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How to Share Your VPN Connection on Routers, Windows, macOS, and Android

How to Share Your VPN Connection on Routers, Windows, macOS, and Android

By Elena Constantinescu

posted on

In this article, we are showing you a step-by-step guide to share your VPN connection with other users and devices. Instructions are separately available for routers, Windows, macOS, and Android.

Sharing your VPN connection has many benefits, from exceeding the maximum number of simultaneous connections allowed by your service provider, to adding VPN support to devices which do not natively have it.

And if you are one of those people who think that giving is better than receiving, you can extend VPN functionality by giving access to family members or friends who do not have virtual private network services of their own.

Let us see what is available on today’s menu (click to jump to topic):

How to share your VPN connection using a router

Installing a VPN client at the router level is the simplest way to share your virtual private network connection with all nearby users and devices. It is particularly helpful for providing a VPN connection to gadgets that do not have built-in support for virtual private network technology.

Here is what you need to do.

1. Get a router compatible with OpenVPN clients

  • Check your router’s firmware to see if it supports VPN clients. For example, if you have an ASUS router, it likely has the ASUSWRT firmware installed, which has native support for the OpenVPN protocol
  • Open the web browser and visit the administration page of the router by typing its IP address (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1)
  • Log into the router’s control panel using a username and/or password. If you do not know what they are, it is possible that you have not changed the default settings, which can be found on the back or side of the router device
  • Once you are in, explore standard and advanced options to look for a VPN section. Please note that a “VPN server” option is not enough. Instead, you should find something in the lines of “VPN client” or “VPN client mode”
  • If your router firmware does not support VPN clients, look up information about the device on Google by make and model to see if it allows the installation of open-source firmware, like DD-WRT, Tomato and OpenWRT
    • Install DD-WRT, Tomato or OpenWRT on your router, depending on compatibility options. We recommend Tomato for intuitive features (easy), DD-WRT for extensible features (medium) and OpenWRT for control over everything (hard)
  • If your router’s stock firmware does not support VPN clients and the device does not support open-source firmware, then you must buy a new VPN router

2. Find a VPN service to set up on the router

When you have decided to explore the Internet for the best possible virtual private network solution, make sure to pick a VPN service that meets these conditions:

  • Supports OpenVPN and delivers great speed test results when using this protocol
  • Safe jurisdiction and logging policy
  • Supports many countries and servers
  • Excellent customer support
  • Money-back guarantee

If you went with a VPN router with open-source firmware, find out if the VPN service can be installed on it (look up dedicated pages on the official website or contact customer support to ask). There are many pros and cons to using a virtual private network service, so make sure to weigh your options carefully.

If you need help with choosing a reliable VPN service, you can trust our advice. We have tested over 50 products so far and selected the best VPN services of 2019. The top spots are occupied by ExpressVPN and NordVPN, so we recommend installing any of these two applications on your router to share your VPN connection with other devices.

3. Download and purchase the VPN service

If you want to proceed using one of our VPN recommendations, then you can download and purchase ExpressVPN here or NordVPN here. There are multiple subscription plans available, depending on how long you plan to use a VPN service.

For example, ExpressVPN has a monthly, yearly and six-month plan. Meanwhile, NordVPN has a monthly, yearly, two-year and three-year plan. The longer the period, the lower the price you will have to pay for each month.

4. Download the OpenVPN manual configuration files

The connection details of the VPN service have to be manually configured at the router level when using the OpenVPN protocol. Please note that, although some routers support PPTP and L2TP, you should not use these protocols. They are now considered insecure and obsolete. Some VPN developers have already dropped support for PPTP and L2TP.

If you opted for one of our suggestions, here are the instructions to help you download the OpenVPN manual configuration files.

