How to share a 3G / 4G LTE USB Dongle connection to a router

This is the most efficient way to share your 3G/4G/LTE Dongle connection to your router or Ethernet switch. This set up allows you to share your 3G/4G/LTE Dongle connection across your devices. This article shows you the steps to do this.

Hardware requirements:

Internal Ethernet card, External Ethernet USB adapter (optional), for your router to plug into.

Step 1: Purchase Connectify Hotspot PRO or MAX from the Connectify website. Wired router needs Hotspot PRO or MAX, and so does sharing a 3G/4G connection that Windows lists as cellular or mobile broadband.

Step 2: Tether or connect your USB 3G/4G/LTE Dongle to the internet. If you need more information about how to do this, see how to connect your PC to the internet using a USB 3G/4G LTE dongle.

Step 3: Connect the Ethernet cable from your computer to the WAN port of the router (or in any port if you're using an Ethernet switch).

Step 4: Open Connectify Hotspot. On the Hotspot screen, under Create a, choose Wired router.

Create a, with Wired router chosen

Step 5: Under Internet to share, choose your USB 3G/4G/LTE dongle. The icon next to each connection shows what kind it is, and connections that aren't online show a No internet tag. Learn more about what to choose for Internet to share.

Step 6: Under Share over, choose the Ethernet port your router is plugged into. This is the port Connectify Hotspot shares the internet to, so it can't be the connection you chose under Internet to share.

Step 7: Leave Network access on Routed. Bridged isn't available on 3G/4G connections. Learn more about the difference between routed and bridged network access.

Network access: Routed

Optional: turn on Block ads on the Protection card. It blocks ads for every device on your hotspot, with nothing to install on them, and can save you a lot of data. Ad blocking works with Routed network access. Learn more about the ad blocker in Connectify Hotspot.

The Protection card, with Block ads turned on

Step 8: Click Start hotspot to begin sharing your internet connection with your other devices.

Ready to start, with the Start hotspot button

If Connectify Hotspot says "The 'Share over' adapter you selected is connected to the internet", click Cancel and check that Share over is the port your router is plugged into, not the connection your PC gets its internet from.