Types of Tethering
Three types of tethering are common to most phones:
Wi-Fi sharing is easy and quick, supports sharing with multiple devices, and tends to drain the phone’s battery.Bluetooth is the slowest and allows sharing with one device at a time.A USB connection is faster, and the laptop simultaneously charges the smartphone.
How to Tether Your Phone
Connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot is the easiest, most convenient, and most commonly used option of the three types. Essentially, the phone creates a Wi-Fi network to which you connect your laptop in the usual way. Here’s how to set it up.
Using an App
If your carrier blocks tethering, try a third-party app. For example, PdaNet+ is a free mobile app with a companion desktop app that shares a smartphone connection over your choice of Bluetooth, USB, or Wi-Fi. Depending on your carrier, you might not be able to download the app directly, but the app maker offers a way around that. See the app’s Google Play listing for other possible restrictions.
Rooting Your Smartphone
Another method involves rooting your smartphone; free, unrestricted tethering is one of its many benefits. Rooting a phone could void the warranty or, if done incorrectly, render the phone unusable. In most cases, though, the good outweighs the bad. Once your smartphone is rooted, you’ll have no restrictions on apps (such as the Wi-Fi Tethering app from OpenGarden) that you can download.
Extra: Tethering Tips
Tethering is best in scenarios where an alternative secure connection is not available. When you’re finished tethering, be sure to turn it off in Settings. Turn off any connection you’re not actively using, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which will save battery life. Also, tethering uses data, so it’s best used for short periods if your plan doesn’t include unlimited data. If you need to tether your phone to your laptop’s data connection, check out our article on setting up a reverse tether.
