IPhone – Share the Mac’s internet connection (WiFi) with the iPad or iPhone via Lightning cable

internet-sharingipadiphonemacos

I seem to remember connecting my iPad or iPhone to my MacBook Pro laptop using a Lightning cable. From there I was able to let the iOS device access the internet via the Mac’s existing WiFi connection.

[internet]↔[WiFi]↔[MacBook]↔[Lightning cable]↔[iOS device]

I vaguely recall using System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing. But I see only Thunderbolt Bridge and Bluetooth PAN items, nothing for over the Lightning cable.

screen shot of System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing

If the Lightning cable cannot be made to work, might the Bluetooth PAN item let the iOS devices us a wireless Bluetooth connection to use the Mac’s internet connection?

Using macOS Sierra, and iOS 11.

Best Answer

Check System Preferences > Network

There appears to be a problem with your network configuration. You should indeed have seen a iPhone USB item in that list of “Ports”.

Check your System Preferences > Network settings. On the left you should see an item for the network interface name something like “iPhone USB”. If not, try using the Location popup menu at top to Edit Locations and add a new location. Alternatively, you might try the + icon button to add an interface of that type to that list.

screenshot of System Preferences > Network

Now go back to your System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing where you should now see an item named something like iPhone USB.

screenshot of System Preferences > Sharing

From there, turn on the Internet Sharing checkbox to start sharing. If it does not work, try rebooting your iPhone (hold down Power/Sleep button).

You can test to be certain by turning off your iPhone’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular Data. If you have internet access, then you must be using the USB cable connection to access the internet over your Mac’s Wi-Fi connection.

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