You'd be lucky to find mobile data on your phone when you're traveling. And to save up on the costly mobile data, its natural to look for Wi-Fi networks. But when you can't find one, it is necessary to use your phone. Imagine the following situations- 1. You went to an Airport or Hotel, where one needs a username, and password, to log in to Wi-Fi. Now, if your friends come over, or if you have multiple devices, there is no way for them to have internet access. 2. Your laptop is not getting the proper signal in one part of your house, but your smartphone is, and now you wish to use your Android smartphone as a Wi-Fi repeater. 3. You want to get multiple devices under same Wi-Fi network for file sharing, but you don’t have a router. All 3 of the problem could be solved if you can just create a Wi-Fi hotspot from an Android, which is already connected to Wi-Fi network. But there is one big problem - due to Android restriction, you can not share Wi-Fi while connected to the Wi-Fi network. Yes, Android does come with a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot option, which when turned ON, will create a new Wi-Fi hotspot. But the key here is - you can share the internet from your mobile data to Wi-Fi. Also Read: Top 5 Software to Share Files Between Two Computers Using Wi-Fi Thankfully, there is a way to convert your Android into a Wi-Fi repeater. Meaning, your Android is connected to a Wi-Fi network and you can create a hotspot sharing the same Wi-Fi network. And both devices will be able to use the Internet at the same time. So, next time you visit a Hotel or an Airport, where they give you internet access in only one device, using this workaround you can turn on Android smartphone as a Wi-Fi repeater, and get Internet in multiple devices. No need to rely on mobile data and the speed is pretty fast as well. Watch the following video or read the article for step by step instruction and screenshots. Also Read: See What Others Are Browsing on Your Wi-Fi

How does it work

Well, the trick is pretty simple, all you need is an app and some basic network configuration, and that’s it. But first, let's understand the problem and how this app is working around it. The reason why there is no default setting in Android to activate Wi-Fi repeater is because of the limitation of the network adapter of Android, it does not let you create two connection at the same time, i.e. if you try to create a hotspot while the Wi-Fi is ON, the Android system will automatically turn OFF the Wi-Fi. And the app called NetShare no root tethering works smartly around this restriction. It first creates a workgroup, which takes the other devices on the same network. Do note, that as of now, the other device doesn't have access to the internet. To share the internet, the app creates a VPN in Android, which you’ll have to connect to from another device. Once you enter the proxy settings in the second device, it’ll redirect all the internet traffic through your device thereby having internet access. Let's see how to setup and get it working. Also Read: Top 3 VPN Based Hosts File Editor Android Apps (No Root)

Installing and Configuring NetShare

1. From your Android smartphone, head over to Google Play store and download NetShare no root tethering. This app is freemium and as the name suggests doesn't require ROOT access. Installing and Configuring NetShare 2. Next, open up the app and turn it on and that’s it. It’ll create a new Wi-Fi network with a complicated name and Wi-Fi password. Most of you’ll think about changing the network name and password but unfortunately, you can not do that. Due to Android restriction, you cannot change the WiFi name or password (like you do for Wi-Fi hotspot). Take a note of Wi-Fi name and password, we'll have to connect to it, from other devices. Installing and Configuring NetShare Now, the steps are a bit different on the different platforms - let's start with Windows first.

Share Wi-Fi from Android to Windows

1. Open up your Windows PC, and connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot that says - DIRECT-Android and enters the password that you saw on the app next step. If you open up the browser, you won’t see get internet access even though you are connected to the network. To fix that, you need to set up a proxy IP. Share WiFi from Android to Windows 2. Head over to the Control Panel > Network and Internet > Internet Option, Share WiFi from Android to Windows 3. Next, click on the Connection tab and then LAN settings. Share WiFi from Android to Windows 4. Check 'Use a proxy server for your LAN' and then enter the proxy IP address and port number. Server: 192.168.49.1 Port: 8282 Share WiFi from Android to Windows 5. Save changes and close the windows. Now, if you go to the browser and search for anything, you’ll have full internet access. The speed you get here will be the original speed of your wifi and you’ll be able to use internet on both devices at the same time. Related: 5 Ways To Kick People Off Your WiFi Network

Share WiFi from Android to Android

1. Bring in your second Android device, and install the same Netshare app in it. Share WiFi from Android to Android 2. Now connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the first Android device  Share WiFi from Android to Android 3. Once you connect to the WiFi hotspot, launch the Netshare app. You'll see a pop up asking for VPN connection. Tap on Ok, and that's it. The second device will be connected to the WiFi network and have internet access as well. The app will take care of setting up the proxy address, you don't have to do anything.  Share WiFi from Android to Android

Share Wi-Fi from Android to macOS

1. Open up your Mac computer, and connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the Netshare app. Share WiFi from Android to macOS 2. Go to System Preferences > Network Share WiFi from Android to macOS 3. On the left click on WiFi and then click on Advanced. Make sure the padlock at the bottom left of the screen is unlocked or you won't be able to make any changes in the next screen. To unlock the padlock, click on it and enter your login password. Share WiFi from Android to macOS 4. A new window will pop open, click on the Proxies tab. Check the box that says WEb proxy (HTTP) and type in the following IP address and port number. '192.168.49.1' and '8282'  Do the same for Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS) Share WiFi from Android to macOS 5. Once done, click on OK and save changes. Now you'll be able to share your Android WiFi hotspot to your macOS

Share WiFi from Android to iOS

1. Go to the Setting app and go to WiFi setting. Start with connecting to the WiFi hotspot created by the Netshare app on Android Share WiFi from Android to iOS 2. Tap on the WiFi setting and then tap on the 'icon' next to the WiFi network to access the specific settings of the wireless connection. Share WiFi from Android to iOS3. Tap on the Manual option at the bottom half of the screen and type in the following under the HTTP proxy option Server: 192.168.49.1 Port: 8282 Start with connecting to the WiFi hotspot created by the Netshare app on Android 5. Once done, tap on the WiFi network button and then go back to your Home Screen to save changes. And that's it, now you'll be able to share your Android WiFi hotspot to your iOS Start with connecting to the WiFi hotspot created by the Netshare app on Android

Wrapping Up: Using your Android as a WiFi repeater

I’ve tried the Netshare app on my Google Pixel and Redmi 4, as my regular Internet source to my workstation, it works flawlessly. The battery drain was also minimal. If you ever saw a connection issue, just restart the app and it should start working fine again. However looking for play store comments it does look like the apps don't work on some low-end Android smartphone. And the biggest bomb is, after the trial period, the app will stop working for https traffic, and since Google runs on https only, it effectively means you internet will stop working after using some data. And the only way to fix that is by upgrading to pro plan, which can cost somewhere around $6. And that’s a lot, do keep in mind that for $20, you can buy a physical wifi repeater. Update: The developer of Netshare contacted us and they are considering giving out 10 free minutes of HTTPS connection per session. See the screenshot below. Related: 9 Tips To Fix – WiFi Connected But No Internet Access