# Can a cell phone share a laptop’s Internet connection via USB? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425 "2012-02-20T15:44:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/1 "2012-02-20T15:44:27Z")
I have a new Samsung Galaxy S (SGH-T959V). I am about to do some travelling and don’t have a data plan (we work from home and spend less than $200 per year on cell service; Internet browsing/synching is done over our home wireless network). I know Android phones can act as a wireless access point so a laptop can use the phone’s data connection (though it’s plan-dependant). Can the reverse be done? If my laptop has an active Internet connection, can I plug the phone into a USB port so it can receive data? As far as I know my laptop can receive WiFi signals, but does not have the capacity to act as an AP (though I’ve never looked. I assume that would have been a selling point I’d have noticed). Available laptops are Win 7 and OSX. Come to think of it, don’t OSX machines have Airport built in? Can that act as a wireless AP? Thanks, Rhythm ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/2 "2012-02-20T15:47:28Z")
Probably not over a USB port, but you should be able to have internet service on your cell phone if you set your laptop to act as a WiFi point for the cell phone. I don’t know the steps off-hand, but it’s pretty easy to do in Win7. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/3 "2012-02-20T15:50:58Z")
Never used it, but it says it can turn a laptop into a wifi hotspot: > **[Turn your PC into a Wi-Fi Hotspot - Connectify Hotspot](https://connectify.me/)** > > Connectify Hotspot is a virtual router that lets you share Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, and ethernet connections on your PC with your friends, family, and other devices. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/4 "2012-02-20T16:21:40Z")
Wow, am I out of my element. I know my laptop can _receive_ wireless signals. Are you saying … saying … oh crap, I think I just re-verified my idiocy. Right in the middle of this post. I’ve been thinking that my laptop can receive WiFi signals but can’t broadcast them. _But then how can it communicate **to** the Internet_? Magic? :smack: It’s right there in front of me under Control Panel\>Network and Sharing Centre. I can even set up WPA2 security. Are there any concerns I need to be aware of? I’ll be using this in various hotels over the next two weeks. Any idea how [connectify.me](http://connectify.me) differs? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/5 "2012-02-20T16:38:54Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > If my laptop has an active Internet connection, can I plug the phone into a USB port so it can receive data? As far as I know my laptop can receive WiFi signals, but does not have the capacity to act as an AP (though I’ve never looked. I assume that would have been a selling point I’d have noticed). Why not just connect your phone through wifi with the same signal that your computer is getting? That’s not going to draw on your data plan. I don’t understand why you need to go through the computer. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/6 "2012-02-20T16:48:34Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Why not just connect your phone through wifi with the same signal that your computer is getting? That’s not going to draw on your data plan. I don’t understand why you need to go through the computer. We’re travelling for a couple weeks and won’t necessarily have WiFi access everywhere–some folks just have wired Internet connections. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/7 "2012-02-20T17:38:34Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Any idea how [connectify.me](http://connectify.me) differs? Windows 7 have built-in option of turning a wireless adapter into an AP but enabling it is not that straight forward (has to be started from the command line). As far as I know you can’t turn it on from “Network and Sharing Center”. The options you saw there are probably for something else. Connectify makes setting up a hotspot much easier. And I believe it can also act as a range-extender for an existing wifi hotspot. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-cell-phone-share-a-laptop-s-internet-connection-via-usb/613425/8 "2012-02-21T09:14:36Z")
Yes. I have an HTC Desire HD and when plugged in to a computer’s USB it can optionally use the computer’s internet connection. If it’s the same for other Android phones look under Settings | Wireless and Networks | Internet Pass-through.