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)
314 Responses to “How to Share Internet Connection Between PC and Android Phone Using WiFi”
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im using android phone (galaxy 5) and i cant connect to our wifi at home. i can view the wifi name on my phone but when im trying to connect to the wifi it is already not in the range.pls help……..
I have sony ericsson W8.
My internet connection on laptop is proxied… Anybody who can make my laptop internet shared on my phone???
Successfully implemented on my galaxy s..internet works perfectly..
Hi, i m also using Galaxy S….but its not working for me…How do i get the ipv4 and what should be my desired ip address??? Plz Help….thanks !
I configured the devices correctly and I was able to connect my mobile to my computer WiFi. But the internet is not working. I’m not able to browse the internet. Any ideas? I’m using connectify
hey guys. im using connectify for an internet connection between my laptop and android xperia arc. it connects and works good but if I download anything more than 15mb then the connection stops working and I.have to restart my wifi. anybody knows why tat happens ???
how did u do it on xperia arc ??
Will u pls tell me.. pls..
Hi All
I wanted to use this software to share my internet connection over to Samsung Galaxy S. But samsung S is not able to pick up any server ?
Please help
HI im tryin to connect my pc browser from android to the pc via internet..is it possible??
nice trick thank you for sharing
even if you set static ip in virtual router directly change to dynamic (static ip is active but 192.168.137.1 is written in IPV4 address .. and in android if you touch the connection it shows us 192.168.137.xxx..thank u
Man, it worked out well on se w8, thank you!
Hi, I am using se w8 too. checked and re-checked all the steps. Got connected to Connectify on my laptop which is sharing the internet that i use on it. But for some reason, I am not able to surf the web on my phone. Any ideas as to why it is, and how to correct it? Thank you. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi baksh, the problem may caused by antivirus or firewall settings, take a look at this documentation:
http://support.connectify.me/forums/20181761-firewalls-antivirus-issues
Hope it helps you..
I configured the devices correctly and I was able to connect my mobile to my computer WiFi. But the internet is not working. I’m not able to browse the internet. Any ideas? I’m using connectify
same things to me using Samsung GS 2
please help
hey anil did you get a solution to this, even i am able to connect my samsung galaxy to wifi but am not able to connect to the internet on my phone
http://junefabrics.com/android/download.php
Use this….works great.
successfully implemented in Samsung galaxy ace… thanx
Hi Dhritika,
I am facing problem in connecting connectify to my Samsung Ace though followed every step as mentioned above.
I am using a data card in my win 7,succesfully connected with nokia E63 but G ace is not connecting,showing not in range,adhoc open. pls pls pls help me
Great instructions.. works perfectly well with my xperia neo. didnt have to do any settings manually though. every thing was automatic.
There is some confusion…What do you mean when you say enter desired ip address????
Its not working out for me…Plz help
Samsung Galaxy S
Thanks dude…working perfectly
Thanks dude….working perfectly in my galaxy ace
Used this guide today (2011-09-09) with Virtual Router, worked seamlessly without the need to set static IPs on either of the devices (no zeroconf either, both IPs under subnet 192.168.137.0/8)
Specs:
- ASUS A42F/K42F Notebook
- Windows 7 Home Basic
- Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (Built-in)
- Samsung Galaxy SII (GT-I9100); Android Gingerbread 2.3.3
Thanks for the instructions
You’re a life saver!
Hi Breno, you’re welcome and thanx for sharing the specs.
succesfully tested in ivio DE88. thank you
Worked perfectly on google htc nexus one using virtual router.
Many thanks to you.
It works perfectly on my devices:SAMSUNG GALAXY Fit and hp ProBook 4520s using virtual router. Thank you lorenz!
Whenever I tried connecting my android device with Connectify it would show “obtaining IP address” and disconnect.
Your solution has helped me to overcome this. I used the static IP and it worked for me.
Thanks a lot for the help
hi
i have i phone i want toknow how i will
get internet connection through to my
laptop
thanking u
raazik
Hi Razik, have u tried this tuto?
The virtual router is saying-:it cannot be started” !
Although i am able to connect both my Dell Inspiron 15R and my Samsung galaxy Fit.. i am not able to connect to the internet.
Help !!
Try the new version of Connectify..;)
How to Share Internet Connection Between PC and samsung Android Phone galaxy ace? if there any other way please tell me with details.
Have u tried connectify or virtual router as mentioned in this post?
i used the virtual router and it connects…. but i still cant browse the net… atatic IP all has been set as said…. using SE X8
Hello rao, try using latest version of connectify.
i tried using connectify too…. but fail… it shows connected but i still cannot browse
The problem may caused by antivirus or firewall settings, take a look at this documentation:
http://support.connectify.me/forums/20181761-firewalls-antivirus-issues
Hope it helps you..
sorry i meant static IP has been set…. pls help me to solve the prob… thanks guys
the connectivity worked on my Samsung galaxy 5 but virtual router did not. Thanks a lot.
Hi, I am a bit of a newbie at this and couldnt find where to get all the details. I installed Virtual Router but got ‘Virtual router could not be started’so I found this page:
http://chaihaoqiang.blogspot.com/2011/04/quick-to-virtual-router-could-not-be.html
That got Virtual Router to start and to show up on both the Galaxy S2 and PC’s Virtaul Router (Win7) but the PC says could not find Ip address. I could not all the info in your instructions – where do you get IP address etc etc. Thanks so much , cheers Graham
Hi Graham, i suggest you to install the latest version of Connectify, thats more updated than virtual router
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer and help me. I’m using a Galaxy S2 and Win 7 Asus 1015 netbook. Installed the latest version of Connectify and figured out all the settings using the Static IP (didnt work), then tried unticking Static Ip. It says connecting, then either goes to disconnecting or remembered. The Connectify hotspot seems to be running – it says ’stop hotspot’ so I guess it is running. Cheers, Graham
Have u tried to disable anti virus or firewall?
