entry the Web from my Mac via my iPhone’s mobile connection with out utilizing the plan’s hotspot information?

One working resolution is to run a SOCKS server on the iPhone that has mobile Web entry. Then the Mac could be setup to make use of that as a proxy server. Such a setup permits your Mac to entry the Web via the iPhone’s mobile information plan however with out utilizing any hotspot information. All information seems to be simply from the iPhone. No extra mobile information plan hotspot limits will apply. Solely regular information plan limits are in use similar to when usually utilizing your iPhone.

The essential concept is to put in a SOCKS server app on the iPhone, get the Mac related to the iPhone, begin the SOCKS server on the iPhone, and replace the proxy settings on the Mac.

I’ve examined two totally different SOCKS server options. Each can be found on GitHub with full documentation for getting them downloaded and put in. They’re:

SocksBypass

This app requires you to be a registered Apple developer with entry to Xcode and the flexibility to construct and run iOS apps on an actual iPhone. Obtain, construct, and set up this app onto your iPhone utilizing the undertaking’s directions. Terminate the app for now when you get it put in on the iPhone.

iOS-SOCKS-Server

This resolution doesn’t require you to be a registered Apple developer. However it does require the acquisition of the non-free iOS app “Pythonista 3”. Observe the directions on the GitHub web page to get this put in on the iPhone.

There could also be free apps on the App Retailer that present comparable performance to Pythonista 3. I’ve not finished any analysis into any options.

I examined each of the talked about SOCKS servers and each labored equally properly in my assessments. All of my testing was finished with an iPhone 13 Professional working iOS 18.3.2 and a MacBook Professional 16-inch, Nov 2023 working macOS 15.3.2.

After you have one of many two options put in in your iPhone (however not but working), take the next steps to permit your Mac to entry the Web via your iPhone with out utilizing your mobile information supplier’s hotspot information.

1. Counter-intuitively, join your Mac to your iPhone utilizing the private hotspot offered by your iPhone. See the Apple offered directions if you do not know how to do that: Share your web connection out of your iPhone with Private Hotspot. Between this level and finishing the following two steps, your Mac will probably be utilizing hotspot information for any Web entry.
2. Launch the SOCKS server app you’ve gotten put in in your iPhone. This step should not be finished till your Mac has related to the iPhone’s Private Hotspot.
3. Setup the proxy settings on the Mac.
   1. Run the Settings app on the Mac.
   2. Click on on Wi-Fi within the left pane.
   3. In the proper pane, click on the Particulars… button to the proper of the related Wi-Fi hotspot.
   4. Within the Particulars dialog, click on on Proxies within the left pane.
   5. In the proper pane, do one in every of two following choices relying on which SOCKS server app you’re working:
      • SocksBypass: Allow “SOCKS proxy” and enter the server and port proven on the high of the SocksBypass display in your iPhone. The server will probably be one thing like 170.20.10.1 (any or the entire 4 numbers might be totally different in your case) and the port will probably be one thing like 9876.
      • iOS-SOCKS-Server: Allow “Computerized proxy configuration” and enter the PAC URL proven on the high of the Pythonista display in your iPhone. The URL will probably be one thing like http://170.20.10.1/wpad.dat
   6. As soon as the right proxy settings are in place, click on OK

At this level all Web entry in your Mac will probably be made via the iPhone, however with out utilizing any hotspot information, although the Mac is related to the iPhone via a Private Hotspot. For those who do not absolutely full principal steps 2 and three then your Mac will use your mobile supplier’s hotspot function and you’ll be topic to its limits.

While you now not have to entry the Web out of your Mac via your iPhone, take the next steps:

1. Disconnect the Mac from the iPhone’s Private Hotspot.
2. Terminate the SOCKS server app in your iPhone utilizing the duty switcher.
3. On the Mac, for those who connect with another Wi-Fi community, make sure the proxy setting you enabled earlier will not be nonetheless enabled for the brand new connection. If it is nonetheless enabled, you will not be capable of entry the Web on the Mac.

I had success with the next apps on the Mac:

• Safari. I may entry my ordinary web sites.
• App Retailer. I may browse. I did not attempt downloading any apps.
• Settings -> Normal -> Software program Replace (it was capable of see if there was an replace however I did not truly carry out an replace)
• Mail. I may get and skim electronic mail. I did not attempt sending an electronic mail.
• Maps
• Spotify. I may navigate and play music.
• Prime Video. I may browse and play a video.
• Firefox (see be aware under)

Firefox (model 136.0.2) solely labored after altering its proxy settings. For some cause, Firefox won’t load any web sites if it is setup to make use of the system proxy settings. Take the next steps:

1. Click on the Firefox -> Settings… menu. This opens the settings in a brand new tab.
2. Scroll to the underside of the Settings display and click on the Settings… button subsequent to Community Settings.
3. On the Connection Settings dialog, choose the “Guide proxy configuration” choice. Enter the suitable server handle into the SOCKS host subject (reminiscent of 170.20.10.1) and enter the suitable port into the Port subject (reminiscent of 9876). “SOCKS v5” needs to be chosen. The “Proxy DNS when utilizing SOCKS v5” needs to be checked. Nothing else needs to be enabled or checked.
4. Click on OK

It is best to now be capable of entry web sites in Firefox with out utilizing any hotspot information.

If the “No proxy” choice is chosen then it is possible for you to to entry web sites however you will be utilizing hotspot information.

It would be best to revert again to “No proxy” when you find yourself not utilizing the SOCKS server on the iPhone.

In idea, all of this could work the identical in case your iPhone and Mac are related to the identical Wi-Fi community (say via some router not related to the Web) as an alternative of connecting the Mac to the iPhone by way of the iPhone’s Private Hotspot. Nonetheless, I had a lot much less success with that type of setup. Safari let me browse web sites. However virtually nothing else labored. And Firefox would not work it doesn’t matter what community settings I attempted.

I’ve additionally not had any luck but attempting to get a Wi-Fi-only iPad to work. It doesn’t matter what I’ve tried, Safari on the iPad both cannot entry any web sites, or it may however it’s not utilizing the SOCKS server and due to this fact it’s utilizing hotspot information.