[GUIDE] USB Reverse Tethering - New method - All PC operating systems

[phamthanhnam]

Introduction
This guide is intended to help you share Internet connection from your PC to your Android smartphone/tablet via USB cable. This technique is called USB reverse tethering. It is different from USB tethering in which you share Internet from your Android to your PC. There are many reasons why you need this technique working:
- You don't have mobile/wifi network and your PC doesn't have any wifi adapter
- You can't do tethering over wifi, for example, your company doesn't let you make any hotspot at work
- You don't want to spend money for a mobile plan, and you want a more stable and faster Internet connection than wifi
- You don't want your PC and your Android to become too hot because of wifi
- You want your Android charged while in use
...

You have searched and found some applications/tools/solutions, you followed exactly their instructions but finally you were frustrated because they didn't work, here I come for a new method.
This method works following Internet connection sharing basics. If your Android device is able to do USB tethering, you will be able to do USB reserve tethering with this method!
Advantages:
- No additional software on your PC. Leave no trace on your PC. Imagine when you are at work and you have to install some crappy "toy" application on your PC to estiblish a tunnel connection for this task.
- Works with Windows, Linux and Mac OS X
- You know what you do. Who knows what the "easy-to-use" tools do when they fail to help you?
Disadvantages:
- You have to type some commands on your Android.
If you are ready, let's start!

Requirements:
- Rooted Android device with "USB tethering" capability. Check in Android Settings - Wireless & networks - Tethering & portable hotspot. Many stock ROMs disable this capability. You must enable it somehow (root your Android and use an application to enable or replace the stock ROM). CyanogenMod ROMs always have this capability. The important thing to remember is when you connect your Android and enable "USB tethering", it appears as a USB network adapter, not a mass storage or media device.
- PC with a working Internet connection.
- USB cable to connect your Android to your PC.
- Terminal Emulator on your Android. If you don't want to type commands on your touchscreen with Terminal Emulator, you can use your PC keyboard to enter commands with "adb shell". adb is a part of Android SDK which is available for download from Google. To use adb, you need to enable "USB debugging" on your Android.
- Optional, BusyBox on your Android.

Step 1: Connect your Android to PC by USB cable and enable "USB tethering". You are still allowed to enable this option even when your 3g/wifi on your Android is off.
- If you are using Linux (Ubuntu), you don't need to install anything. NetworkManager applet will try to establish a connection on the new detected wired network device.
- If you are using Windows, Windows will automatically search Windows Update and install driver for you. You can skip Windows Update search and install manually an already included driver from Microsoft. In Install Driver window, click Browse My Computer, then Let me pick..., select Network Adapters, uncheck Show Compatible Hardware, look at "Microsoft Corporation" at the left column, and choose Remote NDIS Compatible Device from the right column. You can install or update a driver from Device Manager in Windows.
- If you are using Mac, install driver HoRNDIS. You will be notified about a new network interface. Click "Network Preferences" in the dialog to add it to known interfaces list. Then "Apply".
- If you are using Linux without GUI or NetworkManager, run these commands as root (or use sudo):

ifconfig usb0 10.42.0.1 netmask 255.255.255.0

(suppose that you don't have any other USB network adapter, otherwise, your Android may be usb1, usb2...)

echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

Command for sudo will be:

sudo 'echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward'

iptables -t nat -F
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -j MASQUERADE

