- home
- reviews
- news
- downloads
- cnet tv
On TechRepublic: 10 cool USB flash drive tricks
- log in
- join CNET
- welcome,
- my profile
- log out

Comments on: How to activate tethering on any iPhone without jailbreaking

This how-to helps you activate tethering on your OS 3.0 iPhone without jailbreaking.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 6 pages (181 Comments)

by willson556 June 16, 2009 5:59 PM PDT

You made this way more complicated than it needed to be. You don't have to downgrade to iTunes 8.2. Simply type the following into the terminal to enable carrier testing: defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE

Good Luck!

Like this Reply to this comment


by June 16, 2009 6:56 PM PDT: Seriously? Just launch Terminal, copy/paste "defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE" (without quotes) and hit return? Really that simple???; Like this


by robob--2008 June 16, 2009 7:03 PM PDT: Do we still need to do the carrier import after doing the terminal command?; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 12:32 PM PDT: can windows users not do this?!; Like this


by ag211 June 17, 2009 2:22 PM PDT: Yes, this really works... You do need to import you carrier file.

Ste by step:
1. Quit iTunes
2. Open Terminal and type "defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE"
3. Open iTunes, select your phone and press "check for updates" while holding down the 'Alt' key on your keyboard. You will be prompted to select a file.
4. After you load the file, make sure you restart the phone; Like this


by ag211 June 17, 2009 2:25 PM PDT: Windows user shoudl use the Run command.

%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 2:39 PM PDT: what do I type in run? I tried

%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE

didnt work...; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 2:44 PM PDT: tried

C:\program files\common files\Apple\mobile device support\bin\defauots.exe write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing-bool TRUE

doesnt work; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 2:53 PM PDT: arg! come back to me ag211!; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 3:06 PM PDT: k found the bin and .exe file it was in the other program files (x36) folder

when I type

C:\Program files (x36)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe

a dos promptish thing pops up and disappears real fast, the same thing happens when I try to double click the defaults.exe file in the folder....

when i type

C:\Program files (x36)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE

same thing happens.; Like this


by ag211 June 17, 2009 4:11 PM PDT: @n8dogg2121 Going to have to recheck this. Will post an update as soon as I figure this out.; Like this

See more comment replies


by CyStarkman June 16, 2009 6:26 PM PDT: June 17, yeah... June 17 somewhere.... cause it's June 17 here and there's nothing. Oh except a quick change sometimes yesterday to the local Apple website so it now says June 18.; Like this Reply to this comment

by Roxanne1010 June 16, 2009 7:28 PM PDT

Any tricks to tether my iphone 3G S to a pc?

Like this Reply to this comment


by Roxanne1010 June 16, 2009 7:42 PM PDT: I meant without jailbreaking of course; Like this


by olatte June 17, 2009 10:24 PM PDT: find a friend with a mac...do this "update" and it does work with my vista PC.; Like this


by shashank1980 July 7, 2009 12:13 PM PDT: I tried it with a PC and it works well. I have Win XP and latest version of itunes. once i downloaded the file from ben's website on the iphone (http://help.benm.at/help.php.), the tethering option was enabled on the phone. then connect the iphone to the PC with the usb connection and it shows up as a LAN connection in your network connections. If internet tethering is switched on on the iphone, you are connected on your PC. hope this helps.; Like this


by blerm August 30, 2009 4:59 PM PDT: You don't even need a PC. Just goto the http://help.benm.at/help.php link shown above from your iPhone and follow the directions. Works awesome and only takes a few seconds!; Like this

by Scooter121289 June 16, 2009 7:45 PM PDT

does this not work with the iPhone 1G? i have tried twice and it hasn't worked.

Like this Reply to this comment


by andrewrm June 16, 2009 10:45 PM PDT: You can not tether a 1G as you have to have a 3G connection. Edge antenna's can not tether.; Like this


by ammthd June 22, 2009 1:15 AM PDT: @andrewrm

"Edge antenna's can not tether."

