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How to tether your Android phone to a computer
July 01, 2025
In an ordinary world where we can freely work outside of our homes, a reliable internet connection is necessary. The ability to open a hotspot and work on the go is second to none. It used to involve complicated cables and special apps, but those days are behind us. Now, you just need a phone, computer, and a charging cable. Here are a few easy ways to tether your Android phone to your Windows computer.
See also:The best mobile hotspot plans right now
Of course, you’ll need access to data to make this work. Whether that means a wired connection or setting up a hotspot, there’s a good chance that you already have plenty of data. Now, we’ll run you through three of the most common ways to tether your phone and computer. Ready to get connected? Let’s go.
Tether via USB
The fastest way to connect your computer to the internet is with a USB tether. It’s also the only method that requires extra hardware — but it’s only your phone’s charging cable. Simply connect your phone to your computer to get started.
Tether over Wi-Fi
All Android devices feature a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, which is probably the simplest way to share your internet access. Unfortunately, some carriers block this feature if you’re not paying for a hotspot plan. You can always root your device or upgrade to a more expensive plan as a workaround, though. Here are the steps you need to activate your Wi-Fi tether:
See also:How to set up a mobile hotspot on Android
Tether with Bluetooth
One last way to tether your computer to your Android device is with Bluetooth. Sure, you have to take the extra step of pairing the two, but we connect new Bluetooth devices all the time. The steps aren’t much more demanding, so here’s what you need to know:
That’s all it takes! You should be able to jump through the hoops on any of these three methods in just a few minutes to get yourself onto the internet.
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