Step 2:
- If you are using Linux, click on NetworkManager applet at the top right of your screen, select "Edit Connections...". In tab "Wired", choose the new established connection (be careful, not Ethernet LAN connection) and click "Edit..." In tab "IPv4 Settings", choose "Shared to other computers" as Method. Click "Save". NetworkManager will reestablish the connection and assign to your PC an IP address on this USB network connection, default: 10.42.0.1. Leave Internet connections (wired or wireless) untouched.
- If you are using Windows, open "Network Connections" in Control Panel. It is somewhat different from setup in Linux. Right click on an Internet connection that you have. I assume that you are using a desktop which doesn't have any wifi adapter, so right click on LAN Ethernet connection with Internet, and select "Properties". In tab "Sharing" (or "Advanced" for Windows XP), click "Allow other network users to connect through...", then select the USB connection in dropdown list below. Click OK. Windows will automatically setup your USB network connection and assign to it an IP address, default for Windows 7: 192.168.137.1, default for Windows XP: 192.168.0.1. You can see your Internet connection is now "Shared" and your USB connection is now "Unidentified network".
- If you are using Mac, open System Preferences - Network. If you installed HoRNDIS, you will see a new network interface corresponding to your USB connection. With "Using DHCP" as Configure Ipv4, it may be already connected. Go back to System Preferences, click "Sharing". Select "Internet Sharing". Choose the Internet connection (Ethernet or Airport...) in "Share your connection from", and choose USB connection interface in "To computers using". Mac will assign to your USB connection interface an IP address, default: 192.168.2.1.
- If you are using Linux without GUI or NetworkManager, you have done all PC setup in step 1.

Your PC setup is now done!

Step 3:
Open Terminal Emulator on your Android. Type:

su

The command prompt must change from $ to #. If it does not, check to ensure that your device is rooted properly.
[UPDATED]Type the following command in Terminal Emulator, the same for all PC operating systems:

netcfg rndis0 dhcp

The name for usb interface inside Android may vary. It is usually rndis0 or usb0. Type

busybox ifconfig

to identify the name.
Use OLD instructions below when automatical dhcp method does not work.
[OLD]Type these following commands in Terminal Emulator:
For Linux PC:

ifconfig rndis0 10.42.0.2 netmask 255.255.255.0
route add default gw 10.42.0.1 dev rndis0

If route fails, try:

busybox route add default gw 10.42.0.1 dev rndis0

For Windows PC, use the same above commands, replace 10.42.0.2 by 192.168.137.2 (192.168.0.2 for Windows XP), replace 10.42.0.1 by 192.168.137.1 (192.168.0.1 for Windows XP)
For Mac PC, replace 10.42.0.2 by 192.168.2.2, replace 10.42.0.1 by 192.168.2.1
Now you can close Terminal Emulator and start the browser for Internet.

Some applications (download in Google Play, GMail, Facebook...) don't recognize Internet connection. You can try this way (WARNING: NOT TESTED):
- Enable temporarily 3G connection on your Android
- Type:

ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0

The name for 3G interface inside Android may vary: ppp0, rmnet0... Type

busybox ifconfig

to identify the name.
before ifconfig rmnet0 ... above.
This will make applications see your Internet connection via USB as 3G!

USB tethering settings on Android will be reverted automatically when you unplug USB cable. To revert back settings on PC, uncheck "Allow other network users to connect through..." on Windows, "Internet sharing" on Mac, change from "Shared to other computers" back to "Automatically (DHCP)", or simply delete USB connection from NetworkManager on Linux.

 

[CalcProgrammer1]

Awesome tutorial! I moved to a new office at work and lost my 4G signal, they don't have new WiFi AP's up yet, and Edge sucks. I figured out the first half but couldn't figure out how to take a DHCP address on the USB connection on my phone. That worked perfectly and if you leave WiFi or mobile data on then ifconfig it to 0.0.0.0 Gmail et. al. work fine as well. Combined with my Open VPN bridged tunnel to my home network this is a great system for getting a connection away from wireless signals.

 

[anazhd]

pretty handy. glad I found this thread.

p.s Newsworthy soon.

 

[skotegar]

I tried the instructions provided in the tutorial for LAN n 3G connection.
The internet is not starting on my mobile

 

[scapper]

Very useful! Many times I've gone to Vegas wondering if I could tether my phone's internet to my computer using USB instead of having to use wifi tether or paying for over expensive slow internet! Definitely a useful tool and money saver

 

[xeph20]

Hi!


