HamNetConnect a Mac to an Android phone's VPN
Your MacBook can use the Android phone's VPN without any software on the Mac. HamNet becomes the VPN on the phone and creates the network; the Mac joins it and either takes the one-tap profile or points its Wi-Fi proxy settings at the PAC address.
What you need
An Android phone (8.0+) with HamNet and a VPN link from your provider or your own server. The phone becomes the VPN and opens the hotspot or Wi-Fi Direct network itself; the second device only joins that network and takes the proxy address — no app, no account, no root.
Mac
- Join HamNet's network.
- Fast way: open
http://ADDR:8181/in Safari (HamNet's address) → “Download profile” → System Settings → Profiles → Install. - Manual way: System Settings → Wi-Fi → Details… next to the network → Proxies → enable “Automatic proxy configuration” with
http://ADDR:8181/proxy.pac(or fill HTTP and HTTPS by hand). - If the Mac is also on another network with internet, put HamNet's network first in the service order.
Three steps
Paste the link
Paste your VPN link or subscription into HamNet and tap Connect VPN. Android asks once to allow the VPN.
Turn sharing on
HamNet makes a Wi-Fi Direct network, or opens a hotspot when Wi-Fi is off, and shows a QR code. Switch Wi-Fi off or on and it moves along with you.
Connect the other device
Scan the first QR with the camera to join the network. An Android phone with HamNet: one tap, done. Everything else: the second QR opens the setup page — iPhone and Mac get a one-tap profile, Windows a PAC link.
Install HamNet on the Android phone
APK · version 2.5.1 · free
Related questions
Does the second device need a VPN or an app?
No. iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux, TVs and consoles only need a proxy setting (or the one-tap profile/PAC). A second Android phone can install HamNet itself: one tap joins the host and every app on that phone goes through the tunnel.
Which apps go through the tunnel?
Anything that honours the system proxy: browsers, most messaging and streaming apps, app stores. UDP apps (some games, voice calls) may not.
Is the other devices' traffic encrypted?
Between the device and the phone, HTTPS stays HTTPS; from the phone to your server it is inside the VPN tunnel. HamNet stores or sends nothing.
Guides for other devices
Android / tablet · iPhone / iPad · Windows 10 / 11 · Linux · Android TV / smart TV · PlayStation 4 / 5