*Updated* How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat. (New method on T-Mobile without root.)

[Citizen Coyote]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

It's not the firmware, it's just a setting in the software that routes all hotspot traffic to a particular address that T-Mo can then divert to their upgrade page. Easier to fix as detailed at the start of the thread, but annoying nonetheless. I don't blame people for not accepting the update if tethering is important to them and they don't want to muck around in Android's internals to fix it.

 

[thecavemankevin]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

I love the freedom that buying the N4 without a contract gave me. I just popped in my sim from my old Atrix and away i went. Now with this one PITA change in kitkat, i'm worried the carriers are putting a squeeze on google. So how many ATT + unlimited grandfathered data, people applied 4.4 and still were able to launch tether?

Does the N5 have these restrictions? I was thinking about buying one as an upgrade, but no way right now.

 

[someguy01234]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

Does the N5 have these restrictions? I was thinking about buying one as an upgrade, but no way right now.

This affect Android KitKat, not specific devices.

 

[thecavemankevin]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

That's what i figured

 

[Martin Valente]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

Why would Google change the firmware to allow that restriction? Maybe it is to encourage carriers to use stock ROMs instead of their own crap so Google can push updates to more devices with fewer restrictions.

Simple: more money for carriers since they can now charge additional fees for hotspots, therefore maybe more interest to promote Android devices.

I don't use tethering that much, but it bothers me to give up this essential freedom which had come with my phone. It comes in handy at times, and even a small allowance of say 1gb per month would be ok with me. I took a few minutes to call Tmobile, and found out that I have no hotspot, not even on my post-paid plan, because it was a promo (5gb for $10 add on to my $35 unlimited monthly plan).

 

[fish411]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

What free SQLite editor from post # 22 are you referring too?

 

[SkyWasher]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

After unlocking, and rooting my Nexus 4 I was able to get tethering working again with kit-kat. But it was a pain in the ***. NOT at all happy to have this feature disabled in an 'upgrade'
My notes:
There was no field 'tether_dun_required' in Settings Storage --> settings.db --> global so I added it to the database.

Also had to disable IPv6 and select IPv4 in Settings --> More... --> mobile networks Access Point Names --> T-Mobile GPRS --> APN protocol IPv4

Netflix now works again on the tablet.

 

[ChromeJob]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

I can confirm the instructions in Post #1 worked on my N4 with 16KRTS. As tested with an iPod Touch tethered over wifi. There's a free SQLite editor that crapped out on "error 14" trying to access the database. The title by Speed Software worked champion. Some things worked with APN set to IPv6, but others cacked; all worked fine set to IPv4.

With all the bleating going on, it's fair to note that putting a hook in the OS that alerts the carrier that tethering is being done seems like fair play. What the carrier does with that info is their business. Asking Android to "hide" the tethering activity ... I don't know, seems like if Google wants Android devices to be widely adopted/supported (as T-Mo carries the N4, N5, N7), they have to assuage their concerns. If you can root and edit a database, have at it. But for most customers, this is business as usual. Hopefully T-Mo will be more gracious about allowing post-paid as well as pre-paid customers some modicum of tethering.

 

[circusclown44]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

I've already updated to KitKat. Is there an easy way to go back to Jelly Bean? I'm super cheap and don't want to pay $2.99 for an SQLite editor (plus I'm pretty stupid and probably couldn't figure it out). Thanks!

 

[ChromeJob]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

I've already updated to KitKat. Is there an easy way to go back to Jelly Bean? I'm super cheap and don't want to pay $2.99 for an SQLite editor (plus I'm pretty stupid and probably couldn't figure it out). Thanks!

Yes. Download the factory image for 4.3 JWR66Y for your device.