Thanks for this awsome tutorial but something isnt working for me.
I gues it is at this step:

Click "Allow other network users to connect through...", then select the USB connection in dropdown list below. Click OK. Windows will automatically setup your USB network.


When i allow other network users i dont get any dropdown list and when i press setings below it myself i get a list but there is no USB in there.
I selected everything in there but it still did not work :/


What might the problem be?

also my device seems to be usb0 not rndis0 because terminal said "no such device" and with usb0 it said nothing


Thanks!

 

[ectoclive]

aww thanks to share

 

[oddoneout]

This is much easier.

 

[phamthanhnam]

Hi!


Thanks for this awsome tutorial but something isnt working for me.
I gues it is at this step:

Click "Allow other network users to connect through...", then select the USB connection in dropdown list below. Click OK. Windows will automatically setup your USB network.


When i allow other network users i dont get any dropdown list and when i press setings below it myself i get a list but there is no USB in there.
I selected everything in there but it still did not work :/


What might the problem be?

also my device seems to be usb0 not rndis0 because terminal said "no such device" and with usb0 it said nothing


Thanks!

Your Windows must see your Android as a USB network adapter. Go into Device Manager and check under Network Adapters to see if it is there.
If it isn't there, did you enable "USB tethering"? Go into Android Settings - Wireless & networks - Tethering & portable hotspot. When you activate USB tethering, Windows will popup New Hardware dialog for the first time. If you don't activate USB tethering, there will be neither rndis0 nor usb0.

 

[phamthanhnam]

This is much easier.

Maybe, but that method requires you to install an additional software on your PC. It works with Windows only. The connection is slower, for sure, because data packages have to be routed through the software. And that method proved 'not fully working' (some applications can't connect to Internet).

 

[wangzhuoyu]

Thank you

Thank you for posting this great method.

I tried it on my HTC Desire HD and now I am suffering some issues.

After doing all the steps, the internet doesn't work. And after using the command ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0, the usb connection is not recognized by my phone now. I found that the usb debugging option was disabled after the configuration steps. After I re-enable the usb debugging in the setting, the usb connection is still not recognized.

If anyone know how to re-enable my usb connection, please let me know. Thank you.

 

[phamthanhnam]

Thank you for posting this great method.

I tried it on my HTC Desire HD and now I am suffering some issues.

After doing all the steps, the internet doesn't work. And after using the command ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0, the usb connection is not recognized by my phone now. I found that the usb debugging option was disabled after the configuration steps. After I re-enable the usb debugging in the setting, the usb connection is still not recognized.

If anyone know how to re-enable my usb connection, please let me know. Thank you.

USB debugging option is quite irrelevant. Here I mentioned "USB tethering" capability, not "USB debugging". You can do all steps in this instruction with USB debugging off. Please tell me more when you mean "the usb connection is not recognized by your phone"

 

[wangzhuoyu]

USB debugging option is quite irrelevant. Here I mentioned "USB tethering" capability, not "USB debugging". You can do all steps in this instruction with USB debugging off. Please tell me more when you mean "the usb connection is not recognized by your phone"

Thank you for your reply.

I mean when the usb cable is plugged, and the phone is connected with PC by the usb cable, there is no real connection between them.

When I used the command: busybox ifconfig, the usb0 device is not listed any more.

 

[phamthanhnam]

Thank you for your reply.

I mean when the usb cable is plugged, and the phone is connected with PC by the usb cable, there is no real connection between them.

When I used the command: busybox ifconfig, the usb0 device is not listed any more.

Try to enable USB tethering again, or better restart your phone, then connect it to PC and enable USB tethering. usb0 will disappear if USB tethering option is off.
You will have working Internet connection before ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0. Try open browser or ping first.

 

[wangzhuoyu]

Try to enable USB tethering again, or better restart your phone, then connect it to PC and enable USB tethering. usb0 will disappear if USB tethering option is off.
You will have working Internet connection before ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0. Try open browser or ping first.

Thank you so much. But I can't enable USB tethering even after restart my phone and connect it to PC. The USB tethering option is black. My phone can't be recognized by PC now.

