

How to connect to a Wi-Fi network distributed from Android

By default, a smartphone or tablet distributes the Internet on a network called AndroidAP. To connect on a laptop or other gadget, simply select it and enter the password, which can be seen in the network settings. At the same time, in places with large crowds of people, several Android gadgets distributing the Internet can be active at the same time. To make identification easier, we recommend renaming the name of the wireless network and entering a new password in advance. By default, it is generated automatically and is very difficult to remember, which is logical, given the security issues, but you can set your own, which will be easier to remember and pass it on to your loved ones.

After successfully connecting to the network, the screen Android smartphone, from which the Internet is distributed, a message about this will appear. If this happened unauthorized, then simply turn off the modem mode or mobile transmission data, enable Wi-Fi access on your smartphone. In this case, access is automatically terminated and the outsider loses connection. You also need to change the active password in the settings, which will also need to be adjusted on your computer, laptop or other terminal device.

What to do if your PC or laptop can't connect via Wi-Fi

If the end device that you want to connect to the Internet via a phone with the Android operating system does not have an adapter for accessing a wireless network, then the above instructions are meaningless. As a rule, we are talking about personal computers connected to the Internet using a wire, and laptops with a faulty adapter. In this case, there are two options to solve the problem:

installation of an external adapter, after connecting which the above instructions are followed (it easily connects to a standard connector and does not take up much space);
using a different type of connection.

Android OS includes alternative tools for connecting with other devices. We are talking about a Bluetooth modem and a USB modem. In the first case, an appropriate adapter is required on the terminal device, after installing which it is enough to follow the instructions mentioned above.

If you want to share the Internet via Bluetooth, then perform the following operations:

activate mobile internet on your Android if necessary;
open the settings and go to the “Other networks” or “More” section;
In the “Modem mode” item, select the “Bluetooth modem” item.

Now all that remains is to connect both devices by searching and adding a new device via Bluetooth. To do this, make your smartphone “visible” and activate the discovery process from your personal computer. Once completed, a passcode will appear on the phone screen and you will be prompted to pair. Then all you have to do is go to the “Devices and Printers” settings on your computer, where you can right-click on the phone icon and activate the connection via an access point. If everything is in order, then you will have access to the Internet, but its speed will be low and highly dependent on the distance of both devices from each other.

A more profitable alternative would be to connect the Internet via USB, since this option guarantees more high speed access to the World Wide Web. To connect using this method, do the following:

activate mobile data transfer on your phone;
in the network settings, activate the “USB modem” mode;
connect your phone to your PC or laptop via USB;
in the settings on your PC (laptop), find the connection by local network and launch it by right-clicking.

Instead of a conclusion

Of the above methods of distributing the Internet with mobile phone The most convenient way is to use the Wi-Fi mode. It provides the following benefits:

high access speed;
the ability to simultaneously connect several users to a smartphone.

In parallel, Wi-Fi, due to its sufficiently large coverage area, allows you to choose the optimal place in an apartment or house where the mobile signal will be maximum, and this necessary condition for comfortable access to the Internet due to good speed. IN country houses It is additionally recommended to install repeaters, which will amplify the signal throughout the room and will be very inexpensive.

Android has built-in tools for distributing mobile traffic via a Wi-Fi adapter. Setting them up is easy, so you don't need any special skills or apps to share Wi-Fi from an Android phone or Android tablet.

Setting up modem mode

If you know how to distribute the Internet from a PC to Android, you will quickly understand the technology that makes it possible to distribute the Internet from Android to other devices. In the case of a computer, a router is used to which a cable is connected. After a short setup, the router begins to distribute Wi-Fi indoors, so that a laptop, personal computer (with a wireless adapter), tablet and phone can access the Internet without a wired connection.

In the case of distributing the Internet from a tablet or Android phone, a router is not needed. Its functions are performed by a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, which, after turning on the modem mode, begins to send mobile traffic. To understand how to distribute WiFi from Android to a laptop and other devices, let's look at how to enable modem mode using the TouchWiz shell from Samsung as an example:

Please note: when tethering mode is enabled, the smartphone cannot use Wi-Fi to access the Internet. The adapter begins to work as a router, and access to the network can only be obtained through mobile traffic. After turning on mobile traffic, you can assume that the Wi-Fi network is distributed throughout the room. from any device with a Wi-Fi adapter (tablet, laptop, PC):

In the settings of the phone from which Wi-Fi is distributed, a notification will appear indicating who is connected to the network. If you see that another device that you did not connect yourself is using the point, block access for it and change the password in the network settings. To stop distributing traffic, just turn off modem mode or turn off mobile Internet on your phone.

Other ways to distribute mobile traffic

Information on how to distribute Wi-Fi from an Android phone will not help only if the other device does not have a wireless network adapter. This primarily applies to PCs, which are usually connected to the router via a wired connection. This drawback can be eliminated in two ways:

Buy an external adapter, and then the information on how to distribute WiFi will become relevant again.
Use a different connection type.

The second method is supported by the fact that in the Android settings there is necessary tools to establish a different type of connection - Bluetooth modem and UBS modem. When using the first technology, you need to have a Bluetooth adapter on your PC, and to operate a USB modem you only need a cable and a free USB port.

There are no significant differences in setting up the connection from Wi-Fi distribution. To establish a connection via Bluetooth:

Turn on mobile internet on your phone.
Open settings, go to the “More” section (“Other networks”).
Select "Modem Mode". Click on the “Bluetooth modem” item.

To connect to the Internet on a PC, you need to enable searching and adding a new device via Bluetooth. When the phone is found, a window with an 8-digit access code will appear on the screen, and Android OS will prompt you to pair the devices. After pairing, open the “Devices and Printers” settings section on your computer, right-click on the phone icon and select connection via an access point.

Bluetooth modem shows the most low speed data transfer, so it is recommended to use a USB connection instead.

Enable mobile traffic on Android.
Go to the network settings and select the “USB modem” mode.
Go to the control panel and find the local network connection in the list of connections. Right-click on it and select Enable.

A modern telephone can perform a lot of different functions, thereby replacing large number other devices. For example, a phone can replace a Wi-Fi hotspot. To do this, you just need to set up Wi-Fi distribution from your phone to other devices.

How to share Wi-Fi from an Android phone

In order for you to open Android settings. This can be done by launching the Settings app from the list of all installed applications. You can also open settings using the top curtain or desktop icon.

After opening the settings, you need to go to the “Other networks” section. It should be noted that on your phone this section may have a slightly different name. If you cannot find this section, look through all the settings sections that are located next to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

Next, open the subsection called “Modem and access point.” Again, the name of this section may be slightly different on your device. It may be called “Modem”, “Modem Mode”, “Access Point Connection” or simply “Access Point”.

After this, you must activate the Portable Hotspot feature. To do this, move the switch to the “On” position.

Once your portable hotspot is activated, you will see a pop-up warning you to turn off Wi-Fi. In this window, click on the “Yes” button.

At this point, the setup is complete, now your phone distributes Wi-Fi. All you have to do is look at the password to access the Wi-Fi network created by your phone. To do this, open the “Portable Access Point” section.

After this, a window with information about the access point will open in front of you. Here you can view and change the access point name and password.

How to distribute Wi-Fi from an iOS phone

If you have an iPhone, then in order to set up Wi-Fi distribution you need to go into the settings and open the “Modem Mode” section. If this section is missing, this may mean that mobile Internet is not turned on or not configured on your phone.