Ethernet and tethering

Share a Mac's internet connection with other devices

Internet Sharing lets other devices use the Mac's internet connection. Choose the connection to share and the ports that other devices use.

Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for System Settings > General > Sharing.Checked: 29 October 2026

Symptoms

  • Other devices cannot find the network that the Mac shares.
  • Devices join the shared network but have no internet.
  • The network on the source port has problems after you turn on Internet Sharing.

Likely causes

  • The wrong source. “Share your connection from” must be the connection that has the internet, such as Ethernet.
  • The same port on both sides. Apple warns that sharing can disrupt the network when the internet and the local network use the same port.
  • Wi-Fi security that devices do not support. WPA3 Personal works only when all devices support WPA3.
  • The source has no internet. Internet Sharing shares only the connection that the Mac has.

How to check

  1. Make sure that the Mac itself has internet on the source connection.

  2. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General. Click Sharing.

  3. Make sure that Internet Sharing is on. Click Configure to see the source and the ports.

How to fix it

  1. In Sharing, turn on Internet Sharing, then click Configure.

  2. In “Share your connection from”, choose the connection that has the internet.

  3. In “To devices using”, turn on the port that other devices use, such as Wi-Fi.

  4. For Wi-Fi, enter a Network Name and a Password. Change the Channel only if you need to.

  5. Choose WPA3 Personal if all devices support it. If not, choose WPA2/WPA3 Personal. Click OK.

  6. Click Done.

  7. Do not share to the same port as the source. On a cable modem, this can affect other customers' network settings.

With Kilobat

  1. Kilobat counts what the Mac's Wi-Fi and Ethernet counters carry. Traffic for shared devices is in the Unattributed part, not under one app.

  2. If the source is a hotspot, set a budget for it. See Set a monthly data budget that resets on renewal day.

Questions

Can I share a connection to IPv6-only devices?

Apple describes a NAT64 option. Option-click the Info button next to Internet Sharing, then turn on Create NAT64 Network.

Does Internet Sharing use my hotspot data?

Yes, if the Mac's source connection is a hotspot. All shared devices use that data.

Sources

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with man <name> in Terminal.