Use an IMac or Macbook As a Wireless Internet Tether for Xbox Live

by drewthevander

93K921

Intro: Use an IMac or Macbook As a Wireless Internet Tether for Xbox Live

In my first instructable, I will show you how to use an iMac, or Macbook as a wireless internet tether so you can use xbox live with out buying the expensive wireless internet adapter.

What you will need:
A Mac with Mac OSX
An Xbox 360
A wireless internet access point that you have access to
An ethernet cable

STEP 1: Setup Some Preferences

Go on your mac and go to system preferences. Go to the network tab. Click on the ethernet button on the right side, then go to configure and select manually. enter the address as 10.0.0.1 and then enter the subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 .

STEP 2: Enable Sharing

Go back to the system preference main tab and choose the Sharing Tab. Check the box that says Internet Sharing. Then say share your conection from the Airport, and make sure the check box beneith that is on the Ethernet box. Now plug the ethernet cable into the iMac or Macbook and then the other end of it to the Xbox 360.

STEP 3: Setup on the Xbox

The next thing you need to do is too go to My Xbox on the NXE.(New Xbox Experience). Go to System Settings and then choose Network Settings. Select your IP settings and choose manual. Now enter 10.0.0.2 as your IP Address, 255.255.255.0 as your Subnet Mask, and 10.0.0.1 as your Gateway and hit done. Go ahead and test it right now, it will fail. Now go back to edit network settings and select your DNS settings this time and once again choose "Manual." Now go back to the Network tab on your mac and click on the Airport Sidebar Button, then click advanced. Click on the DNS button and see what the DNS servers panel says, in my case it is 192.168.0.1 Enter this number as your Primary DNS Server. Then go to this website: http://www.whatismyip.com/
It will tell you what your IP is. Enter this number as the secondary DNS Server on the xbox. Select done and test your connection.

You are now done and should be connected to xbox live. Please note that you will need to have your mac on and plugged into the xbox the whole time, and it may be a little laggy depending on your signal stregth.

21 Comments

pimtozul 10 years ago

I was using this system for a while without any hitches. Unfortunately my computer died, so upon getting a new one I tried to once again use this internet sharing system. I was running into a trouble/

I couldn't connect and the xbox said there were DNS problems. I eventually resolved them by doing everything this instructable said, but instead used AUTOMATIC IP, Gateway, etc settings, and used MANUAL for the DNS as instructed in this. Everything else, including everything done on the mac was done the same. I hope this could help others with the same issue.

schuie 12 years ago

Great tutorial!

I followed it and it worked for the most part, however, I can't actually play on Live because of something to do with my NAT settings. I spent a couple hours on Google trying to find an answer to the problem, but I can't seem to find anything.

I can get on just fine when I connect my Xbox directly to my router; I'm using an iMac running Snow Leopard and a Linksys E3000 router. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

jdurso 12 years ago

My DNS server # is way different than yours is. It's all single digits and I feel that it's not working because of that reason... I cannot connect to the internet but the network and my 360 are solid. Help? :/

spudstud 13 years ago

Appreciate the article. I am still having some trouble. When you do this, is the mac still able to surf the internet even with the xbox hooked up? I find the moment that I enable internet sharing, I am unable to access the outside internet. Internal pings still work but neither device can find a webpage.

GusGags 13 years ago

Great Guide works for me every time thanks !

kingcatfish 14 years ago

 it worked when i first connected it but now it just connects to a network and dosent connect to the interenet.

Snow1989 14 years ago

I am a college student living on campus and they do not have wireless interent. Can I do this using the ethernet cord to plug in my computer and wirelessly sharing the connection through my airport (by creating my own network) to my xbox 360 using the 360's wireless adapter?

tron1o7 14 years ago

 What if my wifi has a password on it?  Can I still do it?  Or is there another setting on the xbox that I have to change?

drewthevander 14 years ago

 it will work, since the mac is handling the password

ballistik 14 years ago

This works but I get a strict NAT warning. How do I remove this strict setting. I am using a lynksys n router.
Thanks

wiseguitarmaster 14 years ago

wow thanks this really worked now i can use xbox live once again.

xp1123 15 years ago

I tried this and it keeps comung up with the error message "Can't connect to your network hardware using a static IP address." Please help, I just bought the year long subscription

jackierulesall 14 years ago

Make sure you manually input all IP addys and subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and enable wifi sharing in your OS preferences.

phant0m_sp00f3ra 15 years ago

will this work on a black (non-360) xbox? i really want to have linux on it ...

drewthevander 15 years ago

i dont know, it should be quite similar though....
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