 

[wangzhuoyu]

Thank you so much. But I can't enable USB tethering even after restart my phone and connect it to PC. The USB tethering option is black. My phone can't be recognized by PC now.

Hi, I reflashed the ROM and redo all the steps. It still doesn't work. However, the USB connection is established.

And I pinged my phone from PC. I got reply from My phone.

Then I figured out that the Symantec Firework stopped the internet traffic of the shared internet. By changing to allow IP traffic, now my my phone can access the internet with the USB cable.

Some apps work well, including Google Play and Gmail. But Fongo, Nonoh says no Internet connection.

If someone know how to make Fongo and Nonoh work, I really appreciate it.

Thanks again for the great help from you guys.

---------- Post added at 09:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

Thank you so much. But I can't enable USB tethering even after restart my phone and connect it to PC. The USB tethering option is black. My phone can't be recognized by PC now.

Hi, I reflashed the ROM and redo all the steps. It still doesn't work. However, the USB connection is established.

And I pinged my phone from PC. I got reply from My phone.

Then I figured out that the Symantec Firework stopped the internet traffic of the shared internet. By changing to allow IP traffic, now my my phone can access the internet with the USB cable.

Some apps work well, including Google Play and Gmail. But Fongo and Nonoh says no Internet connection.

If someone know how to make Fongo and Nonoh work, I really appreciate it.

Thanks again for the great help from you guys.

It is very funny that actually Fongo connects to the internet and shows my account info. However, it still says WiFi & Data not available.
It seems that these apps don't test the internet accessibility by trying to connect to the servers, but by reading some WiFi & Data status information in the phone system. So how can we cheat them?

 

[wangzhuoyu]

Thanks again for this wonderful post.

After using the command: ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0, is there any way to reverse the command? Thanks. I want to check how some apps work if I didn't use the command.

 

[leledumbo]

Tried to use this method on linux, apparently either adb or terminal emulator stops working (adb says my device is offline, terminal emulator doesn't show any prompt, just blank screen) when I enable USB Tethering, therefore I can't execute the required commands.

 

[Sagar Uv]

Notworking in proxy connections

Hi,

I tried all the steps mentioned by you in my Kubuntu PC. All worked well except i'm not able to use internet on my mobile. My pc is connected to a network (which i want to share to my pc) via proxy settings. I pinged from my adb shell for other PCs in my network, and it worked without any packet loss. So my phone is actually connected to the network but i cant access internet. Is there any solution

 

[phamthanhnam]

After using the command: ifconfig rmnet0 0.0.0.0, is there any way to reverse the command? Thanks. I want to check how some apps work if I didn't use the command.

Try to turn off mobile broadband, or this command:
ifconfig rmnet0 down

Tried to use this method on linux, apparently either adb or terminal emulator stops working (adb says my device is offline, terminal emulator doesn't show any prompt, just blank screen) when I enable USB Tethering, therefore I can't execute the required commands.

Try to use latest adb version (download from Google instead of using repository version). Android 4.2.2 requires you to accept connection from adb in a dialog displayed on your phone's touchscreen. Try to clear cache/application data in Android Settings/Applications for Terminal Emulator.

I tried all the steps mentioned by you in my Kubuntu PC. All worked well except i'm not able to use internet on my mobile. My pc is connected to a network (which i want to share to my pc) via proxy settings. I pinged from my adb shell for other PCs in my network, and it worked without any packet loss. So my phone is actually connected to the network but i cant access internet. Is there any solution

Run 'busybox route' in Terminal Emulator and assure the default gateway is correct. It should be Kubuntu PC's IP on USB interface (10.42.0.1), like this:
default 10.42.0.1 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 rndis0
then try 'nslookup www.google.com' to see if it can reach DNS server and get domain name resolving.
Try to turn off firewall on your Kubuntu PC:
'sudo ufw disable'
I have not tested with proxy networks yet. Maybe you have something in your PC/network that blocks traffic from your phone to Internet?