Help Reverse Tethering using USB Cable

Aravindan · Jan 14, 2011

I want to use the Internet connection (LAN) available in my PC to download files/game data from internet in my Galaxy S. Basically I want to use the internet available in my PC on my android phone. I did a fair bit of research and was unable to find a solution that doesnt involve Wi-Fi or rooting the phone. I havent rooted my Galaxy S and have no intention of doing so.

Please let me know if reverse-tethering for internet is possible with USB cable.

Thanks in advance...

snapper.fishes · Jan 14, 2011

Impossible.

Reverse tethering can only be done with Windows Mobile. I suspect it's a hardware limitations. I was once interested in this as well.

Global_S · Jan 14, 2011

Sense has an option called Internet pass-through that allows you to do just that.

snapper.fishes · Jan 14, 2011

Global_S said:
Sense has an option called Internet pass-through that allows you to do just that.

Seems like it's only available on newer HTC phones though.

Using Internet Passthrough mode on the HTC Desire Z and Desire HD | Brightpoint GB Blog

Guess they found a way around it.

Global_S · Jan 14, 2011

TBF it's my first android phone after dumping my Touch HD and winmo, so don't know what the greater ecosystem is like (yet). However if HTC can do it, then can't people write apps to do it for other phones?

Not sure I see the advantage unless you don't have wifi.

seepage · Jan 14, 2011

Look HERE Might be what you are looking for

Samyl337 · Feb 18, 2012

Aravindan said:
I want to use the Internet connection (LAN) available in my PC to download files/game data from internet in my Galaxy S. Basically I want to use the internet available in my PC on my android phone. I did a fair bit of research and was unable to find a solution that doesnt involve Wi-Fi or rooting the phone. I havent rooted my Galaxy S and have no intention of doing so.

Please let me know if reverse-tethering for internet is possible with USB cable.

Thanks in advance...

Connect the phone to the computer with the usb cable.
(Go to phone) Disable usb storage by opening the top sliding menu, touch the message "USB connected" and choose "Turn off usb storage"
Goto settings->Wireless and network->Tethering and portable hotspot->Enable USB tethering.
(Go to PC) A new network interface will be shown in your computer. Set it to "Home" if Windows firewall asks about it. In "Network and sharing center", choose "Change adapter settings". You can see the new interface here. Let's call it "Android connection".
Enable internet connection sharing on the interface that has internet connection. (It took me awhile to realize I was doing it the other way round). For those with LAN, it's your LAN card, for those with wireless, it's your wireless card(why are you doing usb tethering anyway?): Right click the interface-> properties->choose sharing tab and check "Allow the other network users to ...". Close the window to accept it.
Windows will set the IP of "Android connection" to 192.168.x.x for some unknown reason. Doesn't really matter although it may clash with some routers default setting. We will set it to another fixed IP and let our computer be the gateway.
Right click "Android connection" -> Properties, Choose "Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", Click properties. Choose "Use the following IP address". The setting is flexible and can differ from my values(if you know what you're doing)
IP address: 10.1.1.11
Network mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: leave blank
Leave the dns part blank
Press ok and close the properties window.

download an app called terminal emulator for u r andriod (easily available in market ann in non market as well ! )
(Go to phone) Open your terminal emulator and type the following commands

Note: Ur IPs can differ but remember second cmds ip and ur andriod lan ip on ur pc (windows or linux ) should be same !

su
ifconfig usb0 10.1.1.12 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
route add default gw 10.1.1.11 dev usb0
setprop net.dns1 8.8.8.8

ENjoyyy !!!!!!!!!

A thank is always appreciated !

nomanman · Mar 3, 2012

Samyl337 said:
Connect the phone to the computer with the usb cable.
(Go to phone) Disable usb storage by opening the top sliding menu, touch the message "USB connected" and choose "Turn off usb storage"
Goto settings->Wireless and network->Tethering and portable hotspot->Enable USB tethering.
(Go to PC) A new network interface will be shown in your computer. Set it to "Home" if Windows firewall asks about it. In "Network and sharing center", choose "Change adapter settings". You can see the new interface here. Let's call it "Android connection".
Enable internet connection sharing on the interface that has internet connection. (It took me awhile to realize I was doing it the other way round). For those with LAN, it's your LAN card, for those with wireless, it's your wireless card(why are you doing usb tethering anyway?): Right click the interface-> properties->choose sharing tab and check "Allow the other network users to ...". Close the window to accept it.
Windows will set the IP of "Android connection" to 192.168.x.x for some unknown reason. Doesn't really matter although it may clash with some routers default setting. We will set it to another fixed IP and let our computer be the gateway.
Right click "Android connection" -> Properties, Choose "Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", Click properties. Choose "Use the following IP address". The setting is flexible and can differ from my values(if you know what you're doing)
IP address: 10.1.1.11
Network mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: leave blank
Leave the dns part blank
Press ok and close the properties window.

download an app called terminal emulator for u r andriod (easily available in market ann in non market as well ! )
(Go to phone) Open your terminal emulator and type the following commands

Note: Ur IPs can differ but remember second cmds ip and ur andriod lan ip on ur pc (windows or linux ) should be same !

su
ifconfig usb0 10.1.1.12 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
route add default gw 10.1.1.11 dev usb0
setprop net.dns1 8.8.8.8

ENjoyyy !!!!!!!!!

