How to Tether an iPhone or iPad to your PC via USB

Sometimes it's more convenient to use your iPhone's Internet connection and share it with your PC. This article will show you the steps to connect your PC to an iPhone using a USB cable, and then share that connection with your other devices using Connectify Hotspot.

Step 1: Download and install Connectify Hotspot on your PC. Your iPhone's USB connection shows up on your PC as an ordinary Ethernet connection, so every edition of Connectify Hotspot can share it as a Wi-Fi hotspot, including Hotspot Lite (free). Sharing it to a router or other Ethernet devices (Wired router) needs Hotspot PRO or MAX.

Step 2: Install Apple's software so Windows can use your iPhone over USB: the Apple Devices app, or iTunes for Windows, both from the Microsoft Store. Install the program and run it.

Step 3: Activate the Personal Hotspot on your iPhone. To do this, tap Settings from your home screen, go to Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join.

Step 4: Connect your iPhone to your PC via the USB cable. If your iPhone asks whether to trust this computer, tap Trust. You should see the iPhone listed in Apple Devices or iTunes.

If your iPhone is not detected, on your PC open Device Manager > Other Devices > iPhone. Right click on it and choose "Update Driver" > Search Automatically. Windows will install the latest driver.

If after the installation your iPhone still isn't detected, restart your PC and try again.

Step 5: Make sure your PC connected successfully to your tethered iPhone. On your computer, the tethered connection appears as a wired (Ethernet) connection. To check it, in Connectify Hotspot go to Help and account, and next to Network connections, click Open. Windows' list of network adapters opens, and your iPhone is the Ethernet connection whose adapter is named Apple Mobile Device Ethernet. It should not say it's disconnected.

Step 6: Share the connection with Connectify Hotspot. On the Hotspot screen, choose your iPhone's connection under Internet to share, and then click Start hotspot. It is usually listed as Apple Mobile Device Ethernet.

For every step, see How to Set up Connectify Hotspot.