How can I tether an Android to a Mac via USB cable?

NOTE: HoRNDIS only seems to work up to macOS Mojave. Newer versions of macOS are having trouble installing or using HoRNDIS. The only way to use your Android connection on a newer macOS version is as a WiFi Hotspot. A guide to that can be found here.

Tethering your Android phone to your Mac using a USB cable is easy. In this article, we are going to walk you through the steps, so you can use your Android's internet connection on your Mac. This is necessary if you wish to bond your Android's 4G/LTE or Wi-Fi connection with your Mac's Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. 

NOTE: macOS or OS X can be restrictive. Some users will find issues adding connections to their mac. In these cases, get in touch with your network adapter manufacturer for further support.

Step 1: Turn on your Android's Personal Hotspot. To do this, open the Settings app and tap More... Then choose Tethering & Mobile Hotspot. Toggle the USB tethering switch on.

Step 2: Download and install HoRNDIS. HoRNDIS is a driver for Mac OS X that allows you to use your Android phone's native USB tethering mode to get internet access. Sadly, HoRNDIS does not work with macOS Ventura at this time.

Step 3: Connect (or “tether”) your Android to your Mac using a USB cable. When you do this, your Mac should immediately recognize your device. 

Step 4: Now it’s time to get you connected! Open System Preferences on your Mac. Then click Network and select your Android USB. If you don’t see it, click to add it. If you are already connected to Wi-Fi (or another connection), your Personal Hotspot connection might not activate until you uncheck “Disable unless needed” under Status.

Did you know - you can combine multiple Internet connections at once on your device instead of just switching between them? You get more reliable Internet connectivity - learn how to do that with Speedify.

Have a newer Mac that you can't USB tether Android to? Try Pair & Share!

Pair & Share is a unique feature in Speedify that allows you to easily share Cellular connections back and forth between multiple Speedify users on the same local network, without the need for additional cables or adapters.

The feature works almost like a turbocharged personal hotspot, but instead of just one device sharing its connection with another, once paired, both devices can share and receive each other’s connections simultaneously. The more devices you pair with, the more connections you’ll have access to!

And of course, the traffic between devices is fully encrypted, and you always maintain full control over which devices can do what - and can set permissions, limits, or unpair from other devices at any time.

Pair your Android phone to your Mac, and share its Cellular connection so you could enjoy better speeds (your connection over Pair & Share can be up to 10 Mbps) and added stability on your Mac!