What is ReverseTether?
ReverseTether is an Android app that allows you to access your computer's internet connection on your device via USB, thus, reverse tethering. It's the first and only app of its kind on the Market, no other app does such a thing.
Why do I need ReverseTether?
This app may be useful to you:
- if you don't have a mobile data plan.
- if you have a limited plan and would like to spare your bytes and money whenever you're at home/work/school.
- if you're roaming and would like to avoid roaming data charges.
- if you prefer speed and want an internet that is faster* than any wifi/3g/4g/lte. (*as fast as your modem)
- if you don't have access to wifi / don't need wifi just for your device.
- if you don't trust the security/privacy of your wifi network.
- if your wifi connection is weak, slow or keeps disconnecting.
- if you're sick of eating terrible food at burger places just for wifi access.
- if you would like to access your local network from your device for backups or storage.
Basically, since you're already connected to usb to recharge or sync, why not also have a super fast, unlimited, secure internet connection for no additional charges, for whatever reason, like sync your mail, contacts or calendars, download and update apps, pre-cache maps, use online-only apps/games, etc...
What are the key features?
- You'll be able to connect to the internet via USB with a single click. No advanced skills required whatsoever.
- The connection will appear on your device as 3G so that all apps including Market function seamlessly as if you're actually connected to 3G.
- It will first guide you in 2 easy steps to setup your computer for it to work.
- No pc-side software installation is needed at all.
- It provides an option to automatically connect as soon as you plug in USB.
- To disconnect, simply unplug USB. To connect again, plug back USB. Voila. Easy.
- A manual configuration option is also available for advanced users.
What does this app require?
- A ROOTED android device
- A Tether option in your device.
- A desktop/laptop computer with your device drivers installed (and ability to edit Network Connections, no extra software needed)
- An internet connection
- Patience - a connection may take a few seconds to a few minutes to get established, since there's no direct way to do it but through this trick.
Do I need to install additional software on my PC?
No. You just need to share your internet connection. All the instructions are available in 2 easy steps in the Getting Started guide when you first run the app.
Does ReverseTether support my device/system/connection?
The best way to find out is to try it yourself.
We can't really know.
It works on 95% of Android devices with USB Tethering according to our user feedback.
Note that this App was not tested on all android devices and might not work on yours, depending on your manufacturer, your carrier's restrictions, your device's configuration or whatnot. You can just test it, it's very lite and uninstalls neatly in case it doesn't work.
Why do I get "device not rooted"? What is Rooting?
As the app requirements state, it is required that your device is rooted and that you give ReverseTether SuperUser permission the first time it runs.
In a simplified way, rooting means to allow some apps to be able to make system level changes like creating an internet connection in this case.
You can find more information online about rooting. Type in a search engine: [you device model] android root.
Why can't I connect?
This generally means that there's an obstruction somewhere between your device and the internet, it's not certain where and the solution could be anything between network sharing to replacing your card driver. You could try one or a combination of the following suggestions to detect and fix the problem.
First, make sure you have the most recent version installed and that you have followed the Getting Ready guide to the letter.
Make sure that once your internet connection is shared, your PC is still connected online, otherwise, you might have made a mistake somewhere and need to to restart the sharing steps.
On your PC, open Network Connections from Control Panel or by typing ncpa.cpl in your address bar. Your internet's network adapter's status column must definitely display Shared and your device's network adapter's status must not display Unknown or Disconnected.
Make sure you're sharing the right network, the one that connects you online, and that it is being shared with the other right network, and that is your device's. Any other two networks will not get you internet on your device. To test whether you're sharing the right network, righ-click it, and choose Disable, then go to your browser and see if you still have internet, if you do then it's not the one, try another one, then righ-click choose Enable to re-enable it.
In many cases, the connection fails because some device drivers block or don't support incoming internet traffic, but worry not, you can still try change your driver to one of the generic ones provided by Windows until one works. Please look at the question How to change my drivers.
