Unlock Unlimited Connectivity: Transform Your Windows PC Into a Powerful Wi-Fi Hotspot!

Key Takeaways

To set up a hotspot on Windows 10 or Windows 11, simply follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app on your device.

2. Navigate to the "Network & Internet" section.

3. Locate and select the "Mobile Hotspot" option.

4. Toggle the switch to activate the hotspot and share your internet connection.

5. If desired, click on the "Edit" button to personalize the name and password of the network.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 have built-in features that enable you to convert your laptop or desktop into a wireless hotspot. This allows other devices to connect and utilize your internet connection. Let's take a look at how this functionality operates.

With the aid of a concealed virtual Wi-Fi adapter feature in Windows, you can create a Wi-Fi hotspot even while connected to another Wi-Fi network or wireless router. This permits you to share one Wi-Fi connection over another.

Why Share Your PC's Internet Connection?

There are many reasons to share your PC's internet connection via a Wi-Fi hotspot. Here are a few that you might encounter.

A Better Wi-Fi Connection

If you find yourself in a situation where your phone struggles to receive a strong Wi-Fi signal while you're using your computer, there's a solution. By utilizing the Ethernet hard line that provides a stable connection to your PC, you can leverage the built-in Wi-Fi capabilities of your desktop or laptop to create a Wi-Fi hotspot. This hotspot can then be utilized to connect your phone, or any other wireless device, and benefit from a reliable internet connection.

All of your device's wireless traffic is then routed back along the Ethernet line, giving you significantly better performance.

Encrypt Traffic Through a VPN Running on Your PC

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E utilize WPA3 for securing public Wi-Fi networks. However, not all networks you come across employ these standards currently. To ensure encryption of all your wireless traffic on a Wi-Fi network, simply activate a VPN on your PC (preferably a laptop) and then connect all your wireless devices to the hotspot created by your laptop. This way, all your data will be encrypted and you won't have to worry about potential eavesdroppers monitoring your online activity.

Circumvent Per-Device Fees

If you ever find yourself in a hotel room, on a plane, or any other place where the Wi-Fi network charges per device, there's a solution. Utilize the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot feature to your advantage.

All you need to do is sign up for the plan using your laptop, which will act as a central hub. Create a mobile hotspot on your Windows PC and connect your other devices to it. This way, you can bypass the per-device fees and enjoy internet connectivity on all your gadgets.

How to Share an Ethernet or Wi-Fi Connection in Windows 11

To enable internet sharing on Windows 11, start by accessing the Settings app. You can do this by pressing Windows+i or searching for "Settings" in the Start Menu. Once the Settings app is open, navigate to "Network & Internet." From there, choose "Mobile Hotspot" from the available options.

Select the adapter you want to share your connection from, and then select how you'd like to share the connection with another device.

To illustrate, if you have your computer connected to an Ethernet cable, you can choose "Ethernet" from the dropdown menu beside "Share My Internet Connection From." Then, choose Wi-Fi from the "Share Over" dropdown menu.

Click on "Edit" to configure your network name, password, and select the desired band (2.4 GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz). Notably, the available options will be determined by the capabilities of your PC's hardware. Additionally, please ensure you possess a Wi-Fi 6E-enabled device to access the 6GHz band.

Once all of that configuration is done, click the toggle near the top to enable your network.

You will be able to connect to your Windows mobile hotspot just like you would any other Wi-Fi network you might encounter.

How to Share a Wired or Wireless Internet Connection in Windows 10

With the 2016 release of the Anniversary Update, Windows 10 introduced a convenient feature that allows users to easily turn their PC with Wi-Fi into a hotspot. The best part is that this feature supports both wired and wireless internet connections. To access this feature, simply press Windows+I on your keyboard to open the Settings menu. From there, navigate to the "Network & Internet" section.

On the Network & Internet page, on the left-hand side, click "Mobile hotspot."

To share your Internet connection with other devices, simply enable the "Share my Internet connection with other devices" switch located on the right-hand side. If you prefer to customize the network name and password, just click on the "Edit" button.