Ummmm........... I have an iPhone 3G 16 GB white and do not live in a 3G coverage area. When the hack at http://help.benm.at/help.php was posted, I successfully installed the profile settings to enable internet tethering. Not only did the hack successfully install and enable internet tethering on iPhone 3G, that resides in an EDGE coverage area, but it works MARVELOUSLY! It's also quite zippy as it renders websites in only a few seconds. CNET, Yahoo, MSN, TigerDirect, Endgadget, PhoneScoop and many others only loaded seconds slower than my broadband Wi-Fi connection at home rated at 6 mbps. I don't know who told you that EDGE antennas WILL NOT TETHER, but ummmmmmm, THEY LIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; Like this

by gointoscott June 16, 2009 9:01 PM PDT

Well I tried this and low and behold it worked! You do not have to downgrade itunes. this is what you do:
1. You also need to download the carrier settings file listed above and save it somewhere ( I chose desktop)
2. then copy this: defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE
3. then open terminal on a mac that you sync itunes with. then paste the copied info into terminal and hit enter.
4. once you have this then you just sync your iphone, then after it says ok to disconnect, then hold options and click restore.
5. It will then ask you to chose what file to restore. search and go to where you saved the att carrier file
it is called (att_us.ipcc) it will NOT be grayed out if you run that terminal command. If by chance it is grayed out, run the command again, then go to options restore and it will then be available to click on.
6. Chose the file and restore. It will then add it to your iphone as the instructions above show
7. once done you can go into settings on iphone while its connected to your computer, then go to general, then network and you will see where you can turn tethering on. I was so excited. I also agree that it is pretty fast with 3g service.

Like this Reply to this comment


by mattjew04 June 17, 2009 6:31 AM PDT: This works!! Now all i need to do is get the MMS to work. While the 3gs is awesome, im not going to give att the satisfaction of giving it to me in the ass....even though 1 million others will...Just in spite. i dont need a camcorder allll day long, who knows what bad things i would capture!; Like this


by gaurav.jaju June 17, 2009 11:15 AM PDT: didn't work for me...........it says contact att; Like this


by bweinman June 17, 2009 11:54 AM PDT: Just tried this on my 3G with the official 3.0 I downloaded today. Works great over bluetooth with my macbook pro. And yes, the speed is excellent. Thanks!; Like this


by gaurav.jaju June 17, 2009 12:48 PM PDT: suddenly out of nowhere it started working.........weird.......; Like this


by skatemusiclife64 June 21, 2009 8:43 PM PDT: worked perfectly for me- thanks!; Like this


by tjrudnitzki July 31, 2009 12:00 AM PDT: LISTEN TO THIS GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH INSTRUCTIONS THAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!! AND HE ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; Like this


by watermountain November 7, 2009 8:37 PM PST: Will this work with IPHONE FW Version 3.1.2?
Glad to know that ITUNES downgrading is not required; Like this


by gointoscott June 16, 2009 9:03 PM PDT: Oh also I should mention I have the 8 gig 3g phone that the tethering worked. with the updated 3.0 full version software as listed above.; Like this Reply to this comment

by CleveNettles June 16, 2009 9:51 PM PDT

This trick blatantly stolen from 9to5mac without retribution . VERY CLASSY C\Net

http://www.9to5mac.com/9to5mac-tether-iPhone-hack

Like this Reply to this comment


by andymerrett June 17, 2009 2:24 AM PDT: "without retribution"

Oh, there'll be retribution. :); Like this


by angryidev June 17, 2009 3:28 AM PDT: None of this is new no matter who posted it first, last or in between. This is an old trick that people have used since before the iPhone. Do your research. Even back in the iPod day this trick was used to downgrade iTunes. Google the steps for removing iTunes for example old news - even on here. The problem was iTunes so the logical thing was to work backwards version wise - they did that and that's again not new either. Old news. Old methods - that also happen to work and at a rate of nearly 100%.

If you have a Mac and are not keeping archived copies of older versions of Apple's iApps especially iTunes and the current 10.5.x versions of Leopard then you should. Again old news.

I'm glad that word is getting out about this even if the word is repeated - I'd already figured this out and may have MMS working. I did not know about the short cut posted above to eliminate the step for getting iTunes downgraded and wonder how well it will work over time. Seems like something easy for Apple to reverse - they cannot however eliminate the changes made by downgrading iTunes. The user has full control over that so this method is long term and probably best!!!

