How To Connect Phone To The Internet Without Wi-Fi?

Phones can connect to the internet without the use of Wi-Fi. A connection can be achieved through other means such as using a sim card from a cellular network provider, Bluetooth tethering, Reverse tethering, and the use of Ethernet Cables.

How To Connect Without Wi-Fi?

1. Connecting Phone to Internet Using a SIM Card

Sim cards are small flat objects typically issued by cellular network providers. They make voice calls, send messages, and access the internet and other services. The network providers make available data plans where users can purchase a data bundle that provides limited access to the internet. 

Step 1: Set Up Sim card. Have the sim card placed correctly in the sim card slot provided by the phone and ensure it has good network coverage.

Step 2: From the Settings tab on your mobile phone, navigate to Cellular Network, find Mobile Data and click the switch to turn it on.

Step 3: You now have internet access.

2. Connecting Phone to Internet Using Reverse Tethering

Connections are established using USB cables. USB cables are often used to charge mobile phones or transfer files. This method is the reverse of USB Tethering which grants internet access to the PC from the phone. In this case, the PC grants internet access to the mobile phone. 

Step 1: Set Up the phone. Go to phone settings and navigate to the developer options. Select USB debugging, connect the mobile phone to one end of the USB cable, and connect the PC to the opposite end. Ensure that when the internet is not in use, USB debugging is turned off.

Step 2: Set up the PC. Download Gnirehtet on the PC. Create a new folder and extract the Gnirehtet files previously downloaded. Open command prompt, Execute and Install it.

Step 3: Complete the connection. A prompt is displayed on the phone screen, asking the user to accept USB debugging. Accept it. The command prompt either displays Success, or it closes by itself.

3. Connecting Phone to Internet Using Bluetooth Tethering

Bluetooth is known for facilitating the data transfer of media and documents between devices. It is not widely known for facilitating internet sharing across devices. Internet access can be shared between two devices that have Bluetooth and can use the internet.

Step 1: Turn on Bluetooth and pair both devices. 

Step 2: On the device sharing its internet, under wireless & network, click on more. Under tethering, you would find Bluetooth tethering. Please switch it on.

Step 3: On the device set to receive the internet access, click on the shared device’s name and tick Internet access. You now have internet access.

4. Connecting Phone to Internet Using Ethernet Cable 

Ethernet cables are often used to connect PCs. They facilitate the speedy transfer of files and the internet across PCs. Although a phone is also a computer, it lacks the port required to join an ethernet cable directly. A connection can be facilitated using an OTG cable and an ethernet adapter.

Step 1: Get an ethernet cable, OTG cable, and an ethernet adapter

Step 2: Switch off the device’s mobile data and Wi-Fi. 

Step 3: Connect the ethernet adapter to one end of the ethernet cable and the other end to the computer’s ethernet port.

Step 4: The presence of an ethernet symbol close to the network signal at the top of the phone’s screen confirms a connection. You now have internet access.

Conclusion

Now we have learnt ‘How To Connect Phone To The Internet Without Wi-Fi?’, Using Wi-Fi is great! However, when the Wi-Fi network becomes unstable or when there is a security concern surrounding the available Wi-Fi connections, we seek alternative ways of connecting to the internet. However, the alternatives also have limitations. Wired connections like reverse tethering and ethernet greatly limit the distance from the source of the internet, sim cards are more flexible in terms of movement but could be expensive.

How Do I Access Internet for Free on My Phone, Without Wi-Fi?

Other ways exist to get free internet without Wi-Fi. Some of these include connecting to ethernet ports using an ethernet cable, use of VPNs that allow free internet access, and connecting to someone else’s internet via USB or Bluetooth tethering.

Can a smartphone be used without the internet?

In as much as smartphones are efficient for accessing the internet, they can be used for other functionalities that don’t depend on the internet. Examples are a camera, calculator, calls, messaging, games, music, and video player.