Type your desired network name and password in the Edit window, and then click "OK." If your wireless adapter supports it, you can also specify the network band.

That's all you need to do in Windows 10. This feature, introduced in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, is considered one of the best, despite receiving limited attention during its release.

How to Share a Wired Internet Connection in Windows 7

Windows 7 offers a built-in feature that allows you to share your PC's wired Internet connection with wireless devices. This can be done through an ad-hoc network, which is a straightforward and direct connection between devices. Essentially, you will be creating an ad-hoc network to link your PC's wireless connection with the wireless devices you wish to connect. Just ensure that your wired connection is properly set up and that your PC has Wi-Fi capabilities.

Setting up an ad-hoc network with your PC's Wi-Fi will disable any existing connection that utilizes the same Wi-Fi adapter. This method is only effective if your internet is being sourced from an Ethernet connection.

If you are unfamiliar with setting up a network in this manner, we recommend reading our comprehensive guide on sharing an internet connection through an ad-hoc network. In summary, you will need to access the Manage Wireless Networks window (located by searching for "wireless" in the start menu), click on the Add button, and select "Create an ad hoc network." Assign a name and passphrase to the network, which will then be visible in the list of available wireless networks. By selecting it, your laptop will disconnect from its current Wi-Fi network and begin hosting an ad-hoc network that other devices can connect to.

Ensure that you enable the "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection" option. This will allow your PC to share its wired Internet connection with the devices connected to your PC through the ad-hoc network.

Share a Wired Internet Connection in Windows 8

Regrettably, the graphical interface for setting up an ad-hoc network was removed in Windows 8, making the process less straightforward compared to Windows 7 or 10. However, the underlying feature still exists and can be accessed through a command line workaround. To begin, ensure that your current wireless network is shared with other users on the network. Press the Windows key and R simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type "ncpa.cpl" and press Enter.

In the network connections window, right-click your Wireless network and select "Properties" from the context menu.

Navigate to the "Sharing" tab and ensure that the "Allow other network users to utilize this computer's Internet connection" option is enabled. Additionally, uncheck the "Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection" box. Finally, click the "OK" button.

To proceed, you should open the Command Prompt with administrative privileges. Simply right-click on the lower-left corner of your screen (or press Windows+X), and from the Power Users menu that appears, choose "Command Prompt (Admin)".

If you notice PowerShell instead of Command Prompt in the Power Users menu, that change occurred with the Creators Update for Windows 10. Switching back to displaying the Command Prompt on the Power Users menu is simple if desired, or you can give PowerShell a chance. PowerShell offers the capability to perform nearly all the tasks achievable in Command Prompt, along with numerous other handy features.

With the command prompt open, your next step is to set up the wireless network using the netsh like so:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid="<SSID>" key="<PASSWORD>"

Where <SSID> is the name of your network and <PASSWORD> is the password you want users to connect with. The access point is created with WPA2-PSK (AES) encryption.

Next, you'll start broadcasting our network with the following command:

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

You can use this last command to display information about your connection, including the channel, SSID name, authentication type, radio type, and the number of clients connected to your network.

netsh wlan show hostednetwork

When you're done, you should be able to connect any Wi-Fi device to your new ad-hoc network.

How to Turn Your PC Into a Wi-Fi Hotspot the Easy Way

If you are having trouble getting the in-built Windows Wi-Fi hotspot to function, we recommend giving Connectify Hotspot a try instead. It is an incredibly user-friendly Wi-Fi hotspot solution, offering a wide range of features and boasting a visually appealing interface.

Connectify Hotspot is an excellent option if you find yourself in a hotel that charges for every device connection or during a flight when you connect your laptop but want to avoid additional charges for connecting your phone. By opting for the Pro version, you can also utilize your PC as a Wi-Fi repeater or a wired router, or even share a tethered connection from your phone. Although it is primarily designed for power users, Hotspot offers a free trial for those seeking a reliable solution, with the basic version available for free, albeit with some limitations.

