How to Connect your PC to Internet using a USB 3G/4G LTE Dongle

Using a cellular dongle to access the Internet from your PC is a good solution. The connection speeds providers offer nowadays are more than enough for you to even enjoy video streaming. Actually, many times a 3G / 4G cellular data connection is faster than some Wi-Fi hotspots! Here are the steps to access the Internet through a 3G / 4G dongle.

Hardware requirements: 3G/4G dongle

Step 1: Install your 3G / 4G dongle on your PC. Connect the dongle through a USB port to your PC. Windows 10 and 11 will most likely set up the connection for you automatically. To confirm this, click the network icon at the right end of the taskbar and check if a Cellular button shows up. On Windows 11, you can also go to Settings > Network & internet > Cellular.

If this doesn't happen, make sure you run the installer program provided to you along with the 3G / 4G dongle. This may be directly on the dongle - open File Explorer > This PC, look for a CD or removable drive, and run the setup program. You may be required to restart your PC after setting this up.

Step 2: Connect to the Internet using the dongle. Make sure you run the proprietary software to connect to the Internet if that exists. Usually, it will be detected by your PC as a cellular connection, an Ethernet connection or a Wi-Fi connection.

If you can't connect, check to see if Windows installed an adapter for the dongle. Open Network Connections:

• On Windows 11, go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > More network adapter options.
• On Windows 10, press Windows key + X, select Network Connections, and click Change adapter options on the right.
• If you have Connectify Hotspot, go to Help and account > Network connections and click Open.

The 3G / 4G dongle should be listed there. If it's not connected, select it and click Diagnose this connection.

If you still can't connect to the Internet after troubleshooting this, contact your ISP/network provider.

Share your dongle's connection with Connectify Hotspot

Once your PC is online, Connectify Hotspot can share the dongle's connection with your other devices: choose the dongle under Internet to share. Sharing a dongle that Windows lists as a cellular or mobile broadband connection needs Hotspot PRO or MAX; on Hotspot Lite (free), it shows a PRO badge. A dongle that connects to Windows as an Ethernet connection can be shared on every edition. See how to share a dongle's connection over Wi-Fi, with Ethernet devices or with a router.