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Reverse Tethering

Nate Weiner - Posted in What I've Learned, , Comments (2)

picture-60During my trip to Japan, I only had access to hard LAN connections (no WIFI). This meant that I could not connect my iPhone without using the expensive data connection.

That was until I realized I could use my laptop to setup reverse tethering.  Meaning, I could use laptop’s internet connection through my iPhone.

The process could not be easier (on a Mac):

  1. Make sure Airport (wireless) is turned on
  2. Open System Preferences
  3. Select Sharing under Internet Settings
  4. Check the Internet Sharing box
  5. Select ‘Share your connection from:’ Airport
  6. Open your phone and connect to the new wireless network!

What I’d like to know is if it’s possible to secure the network with a password.

I know this is also possible on a PC, but do not have the instructions for it here.

What Next?

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Comments (2)


  1. [...] While in Japan I stayed at both a friend’s house and for a few days, a hotel.  At both locations, no wireless was provided, but instead a hard LAN connection.  This meant that I was still unable to use my iPhone without cracking open the data connection.  But with a laptop, I discovered that you can use it has a router to create your own wireless network from the hard line and use that to connect your phone!  I wrote a separate post on how to set that up here: Reverse Teathering [...]

    August 28th, 2009 the Idea Shower » » 4 Earthquakes, 1 Tsunami, My Laptop, and Me: Two weeks from Japan

  2. I have also tried, and failed, to reverse tether my mac’s bluetooth connection. Only to allow my old bluetooth mobile phone access to the web through the mac’s network connection. Same thing you are doing here but not wifi.

    June 12th, 2010 carride

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