I have an iMac, connected to the Internet via Ethernet, and an iPhone 4. I would like to share the iMac's Internet connection to my iPhone via the USB Cable (because my wife dreams of a wifi-less household).
I've set up Internet Sharing, specifying "sharing from: Ethernet via: USB IPhone", but when I test, the iPhone cannot connect to the Internet. Is there something I need to activate on the iPhone?
iMac, mac os x version: Mountain Lion, 10.8.4 iPhone 4, IOS Version: 6.1
bmike♦
224k78 gold badges394 silver badges855 bronze badges
asked Apr 11, 2013 at 0:13
0
The method you described will share your Internet connection to your iPhone on recent Macs and iPhones. Specifically, on macOS Sierra, follow the instructions in the Apple Support Article, macOS Sierra: Share the Internet connection on your Mac but choose to share your Internet to computers using iPhone USB.
On your Mac, open System Preferences and click on Sharing.
Enable Internet Sharing by clicking the checkbox.
In the Share your connection from pop-up menu, select Ethernet (or Thunderbolt Ethernet on MacBooks using the Thunderbolt-Ethernet adapter).
In the To computers using list, select iPhone USB.
Nimesh Neema♦
47k17 gold badges135 silver badges190 bronze badges
answered May 22, 2017 at 13:43
SamuelSamuel
4664 silver badges5 bronze badges
4
This works on macOS 10.12 and iOS 10 without needing a jailbreak or other app.
Later macOS 10.13 enhanced this feature as part of asset caching and Apple Configurator 2 features for multiple iOS devices sharing the Mac network. This is out of the box support, built in to the OS with no extra first party apps or modifications needed.
Before iOS 10 and macOS 10.13, USB tethering only worked in one direction or for one device. Before macOS 10.12 - internet service used to flow out of iOS but not in to iOS from a Mac over USB.
answered Aug 29, 2013 at 11:38
bmike♦bmike
224k78 gold badges394 silver badges855 bronze badges
4
Before iOS 10, the only method that existed would be possible with a jailbroken device as Apple didn’t offer this feature before then.
bmike♦
224k78 gold badges394 silver badges855 bronze badges
answered Apr 11, 2013 at 0:38
BlakeBlake
1353 bronze badges
It is possible by using Apple's development tool what is usually used to intercept app's traffic, but it also do iPhone→Mac→Internet tethering.
Remote Packet Capture for iOS devices is about sniffing apps' traffic, but there is also easy step-by-step guide how to send traffic throught Mac. Just follow paragraphs between "Remote Virtual Interfaces" and "Using tcpdump" headers.
If command rvictl is missing in your computer, you probably need to install the command line tools included in Xcode.
Graham Miln
40.8k8 gold badges85 silver badges117 bronze badges
answered Mar 29, 2016 at 14:57
BobíkBobík
1811 silver badge6 bronze badges
2
I can share my MacBook Pro's (macOS Sierra) wi-fi internet connection to my iPhone SE (iOS 10.3.3) without trouble. There's no special setting on the iPhone. Just turn off wi-fi on the phone and it automatically connects to the internet via a USB->Lightning cable to the MacBook Pro.
I had no success with my old iPhone 4S, which could really benefit from internet sharing via USB because its wi-fi antenna periodically craps out, and I have to revive it with a hairdryer and freezer, which can be inconvenient, especially on the road.
Monomeeth♦
62.5k14 gold badges143 silver badges187 bronze badges
answered Sep 3, 2017 at 20:00
1
You used to be able to do Bluetooth PAN sharing to all iDevices. Now, it appears it works sporadically for iPad device only. Most iPhones are reported as not working. It was working at one point, and Genius Bar verified that it is no longer supported. Apple may view their icloud functionality as trumping and making computer-to-iDevice connections unnecessary.
answered Mar 23, 2014 at 19:40
NayNay
2802 silver badges6 bronze badges
you can also share IMac Ethernet to Ipad/Iphone over an addtional Ethernet cable, but it requires second Ethernet port /Ethernet Switch, a powered USB Hub and an additional Ethernet Adapter, plus a standard micro/usb cable, as shown here //www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKp02y4JXVs Not very elegant, but functional. Blutooth Tethering works also, but mainly with Ipads and Android Devices.
answered Dec 3, 2016 at 15:58
0
You may have to reboot your Mac. Share Ethernet via Wifi (do not tell your wife) When it works, the wifi icon on the Mac is a fan with an exclamation mark on it.
answered Nov 26, 2014 at 15:07
What you've described works for me (I'm sharing the Mac's Wi-Fi via USB iPhone). But it didn't work until I turned off both Wi-Fi and Mobile Data in my iPhone settings.
With Mobile Data turned off there's no indication in the top bar that anything is connected, but the internet is shared and works well!
This is using an M1 Macbook Air with macOS Big Sur, and iPhone 7 Plus with iOS 14.6.
grg♦
188k42 gold badges325 silver badges447 bronze badges
answered Jul 31, 2021 at 11:50
0
Yes you can share your ethernet, usb dongle internet with your iphone/ipad devices. Just came across this how-to: How to share a Wi-Fi connection from a Mac to an iPhone. Hope this helps for you and other folks who are facing this issue.
klanomath
64.4k9 gold badges124 silver badges193 bronze badges
answered Nov 18, 2015 at 4:10
1
You must log in to answer this question.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged
.