How to Tether on the iPad

by Spanner Spencer
3G iPad models can be tethered just the same as the Wi-Fi-only versions.

3G iPad models can be tethered just the same as the Wi-Fi-only versions.

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Tethering is a process that allows the iPad to share a cellular data Internet connection provided by a device such as an iPhone, portable 3G router or a smartphone. All models of the iPad are equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, and either system can be used to tether the iPad to an Internet-equipped device.

Step 1

Initiate an Internet connection and tethering on your Internet-equipped device. Consult the instructions for your particular device's make and model, or visit the manufacturers website for information on initiating tethering.

Step 2

Tap the "Settings" application on the iPad's Home screen.

Step 3

Tap the "General" button, tap "Bluetooth" and slide the "Bluetooth" switch to "On" if you are tethering using a Bluetooth wireless connection. A list of nearby Bluetooth devices will be detected and displayed. Tap the entry for your Internet-equipped device, and enter the same PIN number on both devices if requested. This will pair the two devices, and it will allow the iPad to wirelessly share the other device's Internet connection.

Step 4

Tap the "Wi-Fi" button in the Settings application on the iPad if you are tethering via a Wi-Fi connection. A list of nearby networks will be displayed. Tap the entry for the Internet-equipped device in the iPad's "Choose a Network" section. Enter the security passcode if required, and the iPad will share the device's Internet connection as if it were a wireless router.

Tip

  • If you're tethering the iPad to an iPhone, open the iPhone's Settings application, tap "Personal Hotspot" and slide the switch to "On." This allows you to share the iPhone's Internet connection through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
  • Bluetooth uses less power than Wi-Fi, making it a better option for maintaining the iPad's battery life during tethering.
  • The iPad will remember any device that it has previously connected with -- whether through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi -- so you can tether them again quickly and easily.

Warning

  • To tether the iPad to an iPhone, a bolt-on tethering package may be required for your iPhone contract before the handset can share its Internet connection.

About the Author

Spanner Spencer has been writing since 2005 for a variety of print and online publications. Focusing on entertainment, gaming and technology, his work has been published by Eurogamer.net, "The Escapist," "GamesTM," "Retro Gamer," "Empire," "Total PC Gaming" "The Guardian," among others. Spencer is a qualified medical electronics engineer with a Business and Technology Education Council certificate in technical writing from Huddersfield Technical College.

Photo Credits

  • Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images