A Windows laptop or desktop with a supported wireless adapter can share an Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular Internet connection without third-party hotspot software.
Use the built-in settings
On current Windows releases:
- Open Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot.
- Choose the Internet connection to share.
- Select Wi-Fi as the sharing method when available.
- Edit the network name and use a strong, unique password.
- Turn on Mobile hotspot, then connect the other device using those credentials.
The exact labels can vary by Windows release and hardware. Older netsh wlan set hostednetwork instructions depend on a legacy hosted-network driver and are no longer supported by many modern adapters, so the Settings interface is the preferred method.
Troubleshooting
If the hotspot option is missing or clients cannot connect:
- install the computer or adapter manufacturer’s current Wi-Fi driver;
- confirm the source connection works before sharing it;
- disable and re-enable Mobile hotspot after changing the source connection;
- check whether a VPN, endpoint-security tool, or organization policy blocks Internet Connection Sharing;
- try the other supported Wi-Fi band if a client cannot see the network;
- restart the network adapters or the computer after a driver update.
Do not disable the firewall globally. If a managed work or school computer prohibits sharing, follow that policy rather than attempting to bypass it.
Anyone with the hotspot password uses the host’s connection and public IP address. Change the password after temporary sharing, turn the hotspot off when it is no longer needed, and avoid exposing sensitive local services to the shared network.
