How to Tether an Android to your PC via Wi-Fi

This is the most efficient way to tether your Android smartphone to a PC: it's fast and it's wireless. This article shows you the steps to do this.

Hardware requirements: internal Wi-Fi card, external Wi-Fi USB adapter (optional).

Step 1: Purchase Connectify Hotspot PRO or MAX from the Connectify website. While there is a free trial version of Connectify Hotspot, sharing 3G/4G or Ethernet connections as Wi-Fi is only available in the PRO and MAX versions.

Step 2: Make sure you have a Wi-Fi card installed on your PC and it’s on. Go to Network Connections (Windows key + X - select Network Connections) and click on Wi-Fi on the left. If your computer doesn’t have an internal Wi-Fi card, get an external Wi-Fi USB adapter and plug it into a USB port of your PC. Windows will install the appropriate drivers or you may be required to install them - just see the documentation you get with the device. You may need to restart your PC before being able to use the external Wi-Fi USB adapter. 

Step 3: Create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Android smartphone (Wi-Fi tethering). To do this, you can usually swipe down on the notification bar and tap on the hotspot icon. You should also enable the cellular data connection if it’s off. Or, you can go to the Settings screen and toggle them on from the Networks (mobile data) / Tethering (Wi-Fi hotspot) areas.

Step 4: Configure the Wi-Fi hotspot on your Android smartphone. Usually, there’s an icon in the notification area of the Android smartphone. Swipe down and tap on that. You’ll be able to set up the Wi-Fi hotspot: SSID and password.

Step 5: Connect your PC to the Wi-Fi network. Click on the computer or Wi-Fi symbol in the lower right corner of the taskbar (systray). Turn on Wi-Fi by clicking on the tile in the lower side of the pop-up menu and select the Wi-Fi hotspot you set up on your phone. Enter your password (if you set one up) and you’re good to go.