iPhone tethering via USB not working

I can't get USB tethering to work. My setup:

iMac with Mac OS 10.6.2
iPhone 3G, Sofware version 3.1.2 (Build 7D11)
The phone shows up in iTunes and syncing works as it should.

I went to System Preferences / Network and added the iPhone as a Network Service. To the right there is a status message for the selected service.

With the iPhone not plugged in, the status message reads:

Either the cable for iPhone is not plugged in or the device is not responding.

With the iPhone plugged in, the status message reads:

Either the cable for iPhone USB is not plugged in or the device is not responding.

Almost identical messages, the only difference is "USB".

Any clues?

Arne Evertsson

Posted 2009-11-11T12:08:18.547

Reputation: 536

Answers

It seems the Network prefs window is one of few settings windows where you have to Apply your changes before they take effect. I clicked on Apply and now it works.

Arne Evertsson

Posted 2009-11-11T12:08:18.547

Reputation: 536

I'd set this as your accepted answer then, so people know when looking through the web page – admintech – 2009-11-11T12:37:42.870

I will, as soon as superuser allows me to (two more days). – Arne Evertsson – 2009-11-11T21:02:19.870

The 64 bit kernel apparently works since 10.6.3.

Also, I found this thread on Apple's support forums says to try and USB tether with iTunes running.

I had my old iPhone working fine via usb, but it stopped when i got a warranty replacement. You have to remove all the old iphone devices if they're in your System preferences, turn on iTunes, and then plug in the phone to find tethering.

Up until I tried to start USB tethering without running iTunes (i don't automatically sync with itunes when I plug in the iphone), I just got a message that said the device hadn't been setup, and when I'd go to setup the device, it would say the device isn't connected.

Hope that helps!

Jas Panesar

Posted 2009-11-11T12:08:18.547

Reputation: 131

Yes, I've heard that sometimes tethering does not work until iTunes is opened. – Simon East – 2010-09-23T03:46:05.480

None of these answers fixed my problem, but this worked for me:

Copy /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext to a backup folder (Desktop) and delete the original
Re-download the latest version of iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/)
Install iTunes, this will update your "AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext" file.
Disconnect USB-connection to iPhone
Re-connect iPhone via USB

Tyilo

Posted 2009-11-11T12:08:18.547

Reputation: 2 345

Are you running 10.6.2 with the 64 bit kernel? The USB tethering driver doesn't work in that mode, only 32 bit: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2138547&tstart=195

Jukka Laurila

Posted 2009-11-11T12:08:18.547

Reputation:

No I'm not running the 64 bit kernel. My problem was only that I didn't click on the Apply button. – Arne Evertsson – 2010-02-09T09:39:45.450