Download OpenVPN manual config for ExpressVPN

  • Go to the ExpressVPN site here
    • Click My Account, then sign in with the email address and password associated with your premium account
    • If you have not already purchased a premium subscription plan for ExpressVPN, you can do it here
    • Once you are in the account page, click Set Up More on Devices or Setup
  • Scroll down the setup page and click Manual config
    • At Manual Configuration, select OpenVPN
    • Scroll down until you see the list of regions: Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
    • Click a region to expand its list and view all available OpenVPN servers
    • Click a server to download its OpenVPN configuration file

Download OpenVPN manual config for NordVPN

  • Head over to the NordVPN site here
    • Click My Account to log into your premium account using an email address and password
    • If you do not already have an active subscription plan to NordVPN, you can get one here
    • Once you are logged in, click Servers on the top part of the screen
    • In the servers page, click Recommended Server
  • Pick a preferred VPN server
    • If you want to use the server automatically picked by NordVPN, then go below Server recommended for you and click Show available protocols
    • Otherwise, go to Adjust server preferences on the right side, where you can set filters by country, server type, and security protocol
    • Find the OpenVPN TCP or OpenVPN UDP entries and click Download config to download the OpenVPN configuration file

5. Set up OpenVPN on your router

Installing OpenVPN on a router is not as easy as launching a VPN client on the desktop, selecting a server, and clicking the connect button. Instead, you must create an OpenVPN profile for each server. If you opted for one of our recommendations between ExpressVPN and NordVPN, you can follow the official router setup guides to ExpressVPN here and NordVPN here.

Once you complete all those steps, your router’s entire Internet connection will be routed through the VPN service. All users and devices connected to your router’s Wi-Fi network will automatically benefit from secure browsing facilitated by the virtual private network.

How to share VPN connections from Windows 10 (wired)

The following instructions assume that your computer already has a VPN service installed. Before proceeding, make sure you are logged in as the administrator or have the admin’s credentials. Open the gallery slider below to get a better view of the steps.

Step 1

  • Step 1: Take these actions
    • Connect the other device to your Windows computer using an Ethernet cable
    • Start your VPN application and connect to a server
    • If you need help with picking a reliable VPN service, we recommend using ExpressVPN (buy here)
    • Right-click the Start button and select Network Connections from the menu
    • Below Change your network settings, click Change adapter options
  • Step 2: In Network Connections
    • Find and right-click your VPN connection
    • Select Properties from the menu
  • Step 3: In Properties
    • Go to the Sharing tab
    • Click Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection
    • Then, open the drop-down menu under Home network connection and select the Ethernet connection that provides you with direct Internet access
    • Click OK to confirm. You will receive a popup message saying that “Since this connection is currently active, some settings will not take effect until the next time you dial it.” This means that you must disable your Ethernet connection and re-enable it to commit the new modifications

How to share VPN connections from Windows 10 (wireless)

There are more steps involved in sharing a VPN connection via Wi-Fi, which can be done by either configuring some network-related settings on your own or by turning to a third-party app that can do the hard work on your behalf (more on this later).

1. Make sure your computer supports hosted networks

To turn your machine into a host and make it capable of distributing your VPN connection, get started by checking its hardware configuration to make sure it supports hosted networks.

To do this, follow these instructions:

  • Turn on your Wi-Fi connection
  • Click the Start button or press the Win key
    • Type cmd in the search box
    • Right-click on Command Prompt in the search results list
    • In the right-click menu, select Run as administrator
  • In Command Prompt, type netsh wlan show drivers and press Enter
  • If you see the following text
    • No wireless interface found (or something similar) -> your computer does not have an integrated Wi-Fi adapter, the external Wi-Fi card is not correctly plugged in, or the USB port is not working properly (try a different USB port)

Note: Do not exit Command Prompt yet.

2. Create and run a hosted network

The connection of your VPN service cannot be directly shared with other users, because its username and password cannot be used by remote devices. Instead, it is necessary to create a new, auxiliary connection that has its own username and password, which will be safely used by others. Check out the image below to see how it looks like.

Type the next line of text in Command Prompt:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourConnectionName key=Password

  • YourConnectionName is the name you want to assign to the new auxiliary connection (e.g., “MyVPN”). Keep in mind that it will be visible to remote users connected to your Wi-Fi network
  • Password is the password you want to assign so that the remote devices can use it to sign into your Wi-Fi network. It must have at least eight characters. Suffice it to say, it should be as complex as possible to protect the connection from hackers. Therefore, it’s advisable to opt for a passphrase made of random and mixed characters (uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols)

Once the new connection is setup, you have to manually launch it to make it visible in the Network Connections area using the netsh wlan start hostednetwork command.