What sucks is proof how well this works and AT&T should be ashamed. Lets not kill the messenger and just be glad that this info is there whenever and where ever so we can get the most out of our iPhones - $@#@#$ AT&T!!!

If I get MMS working I'll post something here later.; Like this


by CleveNettles June 17, 2009 4:56 AM PDT: Wired did this last week
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/06/tether-your-att-iphone-right-now/
difference? they linked to the original source. They didn't pretend they came up with it; Like this


by varase June 18, 2009 7:37 AM PDT: Perhaps you were thinking 'attribution'?; Like this


by davedavemcmath June 16, 2009 10:17 PM PDT: If I want to try this on my 3g for Tmobile...do I download the carrier settings file above or do I need a file that has different settings (if so, where can I get this?)? Thanks!; Like this Reply to this comment

by whycali June 17, 2009 6:07 AM PDT

Hooray! more cool stuff my old windows 5 phone could do!!!

Like this Reply to this comment


by thisismatthewcrosby2 June 17, 2009 6:35 AM PDT: Would you like us to list all the things your old windows 5 phone couldn't do?; Like this


by whycali June 17, 2009 7:56 AM PDT: yes; Like this


by whycali June 17, 2009 8:03 AM PDT: And I only say this because I don't think you have a clue what my Windows 5 phone could do.; Like this


by SixVodkas June 17, 2009 9:37 AM PDT: Can your windows mobile phone take remote control of my Mac's desktop?
Can your windows mobile phone serve as an accelerometer and measure my car's 0-60 time?
Can your windows mobile phone connect to iTunes and the App Store and access the +40,000 apps now available?
Can your windows mobile phone hold 32GB of data without an expansion card?
Can your windows mobile phone use gestures for navigation?
Can your windows mobile phone use a full featured web browser?
Can your windows mobile phone control the head unit's of the most popular car stereo's on Earth?
Can your windows mobile phone act as a remote control for your computer?

If you're stupid enough to push this, whycali, I've compiled a list that'll further rub your nose in your ignorance.... care to try me?

I, on the other hand, owned a windows 5 mobile phone and compared to my iPhone, it completely, utterly sucked A@@.

Heck, even scrolling through menu bars was HELL on a windows 5 mobile device.

Oh please oh please oh please come back with your witty retort?
(I've got many more examples of windows 5 mobile proof of suckage if you do!); Like this


by whycali June 17, 2009 10:00 AM PDT: Because I like to have fun:

Can your windows mobile phone take remote control of my Mac's desktop?
Don't have or need a Mac

Can your windows mobile phone serve as an accelerometer and measure my car's 0-60 time?
Well yes in a way I suppose I can tell my cars speed using my already included GPS with turn by turn navigation. Which by the way does not report my location to be 6 blocks from where I actually am.

Can your windows mobile phone connect to iTunes and the App Store and access the +40,000 apps now available?
While there are numerous applications available to the windows phone user I regret to say I could not get the current hottest and oh so useful app Toki Tori. I do have to say though I love the MLB.com at bat app.

Can your windows mobile phone hold 32GB of data without an expansion card?
Not without an expansion card no, however I bet I can get one for under $499

Can your windows mobile phone use gestures for navigation?
you mean wave my phone like a magic wand? see above for GPS questions.

Can your windows mobile phone use a full featured web browser?
Are you familiar with Skyfire? I love to use it to watch tv shows on Hulu. Maybe flash will one day come to my Iphone.

Can your windows mobile phone control the head unit's of the most popular car stereo's on Earth?
Well do you mean can I listen to music in stereo thru my stereo bluetooh enabled car stereo the answer has been yes for the last 2 years.

Can your windows mobile phone act as a remote control for your computer?
You said that already, did you get excited and forget?

Did you get tired of waiting for Matthew to respond?

