Reverse Tether using Bluetooth PAN to iOS Devices

I've searched the internet far and wide and cannot find anything about accomplishing this correctly.

End Goal: Share Macbook Air's Airport connection to iPad, iPod and iPhone.

I'm getting Wi-Fi from the Hotel for my Macbook ONLY and I want to be able to share that internet connection to my other iOS devices. As they provide no Ethernet (Woulda made this a lot simplier) I'm forced to Recieve connection via AIrport and Share via Bluetooth PAN

Right now I can get my Macbook Air (Oct 11 model) to "pair" with my iPhone but it only stays for 2 seconds. Trying the whole "Share Internet connection" in "System Preferences->Sharring->Share Internet Connection" never seems to work. Going from Bluetooth icon (next to Airport)->(Device Name)'s iPhone-> Connect to Network shows same result.

Could anybody walk me through this, direct me to a youtube video, or any input?

I can't even properly "pair" my iOS to my Macbook. They see eachother and "try" to pair but nothing really ever seems connected :\

Is this Possible? Also, is there any proper way to pair a Mac to an iOS device?

Posted on Jun 17, 2011 10:19 PM

39 replies

Guarrio

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2012 1:02 PM in response to AppleSJ511606

I have the same problem, anyone of you solved this issue?

Taiwu

Level 1

0 points

Feb 7, 2012 10:20 PM in response to smart61

The new update 10.7.3 has fixed this issue. Wonderful!

ckahn

Level 1

18 points

Aug 9, 2012 3:41 PM in response to ckahn

This error screen grab didn't show up in my previous post:

Connection Unsuccessful

"MBP2011" is not supported

Forget Device

Apr 6, 2013 7:43 PM in response to AppleSJ511606

I'm running 10.8.3 Mountain Loin and I have this issue too. When I paired with my ipad for the first time, the internet worked but later the internet didn't work.

Yes that happend to me too.

Apr 7, 2013 1:20 AM in response to jamesfoldenauer

Yes, as said before, it doesn't work on the iPhone.

John Strung

Level 6

13,440 points

Nov 26, 2013 8:17 AM in response to scottporter

I managed to get it to work. iOS 7.0.4 and Mavericks. The trick was to turn on both Internet Sharing and Bluetooth Sharing on the MacBook Pro and then pair the MacBook and the iPad.

aid85

Level 1

13 points

Nov 22, 2014 4:23 AM in response to Taiwu

The same here !! (osx 10.7.5)

Another proof that Apple is no more finishing is almost perfect operating system but has started (since snow leopard) to disimproving it...

Dec 24, 2014 2:41 AM in response to aid85

I guess the this future will never be back for an iPhone 😟

Dec 7, 2016 1:45 AM in response to AppleSJ511606

Dont waste time. I wasted lot of time. Finally bought a different phone.

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Reverse Tether using Bluetooth PAN to iOS Devices