You can also try the Bridge method, by selecting your internet network and your device network, in your Network Connections (Windows), Right-click and choose Bridge Connections. Then try again with Automatic Configuration first, and if it fails, with manual configuration, by entering the IP of your router as Gateway, and adding +1 to it, as Desired IP. It also helps to reset your router while waiting if it's taking too long.
Check if there's a firewall on your PC that's blocking internet sharing. Also, check if there's a firewall on your phone.
Try to restart your phone or your PC or your router.
How do I change my device's driver on Windows?
Your default device drivers should be fine, but in many cases the connection fails because some manufacturers drivers block or don't support incoming internet traffic, but worry not, you can still try the different generic USB/R NDIS drivers available with Windows.
To change your drivers, on your device, open Reverse Tether, start the Guide and press Next.
On your PC, open Network Connections from Control Panel or by typing ncpa.cpl in your address bar. Right-click your device's adapater and choose Properties. Then click Configure, and from Driver, click Update Driver. Click Browse My Computer then Let Me Pick from... then uncheck Show Compatible Hardware.
You can start with Microsoft's Remote NDIS Compatible Device which seems to work for most devices. Depending on what's already installed on your system from Microsoft, your device's manufacturer, or third party drivers, you can basically try anything with Remote/NDIS/RNDIS/USB...
Once completed, the Geneal tab of the Properties page should display This device is working properly. If not, restart and choose a differnt driver. Everytime you select a different driver, try to connect with Automatic configuration until one works.
It used to work, but why did it stop working today?
It's more likely, your Windows configuration have changed. On your PC, open Network Connections from Control Panel or by typing ncpa.cpl in your address bar.
Turn off sharing, then share the connection again, as described in the app guide.
You can also try some of the following suggestions:
- Try to restart your phone.
- Try to restart your PC.
- Try to restart your router.
- Turn off mobile data or WIFI on your phone.
- Check if there's a firewall on your PC that's blocking internet sharing.
- Check if there's a firewall on your phone.
- Make sure your phone drives haven't changed and roll back to your previous drivers.
Can I use it if my Windows doesn't allow connection sharing?
On some Windows systems, the Share Connection option seems to be removed. In this case, you can use Bridge Connections instead.
On your PC, open Network Connections from Control Panel or by typing ncpa.cpl in your address bar. Select both, the adapter that connects to the internet, and your device's adapter. Right-click and choose Bridge Connections. Then try again with Automatic Configuration first, and if it fails, with manual configuration, by entering the IP of your router as Gateway, and adding +1 to it, as Desired IP. It also helps to reset your router while waiting if it's taking too long.
What is "make connection appear as 3G"?
This is actually a beneficiary feature that allows you to fool some apps that require mobile data, into thinking that you're actually connected to 3G, so that they function normally. Some of those apps are: Market (Play Store), Talk, Youtube...
It's not necessary to enable it if the apps that you usually use don't require a mobile data plan or WIFI.
Do I need a mobile data plan to use 3G emulation?
No, a data plan is not required at all and no mobile data is used whatsoever. However, a working phone with a sim card is needed for this feature.
Why do I get "3G emulation failed to start"?
As the initial guide states, you need a working phone for this feature. Make sure any sim card is inserted, not necessarily with a data plan, and that Airplane Mode is disabled.
If your phone is fully operational and it's still not working, then It's possible that your phone is locked by your carrier so that you won't be able to activate mobile data.
If you go to Settings > Wireless And Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names. Do you see an APN entry? If not, can you add one yourself?
You can get your carrier's mcc/mnc from here, the other fields don't matter because we're not using their data plan. You could try different mcc/mnc values. If you still can't save it, then it's probably locked.
I enabled 3G emulation, why is my mobile data status icon signaling data use?
ReverseTether doesn't use your mobile data at all, so the data status icon is not supposed to be flashing.