Please send more, my Iphone is fun, my windows phone actually had basic functionality when I bought it.; Like this


by Coonie1 June 17, 2009 12:13 PM PDT: burned lol; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 12:52 PM PDT: lolrus; Like this

by thisismatthewcrosby2 June 17, 2009 6:25 AM PDT

Hi guys I recently tried this for my 2g iphone. After i typed "defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE" into the terminal my iphone isn't recognised (ie: doesn't show up in devices) anymore. Any ideas how I would undo what I put into the terminal??

I've tried deleting all of the itunes files and then reinstalling.

Please Help!

Like this Reply to this comment


by Wingsy June 17, 2009 9:19 AM PDT: Try:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool FALSE; Like this


by shneusk June 17, 2009 9:20 AM PDT: I would guess
defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool FALSE; Like this


by aoavandy June 17, 2009 9:01 AM PDT: GLORIOUS!!!!; Like this Reply to this comment

by b3baby June 17, 2009 9:26 AM PDT

I have a question: I sync my iPhone to my desktop, but have a laptop that I'd obviously be using any tethering with. Can I perform this operation on my desktop, and henceforth tether anything, or will it only tether the computer you sync with?

Like this Reply to this comment


by tjrudnitzki July 31, 2009 12:03 AM PDT: I have the same situation here, but as I have found, once you have tether set up, it will work with any computer, including the dreaded Windows machine.; Like this

by TazTN June 17, 2009 10:45 AM PDT

Ok Gang, where do i find these A.T.&T Carrier settings file ?

Like this Reply to this comment


by Other_Guy-Houston June 17, 2009 3:30 PM PDT: Dowload from the link at the top of the article.; Like this


by whingerty August 24, 2009 5:27 AM PDT: You dont need all that stuff. Too complicated. Do this..IT WORKS! No missing icons, I tested all of my functions..and everything still worked. Didnt have to brick or jailbreak or any of that crap.
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=4272; Like this

by ntwalter June 17, 2009 11:03 AM PDT

i cant get my network settings to update correctly?
is there anyway around this?

Like this Reply to this comment


by ntwalter June 17, 2009 11:03 AM PDT: network settings in my mac i mean.; Like this

by perkler June 17, 2009 11:30 AM PDT

Is there any way you could get busted for doing this on at&t's network? could they find out and slap you with charges?

Like this Reply to this comment


by Other_Guy-Houston June 17, 2009 1:04 PM PDT: Yes you could get busted if you bring them your phone so don't bring them your phone. They can claim they can tell if you start using a large amount of data compared to normal but that is not definitive proof.; Like this


by tjrudnitzki July 31, 2009 12:04 AM PDT: So here is the deal, remember if you have any problems with your phone to always restore to factory settings before you take it in that way they can not prove anything.; Like this

by mikulla June 17, 2009 12:15 PM PDT

So when it jumped to network preferences I saw the network and the phone says it was tethered but it wasn't working. I deleted the network thinking I would try again and the phone would recreate it. But it didn't. How do I get the phone to create the network with usb so it shows up listed like in the screenshot above Ethernet (en6)?

I was able to get it working with bluetooth.

Like this Reply to this comment


by xnoplanbx June 17, 2009 7:22 PM PDT: I'm having the same problem, tethering is working fine over bluetooth, but it seems like it's not configuring the connection correctly on my macbook through usb. any help would be great.; Like this


by benjaminlove June 17, 2009 10:29 PM PDT: 1.) Go to HD/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration

2.) Delete the "preferences.plist"

3.) Restart your Mac.

Doing this will set all of your network settings back to default, thereby enabling the two connections the iPhone sets up the first time you connect it to tether to be recreated.
You will also lose all of your wireless and wired network settings so you'll have to log back in to those, but that's a small price to pay for such great functionality from your iPhone.; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 12:47 PM PDT: can people do this in windows? i dont have the "option" key or whatever lol...; Like this Reply to this comment


by cmcgauran June 17, 2009 1:19 PM PDT: totally awesome....worked like a charm. now i can be wireless on my laptop anywhere...incredible; Like this Reply to this comment

by tcr071 June 17, 2009 1:27 PM PDT

For anyone that wants this to make MMS work. This carrier file should bring the camera icon back (to those of us who have been testing the beta it was there until beta 5 then it was gone). If you have a non-iPhone texting plan you might be able to send and receive MMS if you change this information in the Settings - General - Network - Cellular Data Network.

