How to Share Your ZIVPN Connection to Other Devices | Portable Hotspot, USB & Bluetooth Tethering

Introduction

Sometimes, we need to share our mobile internet connection from an Android device (phone or tablet) to other devices like family or friends' phones, tablets, desktops, or laptops. The most common methods for sharing internet are Portable Hotspot, USB Tethering, and Bluetooth Tethering.

Portable Hotspot allows your Android device to act as a WiFi access point, which other devices can connect to wirelessly. USB Tethering lets you share internet through a physical connection via a USB cable, which is particularly useful for devices without WiFi capabilities. Bluetooth Tethering shares the connection over Bluetooth, ideal when both WiFi and USB options are unavailable or impractical.

While sharing standard internet connections through these methods is straightforward, sharing a VPN connection is often more complex and may require additional third-party apps. However, ZIVPN simplifies this process with its built-in "Share VPN" feature. This guide will help you understand how to use ZIVPN to easily share your VPN connection with other devices without the need for extra apps.

1. Sharing via Portable Hotspot

Portable Hotspot is one of the most popular ways to share internet connections due to its speed and ease of use. Here's how you can share your VPN connection using Portable Hotspot:

Set up and enable your Portable Hotspot on your Android device:
- Navigate to Settings > Portable Hotspot.
- Configure the SSID (name) for your hotspot, set the security type to WPA2-Personal, and create a password.
- Enable the Portable Hotspot toggle.
Open the ZIVPN app on your Android device. In ZIVPN, tap the settings icon (overflow menu) in the top right corner.
Select Misc Settings and check the Share VPN checkbox.
Start the VPN connection in ZIVPN. If everything is set up correctly, you will see a message:
"You are using portable hotspot tethering. Use proxy 192.168.24.80:8118 in connected client devices."
On the secondary devices (those that will connect via Portable Hotspot), first connect to the previously configured hotspot or tethering. Then, go to the WiFi settings and set the proxy to the provided IP address and port.

2. Sharing via USB Tethering

USB Tethering is a reliable option when sharing internet with devices that lack WiFi capabilities, such as some desktops. Here's how to share your VPN connection via USB Tethering:

Connect your Android device to the desktop or laptop using a USB cable.
Enable USB Tethering on your Android device:
- Navigate to Settings > Connections > USB Tethering.
- Toggle the USB Tethering option to enable it.
In the ZIVPN app, click on the settings icon, go to Misc Settings, and check the Share VPN checkbox.
Start the VPN connection in ZIVPN. You should see a message indicating successful sharing:
"You are using USB tethering. Use proxy 192.168.74.87:8118 in connected client devices."
For desktops or laptops connected via USB tethering, configure the proxy settings in the system's network settings or within specific applications. Use the provided IP address and port to complete the setup.

3. Sharing via Bluetooth Tethering

Bluetooth Tethering is another method for sharing your VPN connection, particularly when WiFi and USB are not viable options. Follow these steps to share using Bluetooth Tethering:

Pair your Android device with the other device via Bluetooth.
Enable Bluetooth Tethering:
- Go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth Tethering.
- Toggle Bluetooth Tethering to turn it on.
In ZIVPN, tap the settings icon, navigate to Misc Settings, and enable the Share VPN option.
Connect to the VPN in ZIVPN. A message will confirm the setup:
"You are using Bluetooth tethering. Use proxy 192.168.45.69:8118 in connected client devices."
On the secondary devices connected via Bluetooth, set the proxy to the IP address and port provided by ZIVPN.

Screenshot Gallery

Device with ZIVPN Installed

Connected Device (Non-ZIVPN)

Desktop Proxy Setting

Desktop Application Setting

Summary

Sharing a VPN connection with ZIVPN is almost as straightforward as sharing a regular internet connection. The only additional steps are:

On the device with ZIVPN installed, enable the Share VPN feature in the ZIVPN app settings.
On the connected devices (secondary devices), configure the proxy settings using the IP address and port provided by ZIVPN.

ZIVPN makes sharing your VPN connection straightforward and efficient across multiple devices and tethering methods. Whether through Portable Hotspot, USB Tethering, or Bluetooth Tethering, ZIVPN’s built-in features streamline the process without needing additional third-party apps. Always remember to configure your client devices with the correct proxy settings provided by ZIVPN for successful VPN sharing.

Troubleshooting

If the proxy port does not appear in the log after following the steps above, you can manually configure the proxy settings using the following method:

Use the Local IP address shown in the log (typically in the format x.x.x.x) as the proxy address.
Set the Port to 8118, which is the default port for ZIVPN proxy sharing.

This approach should allow the connected devices to correctly utilize the shared VPN connection through ZIVPN, even if the proxy port is not explicitly shown in the log after setup.