How to enable Ethernet on S7 ?

[JEAM]

Hi, this is my first post here.

A couple of months ago I purchased a Galaxy S7 (model # SM-G930U, Android version 6.0.1) and I'm loving it. However, starting last week I've been getting notifications about software updates being available, and even though I have ample mobile data, it seems to be impossible to download the updates that way, it keeps asking to do it via WiFi.

The problem is that the wife is extremely concerned about possible long-term health issues related to wireless signals, and I would like to keep the peace by doing the updates either by mobile data or by Ethernet. (I'd rather not go to some random WiFi network at a store.)

So the S7 has an Ethernet option in Settings --> More connection settings, but the option is grayed out. I bought a MiniUSB-to-Ethernet adapter to see if that made it light up, but there was no change.

Samsung's manual for the G930U makes it sound like doing Ethernet is the easiest thing in the world:

But the problem is that there ARE no prompts, the Ethernet option is grayed out and tapping it has no effect other than making the tapping sound.

How to enable Ethernet on the S7? I have to think that the phone wouldn't even show the Ethernet option if there were no drivers for it. (And the manual wouldn't say anything about Ethernet.)

I'm also open to ideas on how to command this phone to use my mobile data to download the updates.

Thanks very much.

 

[technologyman]

Wow! Ethernet on a mobile phone. Never heard of such a thing.

 

[Toto39]

From what I've read, ethernet is disabled and you have to root the phone and turn on the interface with a terminal emulator. This was done successfully on an S6 as posted on XDA Developers forum. I imagine Samsung has this disabled to prevent hacking through the USB port.

 

[JEAM]

The thing is, Samsung's manual makes it sound so easy to enable Ethernet. If the procedure were convoluted, you'd think there would be more than three lines of instructions.

 

[chanchan05]

Just install the SmartSwitch program on a PC, plug the phone in to the USB. The program will detect the phone, and give you an update button. That program can also create backups of the phone's content.

That way you can just stop worrying how to activate ethernet. First time I heard of it too.

 

[Bodycount]

There's a way to get ethernet on an ipad because I just did it yesterday. There's an adapter that plugs into the ipad charge port.. the other end has a block that has two ports. One for the charge port and one has a USB port. I plugged a USB network adapter into the USB port (apple brand of course) and it worked.

I'm sure there's one like that made for micro USB connections.

 

[JEAM]

Just install the SmartSwitch program on a PC, plug the phone in to the USB. The program will detect the phone, and give you an update button. That program can also create backups of the phone's content.

That way you can just stop worrying how to activate ethernet. First time I heard of it too.

That sounds like a great idea, I hadn't heard about this program. Downloaded it from Samsung and installed it on a Windows laptop, and eventually the program window showed up. Very cool.

The only hitch is that the download that Smart Switch says is available amounts to about 2GB, while the update that the S7 wanted to download is only about 186MB in size. The bigger one sounds like it's a whole new image of the operating system?

 

[JEAM]

There's a way to get ethernet on an ipad because I just did it yesterday. There's an adapter that plugs into the ipad charge port.. the other end has a block that has two ports. One for the charge port and one has a USB port. I plugged a USB network adapter into the USB port (apple brand of course) and it worked.

I'm sure there's one like that made for micro USB connections.

That's what I thought, too. If there is a way to do this on the S7, we have yet to find it.

BTW this is the download page for Samsung's Smart Switch program.

 

[chanchan05]

That sounds like a great idea, I hadn't heard about this program. Downloaded it from Samsung and installed it on a Windows laptop, and eventually the program window showed up. Very cool.

The only hitch is that the download that Smart Switch says is available amounts to about 2GB, while the update that the S7 wanted to download is only about 186MB in size. The bigger one sounds like it's a whole new image of the operating system?

The bigger update will be better, than incremental updates. I believe the update Smartswitch will be giving you is a compiled version of all updates sent out so far (since March). The OTA update may very well have you update multiple times as some updates cannot be downloaded and installed unless you are on a newer version.

 

[JEAM]

Thanks very much!

So, it's OK to download and install that big update? What I mean is, it won't overwrite the contacts, apps, etc.?

I know how updates work in Windows, but not in Android, so I'm a little leery.

 

[chanchan05]

Thanks very much!

So, it's OK to download and install that big update? What I mean is, it won't overwrite the contacts, apps, etc.?

I know how updates work in Windows, but not in Android, so I'm a little leery.

Just make sure to backup. But I've never experienced any update, whether done via PC or not, to erase anything on the phone. And I've had Samsungs for 7 years. However there is always the possibility of something going wrong and a reset happening, even if it was done over the air, so a backup is always necessary, and you can use SmartSwitch to backup.

 

[JEAM]

That is very good to know, thanks!

I'll do the backup and then let the phone update overnight.

 

[JEAM]

Just to finish up: the update went well and everything's working as expected.

Thanks to everyone who helped with this!

 

[Tdm4000]

I know that this is a resolved issue of updating your phone but as for the original question of ethernet, would enabling developer options by tapping the build number on the about phone page in settings then changing the usb option to usb/ethernet enable it?

 

[bobapunk]

The USB Ethernet option is not there on my Galaxy S8.
Strange thing is that it works automatically on my Tab S4...

 

[Deleted User]

Whos scared of wifi doing damage to their health she does know theirs wifi signals around her even without having her own router is simply logic that wifi wont harm your health.

 

[Deleted User]

Hi, this is my first post here.

A couple of months ago I purchased a Galaxy S7 (model # SM-G930U, Android version 6.0.1) and I'm loving it. However, starting last week I've been getting notifications about software updates being available, and even though I have ample mobile data, it seems to be impossible to download the updates that way, it keeps asking to do it via WiFi.

The problem is that the wife is extremely concerned about possible long-term health issues related to wireless signals, and I would like to keep the peace by doing the updates either by mobile data or by Ethernet. (I'd rather not go to some random WiFi network at a store.)

So the S7 has an Ethernet option in Settings --> More connection settings, but the option is grayed out. I bought a MiniUSB-to-Ethernet adapter to see if that made it light up, but there was no change.

Samsung's manual for the G930U makes it sound like doing Ethernet is the easiest thing in the world:

View attachment 109670
But the problem is that there ARE no prompts, the Ethernet option is grayed out and tapping it has no effect other than making the tapping sound.

How to enable Ethernet on the S7? I have to think that the phone wouldn't even show the Ethernet option if there were no drivers for it. (And the manual wouldn't say anything about Ethernet.)

I'm also open to ideas on how to command this phone to use my mobile data to download the updates.

Thanks very much.

Use mobike data and download the updates but make sure the battery is fulky charged