A thank is always appreciated !

It will need ROOT....

deviljagdish · Mar 3, 2012

Android Usb Port Forwarding - CodeProject

jsk_999 · Dec 5, 2013

Samyl337 said:
Connect the phone to the computer with the usb cable.
(Go to phone) Disable usb storage by opening the top sliding menu, touch the message "USB connected" and choose "Turn off usb storage"
Goto settings->Wireless and network->Tethering and portable hotspot->Enable USB tethering.
(Go to PC) A new network interface will be shown in your computer. Set it to "Home" if Windows firewall asks about it. In "Network and sharing center", choose "Change adapter settings". You can see the new interface here. Let's call it "Android connection".
Enable internet connection sharing on the interface that has internet connection. (It took me awhile to realize I was doing it the other way round). For those with LAN, it's your LAN card, for those with wireless, it's your wireless card(why are you doing usb tethering anyway?): Right click the interface-> properties->choose sharing tab and check "Allow the other network users to ...". Close the window to accept it.
Windows will set the IP of "Android connection" to 192.168.x.x for some unknown reason. Doesn't really matter although it may clash with some routers default setting. We will set it to another fixed IP and let our computer be the gateway.
Right click "Android connection" -> Properties, Choose "Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", Click properties. Choose "Use the following IP address". The setting is flexible and can differ from my values(if you know what you're doing)
IP address: 10.1.1.11
Network mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: leave blank
Leave the dns part blank
Press ok and close the properties window.

download an app called terminal emulator for u r andriod (easily available in market ann in non market as well ! )
(Go to phone) Open your terminal emulator and type the following commands

Note: Ur IPs can differ but remember second cmds ip and ur andriod lan ip on ur pc (windows or linux ) should be same !

su
ifconfig usb0 10.1.1.12 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
route add default gw 10.1.1.11 dev usb0
setprop net.dns1 8.8.8.8

ENjoyyy !!!!!!!!!

A thank is always appreciated !

I get error "no such device when I try to set ip address for usb0.

Any advise !!

Thanks in advance..

soso0225 · Jan 7, 2015

jsk_999 said:
I get error "no such device when I try to set ip address for usb0.

Any advise !!

Thanks in advance..

Some info that may help you, here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2287494,
quote :
" The name for usb interface inside Android may vary. It is usually " rndis0 " or " usb0 ".
Type Code in terminal on your phone : " busybox ifconfig " to identify the name. " Mine is "rndis0".
I hope it will help.

soso0225 · Jan 7, 2015

Samyl337 said:
Connect the phone to the computer with the usb cable.
(Go to phone) Disable usb storage by opening the top sliding menu, touch the message "USB connected" and choose "Turn off usb storage"
Goto settings->Wireless and network->Tethering and portable hotspot->Enable USB tethering.
(Go to PC) A new network interface will be shown in your computer. Set it to "Home" if Windows firewall asks about it. In "Network and sharing center", choose "Change adapter settings". You can see the new interface here. Let's call it "Android connection".
Enable internet connection sharing on the interface that has internet connection. (It took me awhile to realize I was doing it the other way round). For those with LAN, it's your LAN card, for those with wireless, it's your wireless card(why are you doing usb tethering anyway?): Right click the interface-> properties->choose sharing tab and check "Allow the other network users to ...". Close the window to accept it.
Windows will set the IP of "Android connection" to 192.168.x.x for some unknown reason. Doesn't really matter although it may clash with some routers default setting. We will set it to another fixed IP and let our computer be the gateway.
Right click "Android connection" -> Properties, Choose "Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", Click properties. Choose "Use the following IP address". The setting is flexible and can differ from my values(if you know what you're doing)
IP address: 10.1.1.11
Network mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: leave blank
Leave the dns part blank
Press ok and close the properties window.

download an app called terminal emulator for u r andriod (easily available in market ann in non market as well ! )
(Go to phone) Open your terminal emulator and type the following commands

Note: Ur IPs can differ but remember second cmds ip and ur andriod lan ip on ur pc (windows or linux ) should be same !

su
ifconfig usb0 10.1.1.12 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
route add default gw 10.1.1.11 dev usb0
setprop net.dns1 8.8.8.8

ENjoyyy !!!!!!!!!

A thank is always appreciated !

Thank You for these great instructions !!!
I combined those written by you, to that described here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2287494 ( Thank You phamthanhnam ), because so I can simulate a wifi connection

Help Reverse Tethering using USB Cable

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