iOS14 iPhone USB tethering broken for Linux/OpenWRT

I’ve done this kind of tethering frequently to work around situations where running an Ethernet cable was not possible.

I have a number of old AirPort Express units (the models w/ 2 Ethernet ports) that I have used for this.

Join an existing WiFi network (your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot) and bingo, you’ve got Ethernet ports to plug into another router. Do this as a bridge, that is DHCP off.

I’ve also joined another network with the AX as a router in cases where I needed to connect to a network that requires a Login protocol, like “free” networks at hotels or resorts. Used this successfully as the WAN for an eero Pro system which will NOT let you connect before having logged in.

@dayzed007

AX Join a Wireless Network

I configured the AirPort Express named AX WiFi Bridge to “Join an existing network” as a bridge, so an IP address supplied by the IPhone Hotspot can be the obtained at either the WAN or LAN ethernet ports of the WiFi Bridge.

Since the WiFi on the AX is in use (joined the hotspot) you will have to connect to the AX via Ethernet to manage the AX WiFi Bridge with AirPort Utility on a Mac. 

I have done this with other Mobile hotspots (Karma Go, Netgear MR1100 M1) and to my own home WiFi network simply to provide an Ethernet connection for a device with no WiFi. 

You have to have a password on your iPhone hotspot. The iPhone hotspot will not stay up indefinitely. It seems to tone out after some period of no activity. 

Make sure you can connect to your iPhone Hotspot from some other device just as a test to rule out an error there.

I am unable to use tethering on my iPhone with DD-WRT router, this will be a major reason for me NOT TO BUY iPhone 12 as my iPhone 7 is getting old but won't work for anymore if I can't tethering to my router.

Wifi hotspot won't work because iPhone only offer it at 2.4 Ghz and my office is filled with interference and connection speed is terrible.

I can confirm that USB tethering (iPhone & iOS 14.1) does not work for me on Ubuntu 20 and Manjaro as well.

However it works fine with Windows 10.

Apple Support basically told me that it's not an issue on their side and they are not aware of this issue with Linux. Asked me to speak to "Linux" support as it is a compatibility issue at their end. Lol

iPhone Ethernet Tethering Connectivity Issue Fix when using Linux OS

with iOS 14

An arrangement whereby an Apple iphone under iOS 13 was able to

successfully 'Tether' to a LINUX based Laptop Etc, via USB cable

between the two, has become broken under iOS 14.

SOLUTION: A Linux 'Kernel Patch' to address Apple iOS 14 software

coding changes provides a fix. Upgrading your Linux Distribution to

that distributions latest OS upgrade will likely restore former

connectivity. However, be mindful of the lag in certain Linux

distributions to adapt the latest coding and hence the necessary

patch to get this working again. I can confirm recent 'Arch' OS

worked for me (Early December 2020). LESSON: Beware of loss in

functionality when upgrading Apple iOS's. as they can often not be

wound back to previously working versions. Naturally of course, Apple

cannot be relied apon to reliably play nicely with rival Hardware.

Same problm here running manjaro and ios 14 on my iphone 8

the system is obtaining ip address,

gateway is reachable but it seems routing from gateway is not possible

Can confirm it's also broken for Synology RT2600ac. SRM does see the iPhone via USB and connects but no traffic goes past the iPhone. Something in iOS is definitely broken with USB tethering.

Using a derivate version of OpenWrt with wifi works well. I'm hoping that new new version 14.2 (beta now) will fix this big issue obviously after a new set of emoji because they are more important.

Yes, Synology and GL-iNet (which runs OpenWRT) both have hot patches for their routers, both of which work (I have both brands).