Note: At this point, it is safe to exit Command Prompt.

Alternative: use HostedNetworkStarter

If you do not feel comfortable using the console, you can use a third-party application called HostedNetworkStarter, which presents a graphical interface and intuitive controls for setting up and running a hosted network. It is free and can be used for Windows 7 or newer editions. Check out the two images below to find out how it looks like.

HostedNetworkStarter lets you easily specify the name and key of the new hosted network, as well as share the Internet and network from any active connections. Plus, it can remember the most recent settings for quickly starting the hosted network in future sessions.

3. Run your VPN application and share your VPN connection

Launch your VPN client, connect to a server, and make sure that you have successfully connected. You can test it by visiting a website that reveals your IP address, such as WhatsMyIP (before and after connecting to the VPN). In the worst case scenario, your VPN might be leaking your IP address, but there are ways to stop this.

To set up VPN sharing, follow these instructions. Open the gallery slider below to learn more about what you need to do.

Step 1

  • Step 1: Right-click the Start button or press Win key
    • Select Network Connections from the menu
    • At Change your network settings, select Change adapter options
  • Step 2: In Network Connections
    • Locate the connection of your VPN client, right-click it and select Properties from the menu
    • If you have not installed a VPN service until now, we recommend ExpressVPN (buy here)
    • If you are not sure which connection is the right one, disconnect and reconnect to the remote server from the VPN client while keeping an eye on the Network Connections window to see which entry is being controlled
  • Step 3: In Properties, go to the Sharing tab
    • Select Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection
    • Click the menu under Home networking connection to select the entry associated with your auxiliary connection (e.g., “Local Area Connection* 10” associated with “MyVPN”)
    • Click OK
  • Step 4: It is necessary to restart your VPN connection to apply the new configuration

Now you can share the credentials of the auxiliary connection (e.g., “MyVPN”) to the remote users who wish to benefit from VPN features. It is just like connecting to an ordinary Wi-Fi network. However, you can easily disconnect from the VPN and switch to another server, so that all connected devices take advantage of the new IP address.

Note: The same steps can be taken to share a VPN connection from Ethernet to Wi-Fi. You just have to swap the Wi-Fi connection above (the one that gives you direct Internet access) with the Ethernet connection.

Alternative: use Windscribe’s Secure Hotspot

Windscribe is a VPN client that has a special module available for Windows users only. Called Secure Hotspot, the feature gives you the possibility to seamlessly create a hotspot. It can be shared with other users and devices that want to take advantage of secure browsing facilitated by VPN.

The feature only requires you to have a built-in Wi-Fi card or an external Wi-Fi adapter. Of course, the devices that want to connect to the VPN must fulfill the same conditions. You have to set an SSID name and password for the network, turn on “Secure Hotspot,” and share the connection details to your friends. Then, they can connect to your VPN connection like accessing a regular Wi-Fi network.

How to fix connectivity issues on Windows

For the VPN sharing to work, all three connections should be operational: your Wi-Fi with direct Internet access, the VPN connection controlled by your VPN client, and the auxiliary connection you just created (e.g., “MyVPN”). However, if you encounter any problems related to this, like “Not connected” or “No Internet access” messages, follow these instructions:

  • Launch your VPN client and disconnect from the VPN server
  • If you have not downloaded and installed a VPN client until now, we recommend using ExpressVPN (buy here)
  • Launch Command Prompt as administrator and type netsh wlan stop hostednetwork to deactivate the auxiliary connection
  • Right-click your Wi-Fi connection (the one that provides direct Internet access)
    • Select Properties from the menu
    • Click Configure
    • Go to the Driver tab
    • Click Disable Device
    • Click Yes to confirm modifications
  • Wait for a few seconds, then click Enable Device from the same Drivers tab
  • Perform the same operation on the auxiliary connection (e.g., “MyVPN”) to disable and re-enable the device
  • Launch Command Prompt as admin and type netsh wlan start hostednetwork to re-enable the auxiliary connection
  • Go back to your VPN client and connect to a VPN server

If the problem persists, go back to Command Prompt (as admin) and type the following commands (press Enter between each line of text):

  • netsh winsock reset
  • netsh int ip reset
  • ipconfig /release
  • ipconfig /renew
  • ipconfig /flushdns

Restart the computer. The three connections should work properly now. But if the problem persists, it might be necessary to update your device drivers to the latest version, update your operating system, change your OS, or upgrade your hardware.

