Laptops usually come with the WiFi hardware built into them and they can connect to an WiFi network out of the box. In case of PC’s, you will have to purchase a separate WiFi dongle and install it in order to connect to a WiFi network. WiFi hardware can be used to connect to WiFi networks, but in order to create a WiFi network you will always need the help of third party tools such as Connectify.
Like most popular software, Connectify was once a freeware and disappointingly the developers decided to put a price tag on it. Connectify still has a free version available, but there are many restrictions on it.
Fortunately, Software such as Connectify are just a secondary method of creating WiFi HotSpots for sharing a PC’s or Laptop’s internet connection. The primary method of creating WiFi HotSpots is very simple but it requires the use of the command prompt on windows.
For those who want to create a WiFi HotSpot without the need of any third party tools or software, the instructions below will guide you through the process.
Note: You will need to have a WiFi dongle or card installed on your PC in order to host a WiFi Hostspot.
How to turn a PC or Laptop into a WiFi HotSpot
- Step 1: Open the Command prompt with Administrator rights.
- Step 2: Type in the following command
“ netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=HotSpot key=12345678 “
Here ” HotSpot ” will be the name of the WiFi HotSpot you are going to create. You can change it to any other name of your choice.
Similarly the Key value i.e. “ 12345678 ” is the password to connect to the WiFi HotSpot, you can also change this to any value of your choice.
- Step 3: Next type
” netsh wlan start hostednetwork “
The result should look like this.
- Step 4: Next you will have to Network and sharing center in Control panel and right click on your main network and select properties. i.e the network that you are using to access the internet.
- Step 5: Finally click on the sharing tab and check ” allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connect “
Thats it now you can search for the WiFi HotSpot from any WiFi enabled device and connect to it with the password key set by you.
Source: Reddit.YSK
Thanks for the article. But once i do step 3. the command line tells me that the hosted network could not be started. Please help
Nevermind. My wireless card was disabled
Could you please tell me how to stop it?
Stop it:
Type in Command Prompt:
“netsh wlan stop hostednetwork”
I am getting this when I try the above command.
I have intel(r) pro/wireless 3945abg network connection, and i am not able to turn my laptop into a wifi hotspot.
hey man did you succeed in creating the a hotspot if so please help me out
You fucked my computer now it’s not connecting to any wifi, tell me how to fix this.
when i tried to connect my smartphone with hotspot it just showed authenticating and was not connecting
The hosted network couldn’t be started.
The group or resources is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation.
network i am connected is not private what can i do now
Sir.. I lost my internet connection now.. Before I was using cable and wifi both on my laptop now laptop can not connect to internet with cable.. how to solve this issue.