Android phones connect to hotel Ethernet using USB-C-to-Ethernet adapters

7 articles · Updated · Android Police · Apr 26

A Google Pixel 9 running Android 17 beta successfully accessed hotel internet via a USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter, bypassing Wi-Fi and captive portals.
This method provides faster, more stable connections and allows users to share wired internet with other devices by enabling the phone’s hotspot feature.
The workaround helps travelers avoid device limits and unreliable hotel Wi-Fi, though some hotels may still impose data usage restrictions on their networks.

Is this Ethernet trick an Android-only feature, or can iPhone users also ditch unreliable hotel Wi-Fi this way?

Does plugging directly into a hotel's Ethernet expose your phone to more serious security risks than using their Wi-Fi?

As hotels adopt Wi-Fi 6, will this clever wired workaround soon become completely unnecessary for travelers?

Could hotels start disabling their Ethernet ports to block this bypass and protect their premium Wi-Fi revenue?

How significantly does turning your phone into an Ethernet-powered Wi-Fi hotspot drain its battery life during travel?

With travel internet demands soaring, why haven't hotels already solved their notoriously bad Wi-Fi problem by 2026?