How to share VPN connections from macOS

To be able to share your VPN connection on macOS, the device must remain connected to the Internet in wired mode. The remote devices which are granted access to the VPN can be connected either wirelessly or through an Ethernet cable to your computer.

Unfortunately, it is not enough to connect to a remote server in your VPN client and then configure sharing options. Instead, you have to manually configure the VPN settings before sharing it with other devices via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Make sure you are not connected to a remote server in your VPN app while taking the next steps. The following instructions are available for macOS High Sierra.

1. Manually set up a VPN connection

Here are easy instructions to help you manually set up a VPN connection on macOS. In this example, we used an L2TP over IPsec configuration. You can get a better view by opening the gallery slider below.

Step 1

  • Step 1: Take the following actions
    • On the Finder bar
      • Click the Apple logo to open a menu
      • Go to System Preferences -> Network
    • In Network
      • Click the + button on the lower-left part of the window
      • Set Interface to VPN
      • At Server Name, write any display name for the VPN connection
    • At VPN type
      • There are three options: L2TP over IPSec, Cisco IPSec and IKEv2
      • Visit the website of your VPN client or contact the support team to get manual configuration details for any of these protocols (depending on what is supported by the VPN service), including login credentials (username and password) and available VPN servers for each protocol
      • If you have not picked a VPN service yet, we recommend using ExpressVPN (buy here)
      • For instance, if you select L2TP over IPSec, click Create
  • Step 2: Edit the next properties
    • Leave Configuration to Default
    • At Server Address, write the remote VPN server to connect to (either a domain name or IP address)
    • At Account Name, write your username
    • Click Authentication Settings
  • Step 3: In Authentication Settings
    • Set User Authentication to the password associated with your username
    • At Machine Authentication, select Shared Secret  and type 12345678 in the box as Shared Secret)
    • Click Ok to confirm settings and return
  • Step 4: Click Advanced to open a new window
    • Enable the Send all traffic over VPN connection option by ticking its box
    • Click Ok to confirm settings and return
    • Check the box to Show VPN status in menu bar to enable the setting
    • Hit Apply and specify your macOS username and password if requested to commit the new modifications
    • Once all settings are made, select the new VPN connection and click Connect

2. Share the VPN connection over Ethernet or Wi-Fi

Once you have put together a VPN profile on macOS, here is what you need to do to share the connection with other devices through a Wi-Fi network or by using an Ethernet cable.

  • Go back to System Preferences and click Sharing to open a new window
  • There is a list of sharing features on the left side of the window. Select Internet Sharing but do not check its box yet
  • On the right side, click the drop-down menu next to Share your computer from and select the new VPN connection you just created
  • At To computers using, choose the way you want to share the VPN connection with other devices
    • Check the box of Ethernet if another computer is plugged into yours through a cable
      • Check the box of Internet Sharing
      • Click Start on the popup message
      • If the connection is successful, you should see Internet Sharing: On with a green icon indicating that it is operational
    • Check the box of Wi-Fi if the remote adapters have a Wi-Fi interface (either a built-in card or external adapter)
      • Click the Wi-Fi Options button to configure settings (just like creating a new Wi-Fi network)
      • Specify the Network Name that will be visible to other devices via Wi-Fi
      • Leave Channel to default
      • Set Security to WPA2 Personal
      • Write a Password (at least eight characters), type it again at Verify, and click Ok
      • Check the box of Internet Sharing
      • Click Start on the popup message
      • If the connection is successful, you should see Internet Sharing: On with a green icon indicating that it is operational
    • Share the Wi-Fi name and password with the remote devices who want to benefit from your VPN connection wirelessly

How to share VPN connections from Android

If you want to share your VPN connection with other devices using your Android, it is not enough to enable Android tethering. Other users will still be able to connect to your smartphone or tablet, but they will be directly connected to the Internet, not the VPN. However, you can resort to a third-party application that can help you bypass this Android limitation.