Want to connect Android mobile to laptop internet by USB cable
Hello,
Do you have any definitive reply about connecting your phone to internet through USB ?
My laptop is using a Wifi that needs USER and PASSWORD to login, and I cannot login on laptop and phone at the same time (only one user can be connected).
Thanks.
Nice! It worked on Samsung Galaxy S2 GT 9100 and Dell Inspiron 1464 laptop with Windows 7 32-bit, pppoe dial-up internet connection, Virtual router.
hi
i followed your tutorial and my Samsasung galaxy s2 connected to my laptop.
But i dont have internet on my phone. i mean , the connection is there but my phone cant go into the internet.
Please help!
Hi, make sure you have selected the right internet connection and try to enable/disable wifi connection on the phone.
Hi all,
Im using xperia arc and i successfully connected to the wifi but it seems like the line is a bit weird where i cant load a thing in my smartphone. Why is that anyone please help.
hey, i am connecting to broadband connection through modem.everytime i install connectify me i get error 651,do u have any solution for this.by this i cant use internet to my android phone ?
Hi, you may take a look at this post, hope it helps you..
http://ghost301tech.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/error-651-in-windows-7-a-killer-for-internet-connectionvpn/
works great, thanks for sharing
i tried using connectify too…. but fail… it shows connected but i still cannot browse
its not working for me i have a samsung gt_i5700 galaxy
DO i have to have WIFI connection?
You have to have wifi card to allow connectify to work..
Hi,
I installed virtual router manager. I am unable to find the connection names in drop down field “Shared Connection:”. Can anyone please advice?
I have tried the tutorial using both software’s but could not succeed. My mobile is LG optimus P500.
In “Virtual Router” case the mobile is connecting but when i browse the internet it is saying “could not connect,check ur network settings”.
In “Connectify” case ,in the networks it is showing “No network access” .
Please help me
Do you have antivirus or firewall ? If yes, try to disable them and try to connect..
ive downloaded the latest version of connectify, but my htc desire z still didnt connect to the connectify hotspot. so i set everything according to the tutorial. now it keeps say obtaining ip address and then it disconnects and this happens over and over again, plz help
thanx.. a lot..
its working on my xperia mini….
Hi magesh, that’s great. Maybe you can share what you’ve done with others here, so many people having problem with connectifiy and xperia (and other device also)..
Maghesh i hav the same handset xperia mini..and i connect my lappy with my phone throgh connectify bt unable to browse the internet..plzz help me
ive tried my newly bought xperia x8 with connectify but it connects for like 5 minutes, i can go onto android market and start doenloading, but then it disconnects, then after a minute or three it connects again and then disconnects.i read on forums tht either the x8 wifi has a prob or its xperia. ive tried installing virtual router but it starts them immediately stops till i start it again.
connectify works great on my ipod and ps3 so i dont know what the prob is. could it be the android version 2.1 causing the issues?
when i install Connectify it block my broadband connect using local area connection and causing error 651.
plzz help
thx. simply Excellent …
set up nicely phone running off my wifi spot thanks
hey lorenz
i am using tinona lan connection to my win 7 laptop i have tried connectify but didnt connect then i used virtual router it connected to my samsung galaxy s2 but and i also did the sharing on my pc lan connection then the wireless 2 connection which is the virtual connection in mysystem showed internet access but my phone does not connect to internet plz help .. one more confusing mattter is when i clicked the details of wireless connection 2 it shows two ip4 addresses one showing 192.168.141.xxx and the oter showing 192.168.137.xxx this second one is also shown in my phone… i even tried static ip as said above but to no avail plz help desperate to connect my phone as tru wifi as there is no reverse usb tethering on sgs2 .. thanks in advance
Do you have firewall or antivirus run? Try to disable them and see what happen.
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
finally 30 days i spent behind it and all that was needed was to disable my firewall. how stupid of me..’
thank u lorenz it worked..
for others
just for info
i am using sgs2
and win 7 on pc
tikona isp
virtual router manager worked like charm.
no setting needed no need for static ip let ur phone connect it thru automatic ip
.also dont forget to switch on ur sharing option on ur lan connection
i have window xp-2 OS.and internet using by high speed data card.i want to share this internet connection with my smartphone via wi-fi.please give me solution of it.
The solution in this tutorial only work for Windows 7, i have no idea on XP.
I see the Win7 solution everywhere (as Win 7 natively supports it), however I’d still like to make an access point from my older Dell laptop running Win XP SP3.
Hi, is there any solution for Windows XP SP3 or similar?
I have samsung galaxy fit and acer aspire one laptop. my phone connects to WiFi using connectify 3.1 . it shows excellent strength and all but inspite of this the net is not working no site is loading whats the problem?
when i use virtual router it says “Virtual router could not be started!”
Do you have antivirus or firewall running? Try to disable them.
hi soham
i had similar problem previously.
but now my connection is working what i discovered is connectify needs a lot of tweeking but virtual router has no configuring just install and vala it works with the above mentioned steps. abut virtual souter not staring i had this problem also just re install it it will work. also disable ur firewall or this option worked for me just go to firewall settings in ur antivirus or firewall and click allow net sharing, this is in addition to the the net sharing u would do in the lan adapter settings.