One of the lesser known features of networking in OS X is the ability to share an ethernet connection via Wi-Fi. Essentially turning your Mac into a wireless access point, it can provide a great way to share an internet connection with other computers or a mobile device.
This how-to will walk you through the process from start to finish, and outline a few of the more advanced features available for configuring the wireless network.
Setting up Connection Sharing
The first thing to note is that you need to be connected to the internet via an ethernet cable. In this example we’ll be sharing a wired connection via Wi-Fi; the reverse is possible, but isn’t quite as useful. To get started, open System Preferences and click on ‘Sharing’.
Look for the entry entitled ‘Internet Sharing’ to the left, and click the title to access further settings:
Setting up Internet Sharing
The settings to the right are a great example of how user-friendly OS X is. The available options are very self explanatory, asking you which connection you would like to share and how you would like to share it. To share an ethernet connection wireless, select the options as shown above.
When completed, tick the box to the left of ‘Internet Sharing’ to enable the service. This will grey out the previous options, enable Internet Sharing, and alter the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar to illustrate that a connection is being shared.
Simple! You’ll now be able to connect to the new wireless network from another Mac, an iPhone, or any Wi-Fi enabled device.
Advanced Configuration
There are a number of advanced settings you can configure if you’d like a little more control over how your Wi-Fi network operates:
- Network Name: Choose a name that you’d like to represent the connection
- Channel: This allows you to avoid conflict with existing networks
- Encryption: It’s a good idea to turn on some form of security, to prevent others connecting to the network you create
Advanced Settings
Conclusion
A few different uses for this functionality spring to mind, and it can be far handier than is immediately obvious. How about creating a stronger Wi-Fi network in your office for connecting mobile devices (where 3G may not be available)? Alternatively, have you ever considered establishing a small Wi-Fi network in a hotel room where only ethernet is available?
A whole range of scenarios exist for using your Mac as a handy wireless access point, and it can be a useful trick to have up your sleeve.
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One of the lesser known features of networking in OS X is the ability to share an ethernet connection via Wi-Fi. Essentially turning ...
One of the lesser known features of networking in OS X is the ability to share an ethernet connection via Wi-Fi. Essentially turning ...
Thanks! This really helped me with taking my iPod Touch on the road. Where I live, there are very few wi-fi spots – not even paid ones. What I’ve done is buy a data plan for my laptop. With that, I use this product http://www.sierrawireless.com/Product/compass_597.aspx to give myself wireless for my laptop. Now, I can (and have!) share that connection with my iPod Touch.
Way cool!
Wow that’s really cool. So this means that someone with an iPod Touch, but without a wireless router, could still use the WiFi on their iPod permanently through the computer, with the computer still maintaining a connection to the internet itself yes?
Great article.
Cheers
This is really handy to know. Thanks a lot!
This is actually pretty cool. I am thinking, easy coffeeshop sharing :)
One thing to keep in mind with this feature is that if the host Mac goes to sleep, the Wifi connection is lost.
I use this trick to give my Xbox 360 internet access. Super easy and cheap! No need to pay for M$oft’s expensive adapter… All it cost was an ethernet cable!
You can also do this with a 3G connection. When we meet at cafes (or really anywhere) we plug the 3G modem into a Mac and we’ve got WiFi.
Thanks for this, very very useful.
Here is something I wrote about my own inspiration from your article. I’m using my laptop’s wireless modem as a network for my iPod Touch! Way cool!
http://iocchelli.com/funky-cold-medina-ipod-touch-wi-fi/2009/04/
i’ve been wishing for something like this for a while – thx
Hi, quick question, this practice have some kind of side effect for the mac?, i mean overuse somepart of the machine or somenthing, or is totally safe to use for lon period of times? (My wireless router died).
But on every restart you have to put that settings one more time in your system preferences/sharing….
right? :( oder is there an alternative way^^
now i can use my ipod touch! Very useful. thanks
hey i followed all the steps but my ipod still wont connect .. it locates the connection and then a error message pops up that unable to join network .. i am unable to figure out what i did wrong . please help me out . i broke my router and i seriosuly need wifi on my ipod
>> One thing to keep in mind with this feature is that if the host Mac goes to sleep, the Wifi connection is lost.
This appears to be true even if I set my hard disk to never sleep and just let the display go to sleep. This is driving me crazy in my house, as I use my iMac to provide wireless to my MacBook. I just downloaded a freeware “keep connection alive” program that is supposedly sending little packets back and forth to my ISP to keep the connection alive, but do you know if there’s any other way? Is there anything in Preferences that I can adjust?
For those of you that are having problems with your mac going to sleep, try out this little app:
http://caffeine.en.softonic.com/mac
It’s sole purpose is to prevent your computer from going to sleep
it did not work for me. iPhone connect to a shared wireless network on AirPort on my mac but says it has no internet connection.
it just does not work as described.
it is frustrating.