This page is Work-In-Progress. Edits are, of course, always welcome.

In 2025 there are a few ways to connect your Debian device to the internet via a 5G cellular data connection(listed in no particular order):

  1. WiFi

  2. USB
  3. WWAN modem
  4. Bluetooth

WiFi

Please consult the "WiFi" and "WiFi/HowToUse" wiki pages for details surrounding the configuration of WiFi cards for your Debian System.

Please consult your phone or hotspot device's manual for how to enable it's respective personal hotspot features.

USB

If you wish to connect your Debian device to the internet via a USB personal hotspot connection originating from an Apple iOS device follow these steps:

  1. Install nmcli(if its not already installed)
  2. Ensure that the USB cable connecting your iOS device to your Debian device is capable of transferring data and not just power.
  3. Install "libimobiledevice-utils" from the terminal.
  4. Connect your iOS device to your Debian device with the data-transfer capable USB cable.

  5. Go to your iOS device and open the "Settings" app. Click on the "Personal Hotspot" button then click the "Allow Others to Join" button. When prompted to choose a connection method for the personal hotspot(i.e WiFi and Bluetooth or USB only) click "USB only"(or choose an option with the word "USB" in it).

  6. Run "nmcli" in the terminal to verify that your phone is detected(it will be obvious based on nmcli's response whether or not your iOS device is being detected). Your iOS device may bring up a prompt asking if you want to "Trust" or "Don't Trust" the connected device(a.k.a your Debian device). Click "Trust".
  7. Ping a server or website from the terminal or open a web browser and browse to a server/website of your choice to verify connectivity.

If you wish to connect your Debian device to the internet via a USB personal hotspot connection originating from an Android device follow these steps:

WWAN modem

Hardware Support

The following 5G WWAN modems have been tested and found to work, at least to a degree, with Debian:

Bluetooth

If you wish to connect your Debian device to the internet via a Bluetooth Personal Hotspot originating from an Apple iOS device follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to Settings->Personal Hotspot. Click "Allow Others to Join" then click "Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth".

  2. Install “nmcli” (if not already installed)
  3. Install “bluez” (if not already installed)
  4. Open Terminal and type “bluetoothctl”
  5. Type “power on”, then type “pairable on”, then type “discoverable on”.

  6. Go to your iOS device’s bluetooth settings and look for your Debian device’s name. Click on the Debian device’s name and wait for the pin confirmation to appear. Confirm that the pins that appear on both the Debian device and your iPhone match. If they do match then type “yes” in the terminal and click “pair” or “Yes” on your iPhone. You should see many new terminal entries appear that include your iPhone’s Bluetooth controller address(which can be found in the iOS Settings app under: General->About->Bluetooth). One of these entries may say “Device *your iPhone’s Bluetooth controller address* Bonded: Yes" which is expected(in a good way of course).

  7. If your iPhone is playing media of some kind(a movie, song, etc) you may be asked to type “yes” to a terminal prompt asking you to “authorize service”. Type “yes”.
  8. Once the pairing process has completed type “exit” in the terminal to exit out of the bluetoothctl program.
  9. Type “nmcli” to view the list of available network connections/adapters associated with your system. You should see an entry that includes your iPhone’s Bluetooth address with your iPhone’s name below it in quotes.
  10. Disconnect any current network connections using “nmcli connection down *name of network connection*” then type “nmcli connection up”, then press tab to list all possible network connections, find the connection with your iPhone’s name in it, then addend it’s name(as displayed) to the end of the “nmcli connection up”. When the connection has been established you should see a terminal entry which says “Connection Successfully activated”.
  11. Confirm that the connection is working properly by opening a web browser and browsing to a website of your choice or ping a website(or server) of your choice. You should see normal ping/browsing behavior displayed.