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

[For the Nexus 4, you're looking for https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#occamjwr66y . For the Nexus 7 3G, you're looking for https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#nakasig ]

Following this guide for flashing it, edit the flash_all.sh or flash_all.bat file and REMOVE THE OPTION -w FROM THE SCRIPT. -w will erase your /data partition (your installed apps, settings, personal data, etc). Essentially, without -w in the command, it should update your system. I did this from 4.3 -> 4.4, I presume that it works flashing backwards from 4.4 -> 4.3.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/ne...3923-guide-nexus-4-factory-image-restore.html

If his doesn't work (removing the -w), use Helium backup (from CWM team) to backup all your apps, and uncheck the "data only" option, so the backup includes the .APK. Using ADB or AirDroid, copy the folders off your device (I compress in a .ZIP with ES File Manager) first. Then restore the -w switch, run the script. Your device will be completely clean, in a "first boot" condition, so you'll have to do some simple setup, then re-install Helium and restore your apps and data. Helium had some problems on my device, halting after restoring a dozen apps or so, so I just kept with it, restoring a few at a time. It saved me hours of time reinstalling and reconfiguring apps.

You'll need to re-flash custom recovery after flashing a factory image. I'd make sure all is working before doing so.

Hope this helps...

Option 2. Buy the SQLite editor, make the change, reboot, then get a refund on the app if you never plan to use it again. But the author deserves the $2.99 ... so if factory flashing sounds like more trouble/risk, then ... to quote an old vaudeville joke ... "Pay the two dollars!"

 

[Martin Valente]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

With all the bleating going on, it's fair to note that putting a hook in the OS that alerts the carrier that tethering is being done seems like fair play. What the carrier does with that info is their business.

I beg to disagree. Could you please tell me how is it fair play to give carriers this info via OS, thus allowing them to impose additional charges (ie. hot spot fees)? In what way is it the carrier's business how (ie. on which device) I use the bandwidth for which I ALREADY PAID?

 

[return_0]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

I beg to disagree. Could you please tell me how is it fair play to give carriers this info via OS, thus allowing them to impose additional charges (ie. hot spot fees)? In what way is it the carrier's business how (ie. on which device) I use the bandwidth for which I ALREADY PAID?

Because it's in the TOS you agreed to when you activated your plan (not to mention it's probably plainly spelled out in the carrier's plan description).

 

[billdz]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

From the original post:
"If you don't have root or unable to root, you can use an app like ClockworkMod's Tether, it required it's companion PC program and you need to make a $5 in app purchase to allow unlimited quota. This method is using USB connection only, not wireless."

I lost wireless tethering when I "upgraded" to 4.4 (N4, Tmobile). However, USB tethering is still working for me. Thus, as ClockworkMod's Tether only works for USB tethering, you may not need it.

Does anyone know of a way to restore wireless tethering on a non-rooted N4?

Thanks,
b

 

[famewolf]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

Be glad usb tethering works for you...on my n5 it totally can't access the net on the phone or any tethered devices....gets the hotspot upsell page no matter what....on my n4 continues to work as it should...I may have to look into putting android 4.3 on my n5.

 

[billdz]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

Yes, I hear you, famewolf. Based on what I've seen in this thread, assuming a call to TMobile does not get free tethering (see #33 above), the options are:
* root the phone and then follow the instructions in the original post on this thread, or
* go back to the old version by flashing the 4.3 ROM.
Some people say it is easy to root and to flash, but both actions are outside my comfort zone. This is very disappointing, a lesson to learn about not being quick to "upgrade" when something new comes out.

 

[ChromeJob]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

Yes, I hear you, framewolf. Based on what I've seen in this thread, assuming a call to TMobile does not get free tethering (see #33 above), the options are:
* root the phone and then follow the instructions in the original post on this thread, or
* go back to the old version by flashing the 4.3 ROM.
Some people say it is easy to root and to flash, but both actions are outside my comfort zone. This is very disappointing, a lesson to learn about not being quick to "upgrade" when something new comes out.

Unlocking and rooting are pretty simple you just have to be diligent about the steps. 2defmouze's Guide on these forums is pretty foolproof. The Nexus devices are particularly easy restore and fix if you goof.

Granted, if you've not unlocked the bootloader, doing so will erase your data. Backing up everything with Helium, and selecting the Google backup & restore sync (wherein it will restore a number of your settings from the Google-cloud), covers 95% of everything. A few apps like Lastpass, Authenticator, Cerberus, do not let backup apps touch their data.