Please note that most such utilities require you to root your Android. But PdaNet+ is an exception, so you do not risk bricking your device. It is a simple tool designed to share your Internet connection with others. The difference between this app and Android’s tethering mode is that it can also broadcast your VPN connection to others.

To use PdaNet+, you need a device running Android 4.1 or a newer version, macOS X, or Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP. In the following instructions, we used PdaNet+ on Android 9 and Windows 10 to test the VPN connection. Before getting started, make sure that you have the USB debugging setting enabled on your Android (at Developer options).

1. Downloading and installing PdaNet+ on your Android

To begin, you must download and set up PdaNet+ on your Android smartphone or tablet. There are two ways in which you can do that, which are portrayed in the two images below.

Option 1

  • Option 1: Using Google Play Store
    • Look for PdaNet+ in the Google Play Store, tap Install and then Open to launch the app
  • Option 2: Using the APK file
    • If you have problems using the Play Store, go to the PdaNet+ official site
    • Click Download Android apk file directly
    • Open the downloaded APK file
    • Tap Install and then Open

2. Downloading and installing PdaNet+ on Windows

Once you set up PdaNet+ on your Android, you must also download and install the tool on Windows so that you can connect the two devices. Here are simple instructions to help you. Make sure to open the gallery slider below to see exactly what you need to do.

Step 1

  • Step 1: Visit the PdaNet+ official site
    • Click Download Windows client app
    • Run the downloaded EXE to start installation
  • Step 2: If User Account Control (UAC) asks if you are sure you want to allow the application to make changes to your device, click Yes
  • Step 3: At the first wizard step, select I accept the agreement and click Next
  • Step 4: In the second wizard step, you can review the system requirements before clicking Next
  • Step 5: In the following wizard stage, you can choose an installation directory for PdaNet+, then click Next. We recommend leaving the default selection
  • Step 6: When you see the Enable USB mode message, click OK
  • Step 7: In the USB Driver Installation window, click Skip USB
  • Step 8: In the last wizard stage, deselect Connect PdaNet+ after installation and click Finish

3. Sharing the Android’s VPN connection via Wi-Fi

Using a Wi-Fi network is the simplest way to share your Android’s VPN connection. Up to ten devices can simultaneously join the network to take advantage of secure browsing. Besides, it is not required to install special software on those devices.

Here is what you need to do, as can be noticed in the two images below.

Step 1

  • Step 1: On your Android
    • Connect to a VPN server
    • If you still do not have a premium subscription plan to ExpressVPN, you can get one here
    • We used ExpressVPN in our example
  • Step 2: Launch the PdaNet+ app on Android
    • Tap WiFi Direct Hotspot in the main menu
    • Once the WiFi hotspot is created, the app shows its Name and Password on the top of the screen
    • Make sure to share the Name and Password with the devices you want to provide VPN access to

4. Connecting to the Android’s Wi-Fi hotspot

At this point, the PdaNet+ Wi-Fi hotspot should be up and running on your Android smartphone or tablet. Here is what you need to do on Windows to join the Wi-Fi network using the PdaNet+ software. The gallery slider below portrays the instructions well.

Step 1

  • Step 1: On Windows
    • Click the PdaNet+ icon in the systray
    • In the menu, go to Settings
    • Click WiFi Pairing
  • Step 2: The tool begins to auto-scan for PdaNet+ hotspots in range
    • Select the hotspot’s name (as shown on Android)
    • Click the Password box and enter the key (as shown on Android)
    • Click Connect WiFi
  • Step 3: Good job! You have successfully connected to the Android’s Wi-Fi hotspot from Windows
    • On the Android, you can switch to different VPN servers to share the VPN connection with Windows
    • Multiple devices can be simultaneously connected to the Android’s hotpot
  • Step 4: To find out how to connect from other platforms than Windows
    • Make sure the Wi-Fi hotspot is enabled on PdaNet+ for Android
    • Tap the Help button to open a menu
    • Tap a device from the menu to view instructions
      • On other Android devices, you must install the PdaNet+ app and use the Connect to a PdaNet Hotspot setting
      • On iOS, you can join the Wi-Fi network in the traditional way, but you must also apply a proxy configuration
      • On macOS, you need to set a proxy in the network settings
      • On Chromebook, you can either install the PdaNet+ app from Play Store and use the Connect to a PdaNet Hotspot setting, or apply a proxy configuration
      • On any other devices, you must use a proxy server

5. Connecting to the Android via USB cable

If you are attempting to share your VPN connection with a device that does not have a built-in Wi-Fi card or external Wi-Fi adapter, then you can resort to the traditional method: by connecting the devices with a USB cable.

