How to Share Internet Connection Between PC and Android Phone Using WiFi
WiFi Ad-Hoc Networking is a popular method to share internet connection between computers (pc or laptop) or between a computer and a smartphone that has built in WiFi. Unfortunately, this method of networking is not supported by Android since it was released until the time of this writting. One of the popular method to enable ad hoc mode on Android devices is by changing a WiFi configuration file located on /system/etc directory called tiwlan.ini. But this method is specific to phone’s WiFi chipset and you need root access to change the file. The tiwlan.ini is a configuration file for Texas Instruments WiFi chipset (e.g HTC dream) so you will not find it on Samsung Spica that use Broadcom WiFi chipset.
Another alternative method is by using a software based virtual access point that using Windows 7’s Wireless Hosted Network technology. This method only runs on Windows 7 and hardware specific. Currently i found two best virtual access point softwares, Virtual Router and Connectify. They both operate in the same maner and very easy to use. I have tested both of them to share internet connection from my PC that used Sierra Wireless USBConnect 881 modem for internet access and an external TP-Link TL-WN31G Wireless USB adapter with my Samsung Spica.
Here is the guide on how to use virtual router and connectify
On Windows 7 Box:
- Download and install Virtual Router or Connectify, you can try one of them. They are hardware specific so read the documentation on their websites about the supported WiFi devices.
- Fill in the settings panel with your prefered WiFi name, password and internet connection to share
- Click start button to start sharing
- On your Wireless Connection Status, click Details to get the network connection information, note the IPV4 Address
Virtual Router
Connectify
On Android Device
- Go to Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Wi-Fi Settings
- Open Advance settings menu
- Tick the Use static IP option
- Enter your desired IP address (ex: 192.168.2.2) into Ip Address field
- Enter your IPV4 Address (ex. 192.168.2.1) into Gateway field
- Enter 255.255.255.0 into Netmask field
- Enter your internet connection’s DNS server (use ipconfig /all command to get DNS info) into DNS 1 and DNS 2. As an alternative, you can use Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
- Connect to Wi-Fi using your password
- Disable and Enable Wi-Fi (in case if it won’t connect)
- Check the connection using browser or other application.
Wifi Static IP Setting
Android Wi-Fi
Update:
Latest version of Connectify uses dhcp so it is unnecessary to use static ip on Android.
If you have trouble while using Virtual Router or Connectify, please check if your wifi card is supported or read the documentation or disccussion on their support page.
Supported devices: Virtual Router | Connectify
Documentation and support: Virtual Router | Connectify
Troubleshooting:
If you can’t connect to internet though the client already connected to the hotspot (connectify or virt.router), these are the possible solutions:
- Try to disable antivirus or firewall
- Try to stop and start the hotspot
- Try to kill the hotspot process using task manager and restart the hotspot
- Try to disable and enable wifi on Android
- Check if your wifi card supported by the hotspot (check the reference sites above)
291 Responses to “How to Share Internet Connection Between PC and Android Phone Using WiFi”
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Works flawlessly. Thank you!
how to connect internet from laptop to android samsung phone..Pls reply me..mail me a.gideondaniel@gmail.com
thanks in advance!!
hey when i click on start virtual router it says cant start virtual connection…
please help
I am trying to connect Dell Inspiron with Samsung Galaxy Fit thru Virtual Router and it got connected. But i am not able to use internet. Anyone has solution for this?
Hi Myth, please check the updated troubleshooting section on the post above..
Fantastic!! Connected first shot from my laptop to Galaxy S2 and ipod touch.
Thanks a ton.
I am trying to connect Dell Inspiron with Samsung Galaxy Fit thru Virtual Router and it got successfully connected but i am not able to use internet. Anyone has solution for this?
hi myth,
just do one more try by downloading a software called “internet connection manager” from samsung website…. compatible to GP-c3303….which is also compatible for samsung galaxy fit. then install it n u will b able to use internet. i hope this will solve ur problem..
turn on your wifi
wifi of ur laptop n then try again
I am trying to do reverse tethering. Windows 7 on notebook, tried connectify w/o success because free version doesn’t support mobile broadband, successfully using both virtual router online setup and mhotspot. However, I only managed to sync emails, logon to fring, skype, gtalk, etc, but cannot surf internet using browsers. What’s the issue and how to remedy?
Was trying to use static IP but can’t enter the DNS shown, which are:
fec0:0:0:ffff::1%2
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%2
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%2
Thanks!!! Exactly what I was looking for!!! Works great!!!
Thanx Q so much!!
Kudos!