As I posted somewhere, you can use the factory image to flash the 4.3 image on your device. Remove the -woption on the last line in the script, that is what wipes user data. I haven't flashed a factory image from 4.4. to 4.3, though, so I can't guarantee success. But I suspect the way Android is partitioned, it will work.

 

[someguy01234]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

Remove the -woption on the last line in the script, that is what wipes user data. I haven't flashed a factory image from 4.4. to 4.3, though, so I can't guarantee success. But I suspect the way Android is partitioned, it will work.

You also have to not type: fastboot erase userdata, which also delete alll your data.

 

[cybervyrus8587]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

I have a question if someone would be so kind to answer... I have a T-Mobile GS4 and I'm on a CM11 ROM and my tethering does not work. I'm on a family plan not pre/post paid. Would this fix work with my phone?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[billdz]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

What is easier and safer, rooting or flashing 4.3? I have jailbroken iPhones but the 2defmouze Guides look substantially more complicated, lot of technical terms with which I am not familiar, fastboot, ADB, Naked Driver, TWRP, Superuser, etc. And do I understand correctly that it is possible to flash 4.3 without losing my data but that rooting requires the erasure of data?

Also, someguy01234 says that, in flashing, you "have to not type: fastboot erase userdata, which also delete alll your data". But the Guide says that the "first command is going to wipe all your old EVERYTHING from the device." The "first command" listed is "fastboot erase boot" while "fastboot erase userdata" is the last command listed. So, to save the data, do we not type "fastboot erase boot", "fastboot erase userdata", or both?

 

[ChromeJob]

Re: TIPS: How to re-enable Tethering on KitKat.

You also have to not type: fastboot erase userdata, which also delete alll your data.

No such line exists in the factory image scripts.

flash-all.sh

#!/bin/sh

# Copyright 2012 The Android Open Source Project
#
# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
# You may obtain a copy of the License at
#
# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
#
# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
# limitations under the License.

fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-mako-makoz20i.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
sleep 5
fastboot flash radio radio-mako-m9615a-cefwmazm-2.0.1700.84.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
sleep 5
fastboot -w update image-occam-krt16s.zip

flash-all.bat

@ECHO OFF
:: Copyright 2012 The Android Open Source Project
::
:: Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
:: you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
:: You may obtain a copy of the License at
::
:: http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
::
:: Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
:: distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
:: WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
:: See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
:: limitations under the License.

PATH=%PATH%;"%SYSTEMROOT%\System32"
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-mako-makoz20i.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
ping -n 5 127.0.0.1 >nul
fastboot flash radio radio-mako-m9615a-cefwmazm-2.0.1700.84.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
ping -n 5 127.0.0.1 >nul
fastboot -w update image-occam-krt16s.zip

echo Press any key to exit...
pause >nul
exit

I have a question if someone would be so kind to answer... I have a T-Mobile GS4 and I'm on a CM11 ROM and my tethering does not work. I'm on a family plan not pre/post paid. Would this fix work with my phone?

You may have to try it and report back. No idea if tethering is even broken in CM11.

What is easier and safer, rooting or flashing 4.3? I have jailbroken iPhones but the 2defmouze Guides look substantially more complicated, lot of technical terms with which I am not familiar, fastboot, ADB, Naked Driver, TWRP, Superuser, etc. And do I understand correctly that it is possible to flash 4.3 without losing my data but that rooting requires the erasure of data?

Also, someguy01234 says that, in flashing, you "have to not type: fastboot erase userdata, which also delete alll your data". But the Guide says that the "first command is going to wipe all your old EVERYTHING from the device." The "first command" listed is "fastboot erase boot" while "fastboot erase userdata" is the last command listed. So, to save the data, do we not type "fastboot erase boot", "fastboot erase userdata", or both?

If you are unlocking the bootloader for the first time, in order to flash a different recovery partition, and install a root app, unlocking the bootloader wipes the device. I've re-flashed /recovery, and reinstalled superuser, several times on an already-unlocked Nexus, it doesn't wipe the data. Does that help?