How to use TetherMe on iPhone

You can get a tethering or hotspot plan from your carrier since most major carriers across the US provide for one.

Tethering your phone allows you to connect your iPhone to a PC when in a place without a Wi-Fi connection. This is convenient as it allows you to convert your smartphone into a portable Wi-Fi network and use it on your PC anywhere the phone has a connection. However, the costs of tethering plans is expensive as one needs to pay extra on top of the existing monthly plan which might be a lot for many. But, there’s another way, the TetherMe app. With the app, you can tether your phone without paying for the tethering plan from a carrier.

To use TetherMe on your iPhone, make sure it’s jail broken and then go to the Cydia App Store and download TetherMe. Once installed, open Settings on your phone and tap on TetherMe. Tap on Personal Hotspot and toggle the switch.

The TetherMe app works on jailbroken iPhones by spoofing the tethering on the phone making it look like the data being consumed is coming from the iPhone alone and not from the PC. THis allows you to use your regular mobile plan without buying an additional tethering plan.

How to set up TetherMe on iPhone

TetherMe is an app that can be downloaded from Cydia which is a jailbroken phone’s app store. Navigate to the search bar on the bottom-right corner of the screen and type in ‘TetherMe’. Click the app and go to the tweak’s page. From this page, navigate to the top-right corner and locate the ‘Purchase’ button. Here, tap on obtain to proceed. The app costs a few dollars which is way less than what a tethering plan from your carrier costs. After purchasing, you should see ‘Install’ button in the top-right corner. After installation, the button will change to ‘Modify’. Once the app is installed, you can go ahead and use it to tether.

Using the app

With the app already installed, it’s time to use it. On your iPhone, open Setting and scroll down until you locate TetherMe on the list. On the next screen, select ‘Personal Hotspot’ and then tap on the toggle button next to it. Wait for the toggle button to turn into green and then tether. Next, connect the phone to your PC using a USB cable and then on your PC, go to your Wi-Fi settings, search for your iPhone’s name from the list of Wi-Fi networks available and select it to connect to it. Your iPhone should now be tethered.

Apart from the ‘personal Hotspot’ option on the screen there are other options. On the app, to change the source of data being shared with your PC, go to TetherMe and under ‘Data Source’, toggle the switch next to ‘Override Data Source’. For example, if your PC has a broken Wi-Fi, you can connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi and then tether using the TetherMe app and provide an internet connection to your PC.

Usually, when the tethering is set up on your iPhone, then the phone needs to stay in the ‘Personal Menu’ screen or else the phone will shut down if it fails to detect any traffic for some time. To avoid the phone from turning off, you should keep the phone on turning by toggling ‘Keep Broadcasting’. TO do so, on the same screen, navigate to ‘Wi-Fi options’ and under it, toggle the button next to ‘Keep Broadcasting’. THis feature is important if you are using Wi-Fi. The ‘APN selection’ contains your carrier’s information which makes the app work the way it does. To keep the app to work as it is, do not touch this.

Conclusion

TetherMe is an amazing app for someone looking to share an internet connection with their PC. When sharing your Wi-Fi connection, it’s ideal to turn on the ‘Keep Broadcasting’ option to make sure the phone doesn’t go off after a few minutes of inactivity. However, the app isn’t foolproof and a lot of users have pointed out that AT&T can detect when one is tethering via the app, so use it at your own risk.

A Summary table

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do I need to use the Cydia App Store?

There are apps that can’t be found on the regular App Store including TetherMe. These apps are found on an alternative app store called Cydia. In order for your iPhone to access Cydia and its third-party apps, your phone needs to be jail broken.

Is Cydia safe to use on my iPhone?

Cydia is safe to use on your phone. However, the app needs your phone to be jail broken and then obtain root access to the phone’s iOS firmware. When jail breaking, it means that you’re breaking into the security measures put in place by Apple.