How to create a hotspot on your laptop

A wireless hotspot is not a function only found on smartphones. You can create a wireless hotspot on your laptop as well. Both Windows and Mac natively support the function where you can turn your laptop (or desktop) into a wireless hotspot. With the wireless hotspot function, you can share your internet connection with other devices.

On Windows, this feature works thanks to a hidden virtual Wi-Fi adapter that allows users to create a Wi-Fi hotspot when they are connected to another Wi-Fi network or a wireless router. Just like your smartphone, you can effortlessly convert your internet-connected laptop into a wireless network for others to use.

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

Microsoft has simplified the process of sharing your internet connection in Windows 11. You can do this by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows+I or searching for Settings in the Start Menu

Step 2: Click on Network & internet

Step 3: Select Mobile Hotspot from the menu list

Step 4: Select the adapter you want to share your connection from 

If you have an ethernet cable plugged into your laptop then you can select “Ethernet” from the “Share my internet connection from” dropdown list

Step 5: Now, select how you would like to share your internet connection with other devices

You can select to share the network over Wi-Fi from the “Share Over” dropdown menu

Step 6: Click the toggle near the top to enable Mobile hotspot

ALSO READ: Tips and tools for assessing your Wi-Fi network’s performance

The above steps will turn your Windows 11 laptop or desktop into a mobile hotspot for sharing an internet connection with another device. However, you can customise your wireless hotspot by clicking Edit under the Properties tab. You can change the name, and password, and select the band for your network. Please note the band option will be limited by the hardware of your laptop.

How to share a wired or wireless internet connection in Windows 10

With the release of Windows 10 Anniversary Update in 2016, Microsoft introduced a single switch to turn any PC with Wi-Fi into a hotspot. Interestingly, you can share the connection regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Go to Settings on your Windows 10 laptop by pressing Windows+I or searching for Settings in the Start Menu

Step 2: Click on Network & Internet on the main Settings page

Step 3: Now, click on Mobile hotspot option in the left hand side menu

Step 4: Click the toggle to On under “Share my Internet connection with other devices” option

You can change the name of your network to something other than the default name from the same window. Click “Edit” below the Network name and Network password option and change the network name and password to your preference. In the same window, you can even change the network band if your laptop device supports that option.

How to create a hotspot from a laptop running Windows 7

Windows 7 also allows its users to create a Wi-Fi hotspot but unlike Windows 10 and 11, this ability is limited to a wired internet connection. On Windows 7, you can create an ad-hoc network to share your PC’s wired internet connection with other wireless devices.

When you create an ad-hoc network using your PC’s Wi-Fi on Windows 7, it will disable any existing connection using that Wi-Fi adapter. Here’s how to set up an ad-hoc network on Windows 7 to create a Wi-Fi hotspot:

Step 1: Go to the Start Menu and type wireless into the Search box

Step 2: Select Manage wireless networks

Step 3: Click the Add button to add a wireless network

Step 4: Now, click on Create add ad hoc network

Step 5: Read the message about ad hoc network and click Next

Step 6: Give your network a name and choose the security type and security key

Step 7: Click on Save this network

Step 8: Right-click on your wireless adapter icon and click on Properties

Step 9: Go to the Sharing tab and click the checkbox next to “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection”

With the above steps, you have created a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Windows 7 laptop and any wireless device will now be able to see this ad-hoc network as a wireless hotspot for internet connection. In addition to internet connection, the ad-hoc also allows users to share files between machines.

How to create a hotspot on Mac

You can also share your Mac’s internet connection with other computers on your local network or with other devices over Wi-Fi. Here’s how:

Step 1: On your Mac, choose Apple menu and go to System Settings

Step 2: Click General in the sidebar and then click Sharing on the right

Step 3: Turn on Internet Sharing and then click Turn On to confirm

Step 4: Click the Info button next to Internet Sharing

Step 5: Click the “Share your connection from” pop-up menu

Step 6: Now, choose the internet connection you want to share. Choose Ethernet if you are connected to the internet over Ethernet

Step 7: Click on “To devices using” to enable the port other devices can use to access the shared internet connection

Step 8: If you are sharing your internet connection over Wi-Fi, select Wi-Fi

Step 9: While sharing your connection using Wi-Fi, you can configure the network by going to Wi-Fi options and selecting a name, channel, security, and password for the network

Step 10: Click Done

The above steps will create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Mac that can be used by other wireless devices. While these steps are for macOS Sonoma, the previous versions have similar steps with minor changes in the settings option.