If you suspect that your data is being used, then you must have visited one of your device's setting pages. Android tends to modify your connection when you exit. Simply, run ReverseTether again to fix the problem.
Why did Wifi stop working after using this app?
Normally this app disconnects neatly after you unplug USB, and you'll be able to use Wifi right away. In case you didn't unplug your USB or something wrong happened before it got a chance to disconnect properly, Wifi might stop working, in this case, just reboot your device and it's as good as new.
Why did my mobile internet stop after using this app?
It has been reported very rarely that mobile internet stops working after using the app. This is due to the Appear as 3G feature.
If the 3G option is causing you problems, you can turn it off in the settings menu.
If this rare problem happens, to restore your device's internet, go to Mobile Network settings > Acess Point Names (APN) and choose Reset To Default from menu, or manually add your carriers APN.
How can I use this app with my Mac?
You need to find and install RNDIS drivers for your device's network adapter on Mac.
Start the ReverseTether Getting Started guide and click Next to start the USB connection.
On your Mac, go into System Preferences, and select Network.
Click the "+" to add an interface, and use the pull down to choose a connection that corresponds to the phone.
It may take unplugging the USB and repeating the steps on the phone, but after around 10 seconds, the Status should change to "Connected", and a DHCP address should appear.
At this point, you're connected.
To set up Internet sharing:
Choose Apple > System Preferences, and then click Sharing.
Select Internet Sharing.
Choose a network service from the "Share your connection from" pop-up menu, Ethernet for example.
Select a networking service to share your Internet connection from the "To computers using" list, AirPort for example.
If you share your Internet connection using AirPort, click AirPort Options and give your network a name and password.
If your Internet connection and your local network use the same port (Ethernet, for example), investigate possible side effects before you turn on Internet sharing. In some cases (if you use a cable modem, for example) you might unintentionally affect the network settings of other ISP customers, and your ISP might terminate your service to prevent you from disrupting their network.
On your device, finish the Guide and click Connect. First try with Automatic Configuration, if it fails, try again with manual configuration, by entering the IP address of your router as Gateway, and adding +1 to it, as Desired IP. It also helps to reset your router while waiting if it's taking too long.
How can I use this app with my Linux
You need to find and install RNDIS drivers for your device's network adapter on Linux.
Start the ReverseTether Getting Started guide and click Next to start the USB connection.
On Linux, open a terminal to setup a bridge, usb0 being your devices network interface and eth0 being the interface that is connected to the internet.
Type the following commands:
sudo ifconfig eth0 0.0.0.0
sudo ifconfig usb0 0.0.0.0
sudo brctl addbr br0
sudo brctl addif br0 eth0
sudo brctl addif br0 usb0
sudo ifconfig br0 up
sudo dhclient br0
On your device, finish the Guide and click Connect. First try with Automatic Configuration, if it fails, try again with manual configuration, by entering the IP address of your router as Gateway, and adding +1 to it, as Desired IP. It also helps to reset your router while waiting if it's taking too long.
What's the difference between Trial and Paid editions?
The Trial edition is a functional app that never expires. The one limitation is that you can only connect to the internet in the afternoon and in the late evening, but you can stay online for as long as you want. If you enjoy it please consider purchasing the non-limited version of ReverseTether also available on Market.
I've waited for the right time, but the trial is still not working, what time zone is it?
Adjusting your device's clock is not the same as waiting. Please be patient or consider purchasing the non-limited edition. The time is of course your local time.
Could you send me the APK file, here's my email?
Please use the download APK link on the home page.
I've been waiting forever for such app, I love it, how can I help?
Thank you. Not many phone manufacturers understand your frustration and your need to connect to the internet if you don't have mobile data or access to WIFI.
If you want to help, you could leave a nice positive review on the Android Market. You could spread the word about this app on forums, social networks and blogs.
And you could also support it by donating to the project by purchasing the unlimited edition from the Android Market.