How to Combine Starlink with a Tethered Android Device on a Mac

Get Higher Bandwidth and Minimize Latency by Combining Starlink with Tethered Android on macOS

You may ask yourself why use two Internet sources at the same time, like Starlink and a tethered Android smartphone or tablet. The benefits of doing this with a channel bonding app like Speedify include getting a faster, more stable and secure Internet.

In this guide you will learn how to use your Starlink satellite Internet connection via Wi-Fi together with a tethered Android mobile device for better Internet.

You can get a secondary Internet connection via the same or a different ISP.  Examples include another Starlink, DSL, cable, or cellular connections. Speedify can bond your Starlink satellite connection with any number or combination of other Internet connections and will intelligently distribute your online traffic among them for optimal performance. Plus, if you get disconnected from Starlink in the middle of an important video call or file transfer, Speedify will seamlessly failover to your other working Internet connection(s) without skipping a beat.

NOTE: For best results, use Internet connections from different sources. In general, joining the same upstream network multiple times (such as the same router via Ethernet and Wi-Fi) will not improve performance.

Should you get a second Starlink?

Is Starlink giving you great download speeds but weak uploads and random dropouts? Even with 100+ Mbps Starlink download speeds, many users get stuck with under 25 Mbps uploads, unstable connection issues.

A powerful way to upgrade your Starlink speed and stability is to run two Starlink dishes. But to actually combine both Starlink connections into one faster, stronger internet link, you need connection bonding software like Speedify.

Speedify bonds your Starlink dishes for more upload and download bandwidth, smoother Zoom and Teams calls, and far more reliable livestreams. And when one dish drops, as Starlink often does, the other instantly takes over without lag or interruptions.

If you want more reliable, faster Starlink uploads and downloads, bonding multiple Starlink connections with Speedify is the most effective way to level up your satellite internet.

Get instant Speedify alerts about Starlink interruptions and updates

Speedify provides a series of telemetry alerts provided by Starlink; these Starlink dish alerts will appear on your Speedify dashboard and are triggered if the specific condition was met at least once in the previous 15 seconds. They will persist for as long as they are active.
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Fix slow upload and download speeds on Mac with Speedify: The powerful MacOS network tool

Need a stronger Internet connection on your Mac for your live streams, gaming, browsing, video calls like Meet, Teams or Zoom, or anything else you do online?

In this video, learn how to use Speedify to combine multiple Internet connections like 4G, 5G, DSL, Starlink, Wi-Fi and Ethernet to get faster, more stable and reliable uploads and downloads on your MacOS device.

Use Speedify to increase your upload and download speeds: combine internet connection sources like Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G, Starlink and wired broadband

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Combine Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G, Starlink and wired broadband to fix slow upload and download speeds

Speedify is the only app that seamlessly combines all of your connections, including Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G, Ethernet, and Starlink, into one stronger connection to keep you online and secure.

In most cases, Speedify will automatically detect and start using any available Internet connections on your device while intelligently distributing your online traffic between them for optimal performance. If you need help we have quick start guides available for most common set ups.

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Combine personal hotspots for better upload and download speeds

Speedify's Pair & Share feature enables you to connect to multiple hotspots at the same time and wirelessly share LTE, 4G, and 5G cellular connections back and forth between multiple Speedify users on the same local network to create a faster, more reliable connection for everyone.

For the first time, it's possible to share cellular data between multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, iPhones and Androids. Use multiple phones as hotspots for internet access and get increased bandwidth and mobile failover for all paired devices.

Use Speedify to combine...

Get started with Speedify today!

Speedify combines Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G, Ethernet, and Starlink into one stronger connection to keep you online and secure.

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3 Steps to Combine Starlink Internet and Tethered Android on a Mac

Step 1: Connect to Your Starlink Wi-Fi Hotspot

First - make sure you setup your Starlink according to the instructions you received in the package. This includes setting up your new Starlink Wi-Fi network, along with your password.

Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. (If Wi-Fi is off, choose "Turn Wi-Fi on.") Select the Wi-Fi hotspot associated with your Starlink connection and enter the password to connect.

Need help with this step? Visit Apple’s knowledge base to learn more.

Step 2: Connect the Android Device to Your Mac and Enable USB Tethering

In order to get your Mac to properly interface with your Android device’s USB tethering mode, you’ll need to install some additional software.

INSTALL THIRD-PARTY DRIVER

HoRNDIS is a driver for macOS that allows you to use your Android device's native USB tethering mode to get Internet access. Download and installation instructions can be found here.

HoRNDIS support for macOS Catalina (v10.15) is still in beta.
ENABLE USB TETHERING

Once installed, connect your Android to your Mac using a USB cable. A notification will show at the top of the screen on your Android device - swipe down from the top of the screen > Touch and hold Hotspot > Turn on USB tethering.

Need help with this step? Visit Google’s knowledge base to learn more.

Next, on your Mac visit System Preferences, click Network, then select your Android device from the list on the left. In the right pane deselect the “Disable unless needed” checkbox under Status.

Please note that when USB tethering an Android phone, if that phone is connected to Wi-Fi, the tethering will share the Wi-Fi connection and not the cellular connection. In order to use the cellular connection from your Android phone into the mix, enable mobile data and turn off Wi-Fi on your smartphone.

NOTE: Some mobile carriers limit or charge extra for tethering. We recommend checking with your carrier. Additionally, Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Step 3: Download and Install Speedify

Last but certainly not least, download and install Speedify. Once running, Speedify will automatically detect your Starlink connection and any other available Internet connections and combine them for increased speed, security, and stability.

Need to keep several devices connected in areas with limited or spotty network coverage, like event venues, remote locations or when traveling? Get consistent and uninterrupted online activity for all your devices using Speedify's Pair & Share functionality, which allows you to share cellular data between multiple devices wirelessly.

By pairing devices, you can effectively distribute your cellular connection across them, improving overall performance, especially when other network options like Wi-Fi may be slow or unstable.

You can manage settings, view statistics, and even apply limits to individual connections by either clicking/tapping on them from the Dashboard or by navigating to the desired connection through the main Settings menu.

Speedify will work quietly in the background to optimize performance including prioritizing streaming web traffic to avoid stuttering, buffering and disconnects.

When using Starlink Internet, Speedify is the only VPN that makes your online experiences faster, more reliable, and more secure.

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Get started with Speedify today!

With Speedify you can combine multiple internet sources into one bonded super-connection to improve livestreaming, video calling, gaming, web browsing, and everything else you do online.

Speed

Combine Wi-Fi, cellular, ethernet, satellite, and more to maximize performance

Stability

Avoid buffering and disconnects while streaming, gaming, and browsing.

Security

Keep your personal data safe from hackers, snoops and cyber criminals

Speedify devs love talking tech on YouTube, Tiktok, and Instagram!

Alex Gizis and the Speedify devs discuss and explain technology including Starlink satellites, Wi-Fi 7 routers, Apple networking features, fiber optics, broadband internet, 5G mobile networks, AI, networking protocols, and much more. Follow Speedify on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn!

Alex and the Speedify team are always exploring the latest in networking and security technology—like 5G, 6G, WiFi 7, laser and satellite internet—and sharing it in new discussion content across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn every week.

Got a tech question? Let's go deeper! Pop into Speedify Office Hours live every Wednesday at 10 AM Eastern. Speedify CEO Alex Gizis and our network engineers are standing by to break down your questions about networks, tech updates, and Speedify features.

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