Internet connections are faster through USB than using a wireless network. Therefore, you should expect better page loading speed and overall performance. However, you cannot simultaneously connect more than two devices to your Android. On top of that, you might experience connectivity issues if the USB cable has poor quality.

Here are the steps to help you connect a Windows computer to your Android smartphone or tablet with the aid of a USB cable, so that you can use the Android’s VPN connection on Windows. Open the gallery slider to find out more.

Step 1

  • Step 1: On your Android
    • Connect to a VPN server
    • If you need help with choosing a reliable VPN service, you can go with ExpressVPN here
    • We used ExpressVPN in this guide
  • Step 2: Open PdaNet+ and tap USB Tether
    • Connect your Android device and the Windows computer using a USB cable
  • Step 3: On Windows
    • Right-click the PdaNet+ icon in the system tray
      • Select Connect USB from the menu
    • Good job! You can now use your Android’s Internet access via VPN on the Windows computer
      • If you switch to other VPN servers on your Android, Windows will immediately reconnect to the Internet through PdaNet+
      • To disconnect, you just need to unplug the USB cable

6. Connecting to the Android via Bluetooth

If you wish to loan your VPN connection to a device without using a Wi-Fi network or USB cable, then you can turn to Bluetooth technology if supported by both devices. It has a smaller range than Wi-Fi (up to 100 meters), but it is still more convenient than the USB method because you are not restricted by the length of a cable.

On the other hand, you cannot connect three or more devices at the same time. Also, you should expect poorer performance than using a USB cable but better than using Wi-Fi.

Check out the following instructions to help you easily connect an Android device with a Windows computer via Bluetooth. Using PdaNet+, you can share the Android’s VPN connection via Bluetooth, as well as switch through various VPN servers with minimum effort. Check out the gallery slider below to get more info.

Step 1

  • Step 1: Using your Android device
    • Connect to a VPN server
    • If you need advice about getting a premium VPN subscription plan, you can opt for ExpressVPN here
  • Step 2: Launch the PdaNet+ app on Android
    • Tap USB Tether in the main screen
    • If prompted by Android to make your device discoverable via Bluetooth for 120 seconds, tap Allow
  • Step 3: On Windows
    • Turn on Bluetooth by following your computer’s instructions
    • Right-click the PdaNet+ icon in the notifications bar
    • In the Settings submenu, pick Bluetooth Pairing
      • In the Bluetooth Pairing window, wait until PdaNet+ finds your Android device via Bluetooth
      • Select the Android device from the list and click Pair Phone
      • Click Close after the pairing is complete
    • Good job! You can now use your Android’s Internet access via VPN on the Windows computer, thanks to Bluetooth technology
      • To disconnect, you just need to disable Bluetooth on Windows
      • To quickly reconnect to the same Android device, select Connect Bluetooth from the PdaNet+ right-click menu in the systray

What about Linux and iOS?

Sharing VPN connections is not limited to Windows, macOS and Android only. It can also be done on Linux and iOS, but things are a bit complicated here. Setting up VPN on Linux requires advanced skills, and instructions vary from distro to distro.

The operation is not that complicated on iOS, but it requires jailbreak before attempting to provide your virtual private network to others. It means that you risk bricking your iPhone or iPad. Therefore, we recommend that you take the safer route and resort to a VPN service that supports multiple simultaneous connections, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

In conclusion

Sharing your VPN connection from your computer, broadband router, smartphone or tablet is an excellent way to extend the security and privacy features of VPN technology to other users who cannot afford a premium service. It protects your home network by encrypting all connections, even if they originate from devices without native VPN support.

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