How to connect iPhone to Mac AdHoc wireless without Router [Reverse Tether]

It’s kind of handy when your phone is connected via wireless to your computer. Here is a guide that let’s you connect your iPhone/iPod Touch to your Mac without having to use any Wifi Router, the connection will be direct, also called AdHoc Wifi connection. Though Apple doesn’t talk about this ability,  It’s  possible,  and very easy to configure.

There’s alot you can do via connecting iPhone to Mac wirelessly. You can use iPhone as webcam, for transferring data, surfing internet without wifi/3G, and several other things.

Let’s get started.

Step 1. click on wireless icon on taskbar, Select “Create Network.”

Give a Network a name.

If you want to make it secure, tickmark Require Password and then specify the password.
Click “OK” and it will create the network. That’s it for the computer side.

Now, Let’s move to the iPhone Side.

Step 2. On iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi Networks, you should be able to see the network name listed. Tap on the name and iPhone will try to connect. You are done.
Now, Simply Open an application and test. For this example I’m demonstrating remote.app the iTunes Remote application.
I chose to open Remote.app and connect it to my iTunes Library.

As you can see, it connected just fine. From here I can use the Remote as if the devices were on the same wireless network. Turning on the “Stay Connected” feature will always result in better stability.

Range: It doesn’t give you range similar to wireless router, but is till good enough. In an open hall, it is able to cover 50 feet area.

Please let us know of other amazing uses you find.

Connecting to Internet: You can connect to internet with one additional step. If your laptop/desktop Mac already is connected to internet via Ethernet, iPhone should be able to browse the internet aswell. Hence, reverse Tethering is achieved.

In System Preferences, go to Sharing – Internet Sharing – Share connection from Ethernet – To computers using Airport – Click Airport Options and set up that the same why as described in the post. Tickmark the checkbox and then confirm  share the connection. That’s it!

Let us know if you face any issues. Happy to help.

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How to connect iPhone to Mac AdHoc wireless without Router [Reverse Tether], 8.0 out of 10 based on 7 ratings

14 thoughts on “How to connect iPhone to Mac AdHoc wireless without Router [Reverse Tether]”

  1. HiTaranfx: What OS is your Mac for this procedure? (pictures 1 and 2 for Step 1 in your instructions above).

    I ask because I don't see anything on my Mac that matches your pictures. I have a white iBook with OS 10.4.11; and iPhone 3Gs with OS 3.0 (I haven't upgraded yet).

    Thanks for additional clarification!

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    • This is Snow Leoapard. Works same ways for 10.5x Leopard too.
      If you are not able to see “create network” look for how to do it in your version.
      That is an AirPort icon in your Menu bar. Try to look for it in the control panel. From the AirPort menu, select Create Network.
      Here is a video :
      http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-
      As per your Email: If I could surf on iPhone with my Mac's 15gig hi speed Internet?
      yes, you can leverage any broadband connection, but the speed will be limited by the wireless connection which is 20-40Mbps roughly.
      Enjoy the tech news updates, amazing how much you are able to produce! Good article the other day re health,iPhones & radar waves or whatever. I do not doubt it!
      My Pleasure.

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      • Thank you very much! Originally I tried searching my mac for “create network” but the Network app kept showing up & I couldn't find anything in it that looked similar to yours. But I will try looking again in Airport & will watch the video first! For now just wanted to say thanks for the quick response!

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  2. all well and good,. but how often does this process go smoothly,..!?!?!? sack of sh…t,.. cant ping this frakking thing for love nor money

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  3. Air Video Works Flawlessly in sending videos with real time conversion to you iphone. Rather handy, and fun to watch movies in bed.

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  4. Once I enable internet sharing – it is no longer a secure network.  Is there any way to surf the internet on a secure network?

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  5. There’s alot you can do via connecting iPhone to Mac wireless. You can use iPhone as webcam for transferring data, surfing internet without Wi-Fi 3G and several other things.
     

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  6. Does this only work if your Macpro is connected via ethernet? My Macpro is connected to a wifi connection at a marina and I can get the iPhone to connect wireless to the computer but it then disconnects the computer from the internet.  I also do not have the option in the pull down box to connect my iPhone via wifi.  The options are bluetooth PAN/firewire or ethernet. I tried doing it via bluetooth, the devices go to connect and then immediately disconnect. Any suggestions

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