Sharing Wi-Fi with Termux: A Complete Guide with Commands and Settings

Mobile Internet on an Android device can be turned into a full-fledged Wi-Fi access point not only through the standard system settings, but also with the help of Termux — a powerful terminal emulator for AndroidThis method is relevant when the standard distribution function is blocked by the operator, works unstable or requires root rightsUnlike apps like NetShare or PdaNet, Termux allows you to flexibly configure network settings, including SSID, channel and even MAC address filtering.

It's important to understand that Termux distribution isn't just an alternative to the built-in feature, but a tool for advanced users. There's no graphical interface, and all settings are configured through command lineHowever, with the correct configuration, such hotspot may be more stable than the standard one, especially on devices with custom firmware or older versions Android (below 10th). In this article, we will look at two main methods: using a utility hostapd (for devices with support Wi-Fi Direct) and through iptables + dnsmasq (universal method).

Preparing the device: what you need to do before you start

Before you begin setup, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Android version: 7.0 and above (on Android 6.0 and below may be required root rights).
• 🔧 Termux: installed from F-Droid (version from Google Play is outdated and does not support packages).
• 📶 Wi-Fi module: must support the mode AP (Access Point)You can check this with the command iw list | grep "AP".
• 🔌 Battery charge: not less than 50% (the setup and distribution process consumes energy intensively).

If your device does not support the mode AP, distribution via Termux will be impossible without root or kernel modifications. Also note that some operators (e.g., MTS or Beeline) may block distribution on tariffs with unlimited Internet - in this case, a bypass will be required via VPN or change TTL.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with processors MediaTek (For example, Redmi Note 8 Pro or Realme 6) Additional driver configuration may be required. Check the compatibility of your model on the forums. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

Before you begin, update packages in Termux:

pkg update && pkg upgrade -y
pkg install root-repo x11-repo -y # For advanced features (optional)

Method 1: Sharing via hostapd (for devices with AP support)

Utility hostapd (Host Access Point Daemon) is a standard solution for organizing an access point in Linux-systems. In Android It can be launched via Termux, but with some limitations. This method is suitable for devices whose Wi-Fi adapter supports the mode. master (for example, most of the pictures on Qualcomm Snapdragon).

Setup steps:

1. Install the required packages:

   pkg install hostapd dnsmasq -y

2. Create a configuration file for hostapd:

   mkdir -p ~/wifi-ap
   echo 'interface=wlan0
   driver=nl80211
   ssid=MyTermuxAP
   hw_mode=g
   channel=6
   wpa=2
   wpa_passphrase=12345678
   wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
   rsn_pairwise=CCMP' > ~/wifi-ap/hostapd.conf

   Here wlan0 — the name of your Wi-Fi interface (check through ip a), A MyTermuxAP And 12345678 — network name and password respectively.

3. Configure a DHCP server (dnsmasq):

   echo 'interface=wlan0
   dhcp-range=192.168.1.100,192.168.1.200,255.255.255.0,24h
   dhcp-option=3,192.168.1.1
   dhcp-option=6,192.168.1.1
   server=8.8.8.8
   log-dhcp' > ~/wifi-ap/dnsmasq.conf

After creating the configs, start the services:

hostapd ~/wifi-ap/hostapd.conf &
dnsmasq -C ~/wifi-ap/dnsmasq.conf -d &
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o rmnet_data -j MASQUERADE

⚠️ Attention: If after launch hostapd you see an error nl80211: Could not configure driver mode, your Wi-Fi adapter does not support the mode AP. Try it. An alternative method is with iptables or use an external USB Wi-Fi adapter with SoftAP support..

The device supports AP mode (checked via iw list)

Termux has access to /proc and /sys (no errors when writing to ip_forward)

The Wi-Fi password must be at least 8 characters long.

The wlan0 interface is not busy with other processes (check with netstat -tulnp)-->

Method 2: Universal distribution via iptables and dnsmasq

If hostapd It doesn't work, you can organize distribution through a bridge between Wi-Fi and mobile Internet (tethering). This method is less stable, but works on most devices, including those whose Wi-Fi adapter does not support the mode. AP. Operating principle: Android creates a virtual interface, and iptables redirects traffic.

