How To: Tether your iPhone via Wi-Fi or USB.

Welcome to my first how-to guide! This is a question I get quite frequently amongst my iPhone toting friends and family. "How do I use my phones data (or internet) on my computer, laptop, or tablet?" This is was is commonly known as tethering, or simply using another device's data to connect to the internet on another device. I would say about 50% of my friends and family know that this option even exists. This guide assumes that tethering is part of your smartphone plan, if you are not sure you can contact your wireless provider. It also assumes you are using iOS 8 (check Settings > General > About > Version) as well.

1. On the iPhone you wish to tether the data from and set up as a hotspot, go to Settings (that gear that I have in the lower right corner of my homepage, your's may be on a different page depending on how your's is set up). Then select "Personal Hotspot"

2. Tap on "Wi-Fi Password" to set your password. You'll need to remember this for when you connect your other device to the iPhone.

3. Set the slider under "Personal Hotspot" to the "On" or green position.

4. If you do not have Bluetooth enabled, you will get this pop-up. You do not have to use Bluetooth to tether, it's simply another option. If you didn't have it turned on before, you probably don't want it enabled again since it is an additional battery drain so I usually just tap the "Wi-Fi and USB Only" option. (Note, no matter which option you tap, you'll still be able to tether no problem.)

5. USB Tether - This is the simplest option assuming there is a USB slot available on your device. Simply plug your iPhone into your laptop or computer and it should be connected and ready to go.

6. Wi-Fi Tether - At this juncture, your iPhone is already broadcasting a hotspot signal that can be seen by any Wi-Fi enabled device. On your device, connect to the iPhone the same as you would any other Wi-Fi device. It will usually have the name like this "Matthew's iPhone" or however your phone was set up.

7. Once you have a successful connection, your iPhone will show a blue bar at the top[ showing how many devices are connected.

Now you are connected to the internet through your iPhone! But remember, you are using your phone's data so monitor your use. Please leave your comments and questions below!