How to Share Internet via Wi-Fi from a Laptop on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Sometimes you need to share your internet connection with other devices, but you don’t have a router available. In this case, you can share internet from your laptop through Wi-Fi if it’s connected via Ethernet or mobile data. In this guide, we’ll show you how to set it up on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Check Your Laptop's Capabilities

First, ensure your laptop supports Wi-Fi sharing:

  • Your laptop must have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter (most modern laptops have this).
  • The Wi-Fi adapter drivers should be updated. You can check and update them via the Device Manager.

Method 1: Using the Built-in “Mobile Hotspot” Feature

This is the simplest method and works well for most users. Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a built-in internet sharing feature called “Mobile Hotspot”.

Steps to Set Up a Mobile Hotspot:

  1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I, then go to Network & Internet.
  2. Select the Mobile Hotspot tab.
  3. Under “Share my Internet connection from”, choose the internet source (e.g., Ethernet or mobile data).
  4. Toggle the “Mobile Hotspot” switch to On.
  5. You can change the network name and password by clicking “Edit”.

Your laptop will now share its internet connection via Wi-Fi, and other devices can connect using the specified network name and password.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt

If the built-in feature is unavailable or not working, you can use Command Prompt to create a virtual Wi-Fi adapter for sharing internet.

How to Set Up Using Command Prompt:

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. Enter the following command to create a virtual Wi-Fi network: 
    netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNetwork key=MyPassword
    • ssid=MyNetwork — This is the name of your network (you can change it).
    • key=MyPassword — This is the password for connecting (change it to a minimum of 8 characters).
  3. Start the virtual network with this command: 
    netsh wlan start hostednetwork
  4. To stop sharing the internet, use: 
    netsh wlan stop hostednetwork

Now your virtual network is visible to other devices, and they can connect using the provided name and password.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Software

If you prefer not to configure manually or the built-in tools don’t work, you can use third-party software like Connectify Hotspot, mHotspot, or OSToto Hotspot. These apps offer a user-friendly interface and often provide additional features like internet access control, device monitoring, and speed limits.

How to Use Connectify Hotspot:

  1. Download and install Connectify Hotspot.
  2. Open the app and select the network you want to share.
  3. Set the network name (SSID) and password.
  4. Click “Start Hotspot” to begin sharing your internet connection.

Common Issues and Solutions

If you encounter issues while sharing your internet connection, consider the following solutions:

  • Outdated Wi-Fi Adapter Driver. Update your driver via Device Manager or download it from the manufacturer’s website.
  • Network Adapter Doesn’t Support Hosted Network Mode. Check support by running: 
    netsh wlan show drivers
    If “Hosted Network Supported” shows “No”, your adapter doesn’t support this feature.
  • Conflict with Antivirus or Firewall. Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall and check if internet sharing works.