How Do I Connect My Smartphone to Wired Internet?Updated 9 hours ago
Most smartphones can use a wired internet connection through an Ethernet adapter. Once the phone is connected by cable, you can switch on airplane mode so it stops transmitting cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, while browsing, email and apps continue to work over the wired connection.
What You Will Need
An Ethernet cable running from your router, or from a wall Ethernet port.
An adapter that matches your phone's charging port:
Android phones and iPhone 15 or later (USB-C): a USB-C to Ethernet adapter.
iPhone 14 or earlier (Lightning): Apple's Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, combined with a USB to Ethernet adapter.
We recommend an adapter with a charging pass-through port, so the phone can charge while it is connected.
How to Connect
Plug the Ethernet cable into your router or wall port, and into the adapter.
Plug the adapter into your phone's charging port.
Switch on airplane mode.
Confirm that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both off. Some phones leave these on, or switch them back on, when airplane mode is enabled.
Open a web page. If it loads with Wi-Fi and cellular off, your phone is using the wired connection.
Calls and Text Messages
The Ethernet connection does not affect calls or texts. Airplane mode does.
While airplane mode is on: regular phone calls and text messages will not come through, because they use the cell tower rather than the internet. Missed calls go to voicemail, and text messages are delivered once you switch airplane mode off. Web browsing, email, apps, streaming, and internet-based calling and messaging apps continue to work over the cable.
When you need to make or receive a call: switch airplane mode off. Your phone will reconnect to the cell tower and resume transmitting while airplane mode is off.
Turning off only cellular data is not the same as airplane mode. With cellular data off, the phone remains connected to the cell tower for calls and texts and continues to transmit.
If It Does Not Connect
Not every phone model supports wired Ethernet. Please check with your phone's manufacturer.
Try a different adapter or cable, and make sure the adapter is fully seated in the port.
Restart the phone with the adapter connected.
Learn More
To hardwire the rest of your home, see our How to Hardwire Your Internet course.