Connectify is very good. Two minutes and connection was made in my dell laptop and samsung galaxy ace has now wifi connection. Super good info!!!
my samsung galaxy tab does not have “use static ip address” button.please help. my tab is wifi only and it is useless without an ad-hoc connection from my laptop. additionally my internet connection comes through proxy and i think there are more problems to come in future.
thanks
[...] after some three hours wandering around the internet I came across this brilliant guide for setting up android connecting to my wifi. it linked to Virtual Router, which i now use instead [...]
Hi. Im really interested in using my computer’s internet for my android phone.. First tried Virtual Router Manager, but when I click “Start Virtual Router”, I would get a message “Virtual Router Could Not Be Started”. So I tried Connectify, but it only crashes my comp when I try to click start.
Why won’t atleast Virtual R.M. start? 
Hi,
I used connecitfy to connect the wifi to my android 2.3 device. The phone displays the wifi network but could not connect with it.
I used your tip of static ip also but it is not useful.
However, I successfully connected my other lap top with the connectify wifi hot spot.
Can you please help me on this.. is there any software we can load to the android phone to detect the correct ip address to connect with the adhoc network.
the best work great for my laptop and android phone.. keep it up dude! =)
Thanks!!!!
I like the most…
its working great…
Great..
YES THIS IS WORKING THANKS BUDDY .
how to connect with dell inspiron using wifi with samsung galaxy in windows vista OS …
please reply
Connectify only works on Windows 7
I M UNABLE to install microsoft.net file please help
hi,
Is there any softwere to use for windows xp to share the internet from pc to android phone.
Hello buddy!!!
I have did all the steps as like you. but nothing turns positive result.I have a doubt. Can i use DNS 1 as 8.8.8.8 & DNS 2 as 8.8.4.4 as default? or should i enter both DNS value as in cmd.
After all filling up the “use static ip” tab i just turn on my wifi and clicked start hotspot.. wifi is always saying scanning scanning scanning .. nothing happens.. for a second it says successful and next second it says disconnected.. Please help me I’m not so good in computer stuff. i beg u pls help i want to succeed
Thank u
Hi Rooney, try to disable firewall or antivirus.
works like charm , Thank You.
Wonderful….!
Hi lorenz,
I’m using Windows Mobile 6.5 as router for a Android Tablet. If Connectify works only in Win7, do you know another method to do this?
Thanks
Currently only windows 7 support portable hotspot, i don’t know if there is another method to do that.
Thanks…. it works
Thanks! I thought it was much more complicated. Any Linux version?
Thank you very much
that way is done easy
thank you very much
this way is done easily
sir
in the second time when i was trying to start virtual router s/w this message is appeared (virtual router could not be started)
so what can i do?
Sir,
My android 2.3 gingerbread it’s only connected at the first…..,,,
what the solutions ????
hi..i did all you said but nothing..i can connect on connectify full wireless signal but the network on the wont work.
Hi,
Can you help me fix my problem? I want to set a Wifi connection on my laptop so I can use the wifi connection on my Samsung Galaxy Y. Please help me.. Could send your answer to my email address? Thank you!
Hi, I did all the steps and some configuration on to make Virtual Router work. I am able to connect my Tablet with Android 2.2 successfully, but not able to access the internet on my tablet. can you please help to resolve?
Thanks in advance,
Hi, try to disable any antivirus or firewall.
Hey,
Can you help me to know, if i want to run internet in my lappy with the help of phone(Galaxy Ace)?
Please hep
help when i click start virtual router…it said virtual router could not start …when i disable firewall virtual router keep crashing…and making it worse…i am using window 7 home premium 64 bit build 76100 sp 1 i am using XPERIA X8 ..Thank you in advance
how 2 connect peer ??
how 2 connect the peer ??
Hey buddy, Thanks for help. Nice job…
yest this is working gr88888 thnx buddy
Thanks, works perfectly.
For the guys who can’t start virtual router, try simply restarting, atleast that worked for me.
Also, don’t know why but I didn’t have to configure my android phone at all to get this to work =)
i try many time not work , andriod not see my wifi
that i host from pc
i want to connect with wire lan connection from my pc to my samsung galaxy fit.
is it possible?? if possible how???
Thanx. Works perfectly with Galaxy Gio, no need for static IP or any other settings on mobile. Just remember to turn wifi adapter on..!
Hi
It is working fine, thanks alot.
i install connectify and it shared my smart bro internet but my samsung galaxy y gt-s5360 cant locate the network. somebody please help me….
it works on my compaq~galaxy wonder
man..you are the best!!!
hi i am from s. korea, i used virtual router and i got successfully connected with wifi but there was no internet connection. i am using sky mobile set with android O.S. can you please help me out i did try every steps mentioned above,