Change all of these to this information.
APN: wap.cingular
Username: wap@cingulargprs.com
Password: CINGULAR1
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: 66.209.11.32

Leave the MMS max and MMS UA blank.

This worked for me but if you are still on an AT&T iPhone MMS opt-out plan this probably won't change anything.

Like this Reply to this comment


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 1:36 PM PDT: there is a file that you can send straight to your iphone to install from email that I have been reading about on the above listed website http://www.9to5mac.com/9to5mac-tether-iPhone-hack?page=4#comment-38889

the person and several other people successfully did it without doing any kind of crap in itunes with an option key or typing in stuff or anything... the site they got the file from was http://drop.io/bgwchlj but the file was taken down... if anyone has this file can i PLEASE get it emailed to me?!; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 1:38 PM PDT: when i go to settings - general - network there is no place called Cellular Data Network... I only have the enable 3g on off button, data roaming on off button VPN button and a wifi button, there is no Cellular Data Network button to click...; Like this


by tcr071 June 17, 2009 1:42 PM PDT: Hm. That is odd. Maybe it is because I have the GM seed and not the "official" 3.0 release even though it is the exact same thing. It is right underneath "Enagble 3G" for me in the network settings.; Like this


by n8dogg2121 June 17, 2009 1:46 PM PDT: yea... i have the official release, how did you get the GM seen? and how could i get it on my phone if i already have the official release?; Like this


by tcr071 June 17, 2009 1:52 PM PDT: I got it when I upgraded from beta 5 to the GM a week or so ago. I don't know of any way to get it, besides being a developer, or why you would want it. As far as I can tell it is the exact copy of the full release and iTunes doesn't detect any available upgrades.

I wonder if anyone else has those options? Weird.; Like this


by daviszo June 17, 2009 1:53 PM PDT: my 3g is turned off. Will a picture not send if im not on the 3g network? I have the camera and tethering options but will the mms not send?; Like this


by daviszo June 17, 2009 1:55 PM PDT: I have the itunes upgrade available today and those options are there with the 5.0 file just need to know what i asked above :); Like this


by tcr071 June 17, 2009 2:02 PM PDT: No, it didn't work for me on Edge but it works for me on 3G. Not sure why exactly but don't really care to find out because I never use Edge. See if it works on 3G.

The problem might be your text messaging plan. If you still have an iPhone texting plan you will still have an MMS opt out and the message will fail to send regardless. I had my plan changed from a friend who works at AT&T to a normal texting plan that includes MMS a couple of months ago.; Like this


by tcr071 June 17, 2009 2:05 PM PDT: No, it didn't work for me on Edge. It also will not work if you have an iPhone texting plan still as AT&T has put an MMS opt out on all iPhones until the "end of summer."; Like this


by daviszo June 17, 2009 2:08 PM PDT: It works on edge just slower.

My plan is fine =)

3g isnt available at my school yet just by my house. . . Crazy stuff at&t has going ha ha =); Like this

See more comment replies

by koviea June 17, 2009 2:20 PM PDT

What kind of 3G down/up speed are people getting on Speedtest.com? I've been getting 1GB/400MB on my non-iPhone phone. Just curious. I might switch to an iPhone at some point and this would be a major factor for me.

Also, OT, but does the new iPhone do stereo BT, real GPS and Orb/Slingbox-type streaming?

Like this Reply to this comment


by NightHawkATL June 17, 2009 5:26 PM PDT: so after i tried on my laptop, XP Home, i tried on my desktop, Vista Ultimate. It installed the drivers and then it wouldn't work. I went into the settings, and the tethering was gone. re-doing setup now and will hope it stays and i won't use on vista.; Like this

Showing 1 of 6 pages (181 Comments)

Search iPhone Atlas

About iPhone Atlas

iPhone Atlas helps you navigate the ins and outs of Apple iPhone ownership with how-tos, troubleshooting information, news, reviews, and more. Got a tip? Want to contact us? E-mail iphoneatlas@cnet.com.