How to Use Your PC or Laptop Computer as a Wireless Router
Can I use my laptop as a wireless router?
Yes you can! To configure a Mac or Windows laptop as a wireless router, you can use an application that will do everything for you or configure it manually in the operating system. To make your laptop a hotspot, it needs to use your Wi-Fi adapter. Therefore, you cannot access the internet using the same device. However, you can use a USB Wi-Fi adapter to have two (one for the access point and one for the Internet.) Anyway, Ethernet is the best option to use if you can, mainly because that it is faster and more reliable as the source.
Using a Laptop as a Wired Router in Windows 10 and Windows 8
If you use Windows 10, you can easily turn your laptop into a WiFi hotspot, thanks to the pre-included settings. The Anniversary Update added the ability to share your network connection, which was a welcome addition. Here's what you do.
Open the Settings menu in Windows 10.
Select Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot from the left menu.
To toggle Share my internet connection with other devices sure.
Enable Wi-Fi on the other device and scan for networks.
Join the network created by your laptop. The network name is listed in the "Share my Internet connection" window.
Type the network password on the other device, which is also listed in the "Share my Internet connection" window.
You should now be able to access the Internet using your laptop as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
If you're using Windows 8, you can still create a Wi-Fi hotspot, but it takes a bit more setup.
Aller vers Control panel > Network connections.
Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.
Select Follow us! and check the box "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection".
Open the command prompt as administrator.
Type the following: netsh wlan set hostnetwork mode=allow ssid= » » key= »
« and , press Enter. YOURSSID is the network name and PASSWORD is the network password.
Now type: netsh wlan start the hosted network and press Enter.
Then type: netsh wlan show hosted network to check that everything is working correctly.
You should now be able to join this Windows 8 network on your other device. Search and connect as usual, entering the SSID and password when prompted.
Windows 8 or Windows 10 hotspot not working?
If you try the above steps to use your Windows 8 or Windows 10 laptop as a wireless router and it doesn't work, there could be several reasons. Here are the most common Windows hotspot issues.
Problem #1: Poor network cable connection
A cable can look good on the outside but be damaged on the inside, especially since the wires are fragile and thin, and the ends can loosen or wear out.
Problem #2: Old Router
An old router that's barely compatible with your laptop's Wi-Fi hardware and drivers may disconnect or not connect at all every time you use a second Wi-Fi adapter for your internet source.
Problem #3: connection sharing from your smartphone
When you use your Android or Mac smartphone as a connection device in Windows 8 or 10, it is not identified as an Internet source under some apps or drivers. Yes, it works, but some aspects of Windows don't recognize USB Ethernet as a valid internet connection, even though it is to some degree. This is because tethering apps used like pdaNet and EasyTether do not offer automatic IP addressing or management of multiple IP addresses like the app's Wi-Fi and phone's hotspot features do. . Thus, Windows is confused due to the communication and data exchange restrictions between the two. After all, tethering is really designed to connect to a single device.
It is important to note that you CAN share your Ethernet connection when using third party app options. For example, pdaNet offers Wi-Fi Direct (an actual hotspot using your phone's data signal), Wi-Fi Share (Beta), which automatically sets up a hotspot on your laptop connected to the using existing tether connection and Bluetooth internet functions.
For Wi-Fi sharing with Samsung smartphones, see the article on how to use Wifi-Hotspot on Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus.
Use an Apple Laptop as a Wireless Router
If you want to use a MacBook or MacBook Pro as a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can. The limitations found in Windows 8 and 10 also apply to Apple laptops, which require an Ethernet connection for the internet and your Wi-Fi adapter for the hotspot. Here's how.
Select the apple logo and System Preferences.
Select Follow us! then the words "IInternet Sharing » from the list on the left. DO NOT click the box yet. Instead, click on the words.
Select Ethernet as source and Wi-Fi in the "To computers using" box.
Select how other devices will connect to your Mac on the next line.
Back to Sharing > Internet Sharing et Check the box.
Click on Start in the pop-up window that appears.
Click on Okay in all prompts, if applicable.
Find available networks on your other device and use the network name and password from step 4.
Both Windows and Mac operating systems support multiple Wi-Fi adapters, but you may encounter issues when using this method. You will need to manually configure both Wi-Fi adapters with different IP addresses and use one for local access only. This tells the operating system to select one for internet traffic and one for local IP traffic.
If you're using Apple, you'll also need to put the Internet-enabled WiFi adapter on top, so it prioritizes it.
Other than using a third-party app or program to enable hotspot routing, these are the only ways to get the job done.
