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Reverse USB Tethering on Android: Step‑by‑Step Guide

11 min read Learn how to share your computer's internet connection with an Android phone over USB using a no‑root method and a rooted alternative. Step‑by‑step guide with troubleshooting. September 28, 2026 01:30

Why reverse USB tethering?

Most Android devices can tether their own mobile data to a PC using USB, Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth. The opposite direction—sending a PC’s internet connection to the phone—is called reverse USB tethering. It’s handy when you are on a wired network, have a limited mobile data plan, or need a more stable connection for apps that struggle with Wi‑Fi.

Android does not provide a built‑in UI for this, but the platform’s developer tools (ADB) and a small helper program make it possible without rooting. This guide shows two approaches:

No‑root method using gnirehtet, an open‑source proxy that works on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Rooted method using iptables and usb0 interface for users who already have root access.

Before you start

Charge both devices – reverse tethering can keep the phone active for a while.
Enable Developer options on the Android phone (Settings > About phone > tap Build number 7 times).
Turn on USB debugging (Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options > USB debugging).
Install the latest Android Platform‑Tools (ADB) on your PC.
Have a working internet connection on the PC (wired Ethernet or Wi‑Fi).
If you plan to try the rooted method, ensure you have a stable root (e.g., Magisk) and a custom recovery for flashing.

Method 1 – No‑Root Reverse Tethering with gnirehtet

gnirehtet ("tethering" spelled backwards) creates a VPN‑style tunnel from the phone to the PC. The phone thinks it is connected to a VPN, while the PC forwards all traffic.

Step 1 – Download gnirehtet

Go to the official GitHub releases page (https://github.com/Genymobile/gnirehtet/releases) and download the archive that matches your OS (Windows, macOS or Linux). Extract the folder; you will see two files:

gnirehtet.exe (or just gnirehtet on macOS/Linux)
gnirehtet.apk

Keep the folder handy – you will run the executable from a command prompt.

Step 2 – Install the helper APK on the phone

Connect the phone to the PC via USB. Open a terminal (or Command Prompt) in the folder you extracted and run:

adb install -r gnirehtet.apk

The -r flag replaces any previous version. You should see Success. If you get INSTALL_FAILED_OLDER_SDK, your Android version is older than the minimum supported (API 21). In that case, you’ll need the rooted method.

Step 3 – Start the reverse tethering session

From the same folder, launch the executable:

# Windows
  gnirehtet.exe run

# macOS / Linux
  ./gnirehtet run

The tool will ask you to allow a VPN connection on the phone. Accept the prompt. You should see a short log like:

Starting gnirehtet server…
Device connected, forwarding traffic…

At this point, the phone routes all network traffic through the PC. Open a browser on the phone – you should see the same pages you can access on the PC.

Step 4 – Verify the connection

On the phone, go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi. The Wi‑Fi may stay enabled, but the active network will show a VPN icon. To double‑check, open a terminal app (e.g., Termux) and run:

ping -c 3 8.8.8.8

If you receive replies, the tunnel works. You can also visit https://www.whatismyip.com/ to see that the IP address matches your PC’s public IP.

Important note

Because gnirehtet uses a VPN interface, any existing VPN apps on the phone will be disabled while the session is active. Remember to stop gnirehtet when you no longer need reverse tethering:

# Windows
  gnirehtet.exe stop

# macOS / Linux
  ./gnirehtet stop

Method 2 – Rooted Reverse Tethering Using iptables

If you already have root, you can set up a more “native” reverse tethering that does not rely on a VPN. This method creates a usb0 network interface on the phone and forwards traffic via the PC’s Ethernet.

Step 1 – Prepare the PC side (Linux example)

On a Linux PC, you need iptables and dnsmasq. Install them if missing:

sudo apt-get install iptables dnsmasq

Enable IP forwarding:

echo 1 | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

Set up a NAT rule that forwards traffic from the USB interface (usually usb0 on the phone side, but on the PC it appears as enp0s20f0u1 or similar). Identify the interface with ifconfig or ip a. Replace usb0 in the commands with the actual name.

sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -o usb0 -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i usb0 -o eth0 -j ACCEPT

Start a lightweight DHCP server for the USB interface:

sudo dnsmasq --interface=usb0 --dhcp-range=192.168.42.2,192.168.42.254,12h

Step 2 – Configure the Android side

Connect the phone via USB and open a root shell (e.g., using adb root if your build allows it, or a terminal app with su).

adb shell
su

Create the usb0 interface and assign an IP address that matches the PC’s DHCP range:

ifconfig usb0 192.168.42.10 netmask 255.255.255.0 up

Add a default route pointing to the PC (replace 192.168.42.1 with the PC’s IP on the usb0 network):

route add default gw 192.168.42.1 dev usb0

Set DNS servers – you can use Google’s public DNS for testing:

setprop net.dns1 8.8.8.8
setprop net.dns2 8.8.4.4

Step 3 – Test the connection

On the phone, open a terminal and ping the PC’s USB address:

ping -c 3 192.168.42.1

If you get replies, the link layer works. Then try an external address:

ping -c 3 8.8.8.8

Success means reverse tethering is functional. Browse the web to confirm.

Caution

Manipulating iptables and network interfaces can break connectivity if you mistype a command. Keep a backup of your original iptables rules with sudo iptables-save > ~/iptables.backup so you can restore them later (sudo iptables-restore < ~/iptables.backup).

Troubleshooting common issues

Phone shows “No internet” after starting gnirehtet. Ensure you accepted the VPN permission. If the VPN icon disappears, restart the gnirehtet service.
ADB cannot see the device. Verify USB debugging is enabled and the USB cable is data‑capable. Try a different port or cable.
PC firewall blocks gnirehtet. Add an inbound rule for gnirehtet.exe (Windows) or allow the listening port (default 31416) on macOS/Linux.
Rooted method: DNS resolution fails. Double‑check the net.dns1 property; you can also edit /system/etc/resolv.conf if your ROM respects it.
After stopping gnirehtet, the phone stays in VPN mode. Go to Settings > Network & internet > VPN and manually disconnect the gnirehtet VPN.

When to choose which method

Use the no‑root gnirehtet method if you:

Do not want to modify system files.
Prefer a quick, reversible setup.
Are on Windows or macOS where installing iptables is non‑trivial.

Opt for the rooted iptables method if you already have a rooted device and want a solution that works without a persistent VPN, which can be useful for apps that block VPN connections.

Wrapping up

Reverse USB tethering gives you the flexibility of a wired internet connection on a mobile device without consuming cellular data. By following the steps above you can set it up in minutes, either with a lightweight, no‑root helper or with a more integrated, rooted configuration. Remember to stop the service when you’re done, and keep your ADB tools up to date for the smoothest experience.

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