Instructions:

• 🔄 Activate modem mode in Android settings (Settings → Wireless & networks → Tethering & portable hotspot).
• 📡 Install the required packages:

  pkg install iptables dnsmasq -y

• 🔧 Configure NAT (traffic redirection):

  iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o rmnet_data -j MASQUERADE
  iptables -A FORWARD -i wlan0 -o rmnet_data -j ACCEPT
  echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

  Here rmnet_data — mobile internet interface (may be called rmnet0 or ccmni0; please check through ifconfig).

• 🌐 Start the DHCP server:

  dnsmasq -i wlan0 --dhcp-range=192.168.1.100,192.168.1.200,255.255.255.0,24h

After executing the commands, connect to the network MyTermuxAP (or other specified SSID) from another device. If the internet isn't working, check:

• 🔌 Is the mobile internet interface specified correctly? (rmnet_data).
• 🔒 Is there any blocking of distribution by the operator (try connecting through VPN).
• 📵 Is tethering disabled in Android settings?

Solutions to common errors

When setting up distribution via Termux, users often encounter common issues. Below is a table of the most common errors and how to resolve them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🛠️ Android kernel version: on older kernels (below 3.4) there may not be enough support netfilter.
• 📋 SELinux policies: in mode enforcing Some transactions are blocked. Check the status via getenforce.
• 🔄 VPN Conflicts: Disable all VPN applications before setup.

pkg install proot-distro
proot-distro install ubuntu
proot-distro login ubuntu

Optimizing connection speed and stability

By default, Termux sharing can be slower than the standard Android feature. To improve performance:

• 📈 Change Wi-Fi channel: in the file hostapd.conf try the channels 1, 6 or 11 (they are less busy).
• 🔄 Disable Wi-Fi power saving:

  settings put global wifi_sleep_policy 2

  (Where 2 - "never turn off" mode).

• 🛡️ Increase MTU (if pings are high):

  ifconfig wlan0 mtu 1400

• 📡 Use 5 GHz (if the adapter supports): in hostapd.conf replace hw_mode=g on hw_mode=a and specify a channel from the range 36-165.

To monitor traffic and connected devices, use:

watch -n 1 "iw dev wlan0 station dump" # View connected clients
nethogs wlan0 # Monitoring traffic by process

Security: How to Secure Your Access Point

By default, distribution via Termux uses WPA2-PSK, but there are risks:

• 🔓 Weak passwords: easily selected by brute force.
• 🕵️ MAC address leak: Clients can be tracked.
• 📡 Traffic sniffing: without encryption, data is transmitted openly.

Recommendations for protection:

1. Use a complex password (minimum 12 characters, with numbers and special characters).
2. Limit the number of connected devices:

   hostapd ~/wifi-ap/hostapd.conf --max_num_sta=3 &

3. Enable MAC filtering:

   echo 'macaddr_acl=1
   accept_mac_file=/sdcard/allowed_mac.txt' >> ~/wifi-ap/hostapd.conf

   In the file allowed_mac.txt List the allowed addresses (one per line).

4. Disable SSID broadcasting (will hide the network from outsiders):

   echo 'ignore_broadcast_ssid=1' >> ~/wifi-ap/hostapd.conf

⚠️ AttentionMAC filtering and SSID hiding are not reliable protection—they are easily bypassed. For critical tasks, use VPN on client devices.

Launch automation: scripts for quick distribution

To avoid entering commands manually each time you launch it, create a script:

#!/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/bash
Script for automatic Wi-Fi distribution via hostapd

Root check (optional)
if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
echo "Running without root: some features may not work"
fi

Network setup
echo "1" > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o rmnet_data -j MASQUERADE
iptables -A FORWARD -i wlan0 -o rmnet_data -j ACCEPT

Starting hostapd and dnsmasq
hostapd ~/wifi-ap/hostapd.conf &
dnsmasq -C ~/wifi-ap/dnsmasq.conf -d &

echo "Access point started! SSID: MyTermuxAP, Password: 12345678"

Save the file as start_ap.sh and make it executable:

chmod +x start_ap.sh
./start_ap.sh

To stop distribution use:

pkill hostapd
pkill dnsmasq
iptables -t nat -D POSTROUTING -o rmnet_data -j MASQUERADE
iptables -D FORWARD -i wlan0 -o rmnet_data -j ACCEPT
echo "0" > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions