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Using a mobile phone as a network connection for a PC

Sensual Art

By Sensual Art, 1733944111

With my laptop, I can connect via Wi-Fi to the router, which gives me access to the internet over my cable connection.
If the cable connection is down for any reason, my laptop can use my phone (configured as a Wi-Fi hotspot) and still have internet connectivity.

My desktop has no Wi-Fi connection, so if the cable connection goes down I have no internet on it :(

Or do I?  Is there some way in which my phone and PC could connect (e.g. over USB) such that my PC can use the phone as a network and get internet that way?

Phone: Samsung S20/Android.  PC: Windows 10.  They can connect via USB cable for file sharing.

Spartacusimages said, 1733944674

Yes you can tether via USB and Bluetooth as well, I use Samsung and use it often, if you pc does not have Bluetooth you can get a dongle for less than a £5

You can share your Internet connection via USB as well

Edited by Spartacusimages

Sensual Art said, 1733944831

Spartacusimages said

Yes you can tether via USB and Bluetooth as well, I use Samsung and use it often, if you pc does not have Bluetooth you can get a dongle for less than a £5

You can share your Internet connection via USB as well

Can you be more specific as to how?

As in, what network settings am I looking for in Windows?

ANDY00 said, 1733945022

Buy a cheap usb WIFI DONGLE under £10 on amazon, share your phone hotspot :-) 

 

Edited by ANDY00

Spartacusimages said, 1733945050

ANDY00 what Andy says it's the easiest

Spartacusimages said, 1733945101

Sensual Art

Good link here

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9059108?hl=en

MidgePhoto said, 1733945183

It should Just Work with a Bluetooth dongle.

I don't have Windows though.

Huw said, 1733945398

Plug that into the PC:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Archer-T2U-Nano-Wireless-10-9-10-13/dp/B07LGSDBTF/ref=sr_1_3?


Sensual Art said, 1733945428

Spartacusimages said

Good link here

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9059108?hl=en

So basically I can't do it tonight using what I already have :(

Thanks anyway :)  I'll get a Wi-Fi dongle tomorrow.

Gothic Image said, 1733945552

Sensual Art said

Spartacusimages said

Good link here

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9059108?hl=en

So basically I can't do it tonight using what I already have :(

Thanks anyway :)  I'll get a Wi-Fi dongle tomorrow.


It should work with the USB cable if the 'phone supports it.

The Ghost said, 1733945669

Gothic Image said

Sensual Art said

Spartacusimages said

Good link here

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9059108?hl=en

So basically I can't do it tonight using what I already have :(

Thanks anyway :)  I'll get a Wi-Fi dongle tomorrow.


It should work with the USB cable if the 'phone supports it.


Exactly, the PC should just see the phone as a network interface when you plug it in. The same as an external WiFi dongle etc.

Edited by The Ghost

BridgeSHOOTS said, 1733945689

you could add a Discreet Wifi PCIE card too your desktop if you have a slot spare they run about £20 and would be  better connection than a USB hotspot

Sensual Art said, 1733945881

The Ghost said

Gothic Image said

Sensual Art said

Spartacusimages said

Good link here

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9059108?hl=en

So basically I can't do it tonight using what I already have :(

Thanks anyway :)  I'll get a Wi-Fi dongle tomorrow.

It should work with the USB cable if the 'phone supports it.

Exactly, the PC should just see the phone as a network interface when you plug it in. The same as an external WiFi dongle etc.

This is what I hoped, but there's nothing apparent on the phone to turn on USB tethering.

Edit: I take that back.  There was nothing when I tried looking through the expected route, but searching settings for "USB tethering" found it!

Edited by Sensual Art

Huw said, 1733945805

A modern Samsung may well work for tonight, using an USB cable.
Possibly others as well.

The WIFI USB dongle is a "fit it once and forget it" job.

Studio-SL19 said, 1734036210

Some firewalls (like Meraki) allow a mobile phone to tether to their USB port and use that as a backup connection.

That way all devices on the network can still access the internet incase WAN1 goes down.

CalmNudes said, 1734037021

With my fairly old iPhone you turn on the connection sharing and plug in via USB and the computer thinks you've plugged in a network dongle. 

I can't imagine its much harder with the an Android phone (if either has something better than the other it is copied fairly quickly).