Windows Stopped Allowing Mobile Hotspot? Fixes to Try

If your mobile hotspot has suddenly stopped working, there could be a few possible reasons causing the issue. To resolve this problem on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 device, follow these troubleshooting steps. Keep in mind that not all wireless adapters are capable of creating a mobile hotspot, so the only way to determine if yours supports it is to give it a try.

Disconnect, Forget, and Reconnect Your Devices

If you suddenly find that your hotspot isn't working correctly, try disconnecting from it, forgetting the network, and then reconnecting again.

Make sure to also verify the hotspot password simultaneously. If you have modified it but failed to update it on the device you are attempting to connect, authentication errors will occur.

Restart the Hotspot

If the hotspot reconnection failed, attempt a complete restart of the hotspot. Begin by accessing the Settings application, then navigate to Network and Internet > Mobile Hotspot. Proceed to toggle the hotspot off and subsequently back on. Subsequently, endeavor to reconnect your additional devices.

Enable Internet Connection Sharing

Your Wi-Fi adapter may have Internet sharing disabled. To enable it, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Search for "Network Status."

3. Open the "Network Status" result.

4. Towards the bottom, click on "Change Adapter Options."

Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and click "Properties."

Then navigate to the "Sharing" section within the tab labeled "Sharing". Ensure that the option "Enable Other Network Users to Access the Internet via This Computer's Internet Connection" is activated. Subsequently, reboot your hotspot device and attempt to establish a connection to it once more.

Restart Your PC

Although it may sound like a cliché, the advice of "Have you tried turning it off and back on again" is a standard practice for a good reason. By restarting your PC, you effectively turn off all hardware components, clear the RAM, and initiate a fresh start for programs and drivers. Surprisingly, a wide range of issues can be resolved almost magically through this simple action. If your hotspot is experiencing difficulties due to a driver error or a related problem, there is a reasonable chance that restarting your PC will resolve the issue.

Temporarily Disable Your Firewall and Antivirus

Antivirus software varies significantly, so you'll need to check the product's documentation to determine precisely how to do that.

Alternatives to a Windows Hotspot

We covered some possible uses for a Windows Mobile Hotspot, but there are some alternatives that can accomplish the same things that you might prefer.

Use a 5G Mobile Hotspot

For a Windows hotspot to function properly, it is essential that your laptop or desktop has a reliable internet connection. In the absence of a good connection, you would only be establishing a small-scale local area network (LAN). While this can have its uses in certain scenarios, it is unlikely to meet your requirements.

On the other hand, a 5G mobile hotspot operates in a similar manner but redirects all internet traffic through cellular towers instead of a Wi-Fi network. Depending on your data plan, this option may be more cost-effective and quicker compared to purchasing Wi-Fi from a hotel.

Cellular mobile hotspots vary significantly in price and quality, so be sure to pick out the best mobile hotspot for your needs.

Use a Travel Router

A travel router is a portable version of the router found in your home. Unlike traditional routers, it is designed to be carried with you and can be taken to any location. Instead of connecting your wireless devices one by one to a nearby Wi-Fi network, you can connect them all to your travel router, which will then route your traffic through the local Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection. This offers several notable benefits.

One advantage is that it allows you to bypass device restrictions on the network. This means you can bring as many devices as you want without having to pay any additional fees.

They often support VPNs encrypt your traffic, so you're relatively secure, even on suspect networks

If your room has spotty Wi-Fi, most travel routers can connect via Ethernet

Create a Mobile Hotspot with your iPhone or Android

In some cases, you may prefer to reverse the process and share the internet connection from your phone with your laptop or desktop. If desired, you can still connect through a VPN, but you will be limited to sharing your Wi-Fi or cellular connection. However, most laptops, desktops, and travel routers allow you to share an Ethernet connection. The method for creating a hotspot varies depending on the device, as iPhones and Androids have different procedures. Additionally, not all phone carriers have the same policy regarding phone hotspots.

You should also be careful — you can burn through data more quickly than you think. If you're on a metered plan you need to keep an eye on your data usage.