How to configure Android USB Tethering on macOS

While WiFi tethering is the most convenient way to share an Internet connection from your Android phone to your Mac, there are times when you may need to use USB instead.

However, while tethering from Android to Windows is easy, doing it between Android and Mac can be more difficult, depending on the Android device you're using. Here's how to set up Android USB Tethering on macOS.

Option 1: Use built-in USB Tethering option (if supported)

If you're using a modern Android device, running Android 12 or higher, USB Tethering support on macOS may already be built in. You don't need any extra tricks to make this work. For example, on a Pixel 7 running Android 13, you just need to connect the phone to your computer and you're done.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Unlock and connect your phone to your Mac via USB cable.

2. If you're using macOS 13, you may need to click to allow your phone to connect.

3. A notification will appear on the phone that says Charging this device via USB . Click on it.

4. In the USB Preferences  screen that opens, set Use USB for to USB tethering.

Now you can start accessing the Internet on your Mac as usual. If you're connected using a 4G or 5G mobile data connection, monitor your usage if you have limited quota.

If the notification doesn't appear when you connect your phone, you can instead go to Settings > Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering and turn on the USB tethering feature. This option will be grayed out if your phone is not connected to your computer with a USB cable, and remember that some menus may be slightly different depending on the type of phone you are using.

To verify the connection on your Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences ) > Network , where you'll see your phone's name listed with a green dot next to it.

If USB tethering on macOS is not supported on your phone and you cannot set up WiFi tethering, there is another option. However, this comes with its own potential difficulty.

Option 2: Use the HoRNDIS driver

Older Android devices, or those without built-in support for USB tethering on Mac, lack the necessary drivers to enable Internet connection sharing. Luckily, you can install a third-party HoRNDIS driver to get it working. This is the driver equivalent to the driver used on Windows computers and is supported by all Android devices.

 HoRNDIS is free and open source and will work well in many cases. However:

1. It hasn't been updated since 2018, so may not support new versions of macOS.
2. It does not work on Macs equipped with Apple Silicon.
3. Discussions on the software's Github page include several workarounds to get HoRNDIS running on M1 and M2 machines. But it is a complicated process involved, thus not suitable for most users.

Assuming you don't fall into the above exceptions, here's how to set up HoRNDIS on your (Intel-based) Mac.

1. Download and install the latest version of HoRNDIS on your Mac (PKG file).

2. You should restart your Mac at this stage, although this may not be necessary depending on the version you are using.

3. Now, follow the steps given above. Connect your phone via USB, tap the notification labeled Charging this device via USB , and set Use USB for to USB tethering.

Now, you will be able to connect to the Internet. Go to System Preferences > Network , where you'll see your phone listed with a green dot next to it. This confirms that the connection is working.

To uninstall HoRNDIS, check the /System/Library/Extensions/ and /Library/Extensions/ folders , delete HoRNDIS.kext. Then restart your Mac.

Using HoRNDIS is easy if your Mac is compatible. However, choose to use it only if the wireless tethering option is not available. You can troubleshoot your Android mobile hotspot to see if that helps.

Lesley Montoya

Update 13 October 2023