How to Tether Your Android Phone with WiFi Tether

WiFi Connection is an app for rooted Android phones that lets you use your phone as a wireless hotspot. This allows users to bypass carriers built-in Wi-Fi hotspot software, which is especially useful on phones that come with unreliable hotspot apps like HTC Thunderbolt.

Installing the WiFi Tether App

Note that you must have a rooted Android phone for this app to work. While most Android users don’t root their phones, doing so will allow apps not approved by Google, manufacturers or carriers to run. Note that rooting your phone is not without risk. You will also need Root Explorer to complete the installation.

1. Open your phone’s Settings app and select the Apps menu. Be sure to check ‘Unknown Sources’.
2. Get WiFi Tether by visiting this Google Code page Download the app on your Android phone and click on it. downloads tab at the top of the page
3. use Root Explorer, navigate to your downloads folder and tap the downloaded file. It will be in the downloads folder of your phone’s memory card.
4. Tap the filename to upload it. It will ask if you are sure.

Enable Security Features

Launch the app by tapping its icon. Before turning on the tethering feature, do the following:

1. From within the app go to Menu & Settings and put a checkmark on Enable Wi-Fi Encryption.
2. Under the Encryption option there is an option that says Change Password. Tap it and enter a good password consisting of both random letters and numbers.
3. Tap OK and now you have encryption turned on.
4. OPTIONAL: You can also change the SSID and hide the SSID if you really want extra security. If you hide your SSID, you will have to manually enter it on other devices when you connect the phone to the Internet.
5. Now scroll down to the Enable Access Control option and make sure a checkmark is placed in the box.

Now go back to the main screen of the application from the settings screen.

Connect Other Devices with Wi-Fi Tether

1. Tap the big WiFi icon in the middle of the screen. It will turn yellow and a popup will tell you it has started connecting.
2. On your laptop (or other WiFi device), try to connect to the phone’s hotspot using the WiFi connection software on your computer or other WiFi device. In Windows, look for the WiFi symbol at the bottom right of your screen. On Macs, click the WiFi icon at the top right of your screen.
3. If you have hidden the SSID in the steps above, you will have to enter it manually each time you connect a WiFi device.

After your device is connected to the phone’s hotspot, you will need to grant access by doing the following:

1. Tap Menu and Access Control from within the app.
2. The devices listed will be those that try to connect to your phone. Make sure Access Control at the top is enabled.
3. Tap the device you want to connect to the phone and the phone will now be allowed to use the Internet connection.

final judgments

This app is no longer available on the Market. Google has succumbed to requests from wireless carriers who want Android users to pay a premium for tethering. This app will allow you to bypass paying this restriction, but we do not condone such activities. If you use it, you must still pay for the tethering service, otherwise you may be violating your carrier’s terms. If such activity is detected, you may have to register and pay after the event.

The best reason to use this app is because it works better than the firmware on some phones. On HTC Thunderbolt, while WiFi Tether actually serves its stated purpose, the built-in application is unreliable. The problem was almost causing me to return my HTC Thunderbolt.

The app has a few nice extras, including a battery thermometer. There’s also a bandwidth meter that keeps track of how much data is used by connected devices and can help prevent you from exceeding bandwidth limits.