How to Tether Your Android Smartphone Using PdaNet+

Use PdaNet+ to turn your smartphone into a modem for your laptop

By
Melanie Uy
Melanie Uy
Writer
  • Queens College
  • Harvard University Extension School
Former Lifewire writer Melanie Uy has 5+ years' experience writing about consumer-oriented technology and is an expert telecommuter.
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Updated on November 17, 2022
Android

What to Know

  • Download and install PdaNet+ on PC and Android > connect Android device to computer with USB.
  • Next, on Android device, select USB Tether > confirm with OK on PC > select Install.
  • Next, check Android for USB Debugging request > select Always Allow from this computer > OK > Finish.

This article explains how to tether a smartphone to a laptop using PdaNet+ via USB cable.

Note

Many smartphones now offer built-in hotspot functionality, which you can usually find in Settings > Tethering (or similar term). If your phone has this capability, you don't need a separate app.

Download and Install PdaNet+ on Your Windows PC

Setting up PdaNet+ is a matter of installing it on both your smartphone and your Windows computer.

  1. Download the PdaNet+ Windows installer from the June Fabrics website.

    Download PdaNet on Windows 10

  2. Install PdaNet+ on your computer. The setup on the computer side is straightforward, although there are several steps involved. Start by running the installer. The first part will ask you some basic questions about how you want to install PdaNet+. Generally, the defaults are alright.

  3. During the installation, PdaNet+ will ask you to connect your Android device. Stop, and turn your attention to your phone.

    Windows 10 PdaNet Install connect Android

  4. Download PdaNet+ from the Google Play Store. (The developer is June Fabrics Technology Inc.)

    Screenshots from the Google Play Store showing how to download and open PdaNet+

  5. For PdaNet to connect, you're going to need to enable USB debugging on your Android device. If you haven't already, take a moment to do that.

  6. Connect your phone to the computer via USB.

  7. Open the PdaNet+ app on Android, and select USB Tether.

    Screenshots of PdaNet with the USB Tether and OK buttons highlighted

  8. Press Ok back on the Windows installation window.

  9. Next, Windows will warn you that the PdaNet+ installer is looking to install a new device. Press Install to continue.

    Windows 10 PdaNet+ install device

  10. The installer will then ask you to allow USB debugging when prompted on your Android device.

    Windows 10 PdaNet+ allow debugging

  11. Open your Android device, and you should see the debug request. Select Always Allow from this computer, and press Ok.

    Screenshots of PdaNet with the Always Allow option highlighted

  12. The Windows installer will let you know that the install completed successfully. Make sure the Connect PdaNet+ after installation is selected, and choose USB mode. Then, press Finish.

    PdaNet's installation successful window with the USB Mode option highlighted

  13. Turn to your Windows PC. You'll see that you've successfully connected. In the future, you'll use the PdaNet+ icon in your system tray to connect on Windows and the App on Android.

    Windows 10 connected to PdaNet+

  14. When you get a Connected! notification on your laptop, you'll be able to surf the web using your Android's data connection.

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