How to distribute the Internet from a laptop on Windows 10

Many of us have come across a situation where we need to distribute the Internet from one device to another. For example, this is how you can distribute a Wi-Fi network from your smartphone. But on Android and iOS, this feature is implemented intuitively. But what if you have a laptop running Windows 10 at your disposal?

Once the operating system from Microsoft did not know how to distribute the Internet. It only allowed you to connect to an existing Wi-Fi network. Fortunately, the situation has changed a lot since then. In the bowels of Windows 10, you can easily find the switch responsible for creating your own access point. You just need to make sure that the computer itself is connected to the Internet. And that the wireless modem is activated.

Creating an Access Point in Windows 10

Setting up a wireless access point in Windows 10 does not cause any problems even for novice users. The process can be safely called intuitive, since it does not require entering commands into the console or installing special programs. You only need to do the following:

1. Go to Start.

2. Click on the «Settings» icon (looks like a gear).

3. Go to the «Network and Internet» section.

4. Go to the «Mobile hotspot» subsection.

Approximately in the middle of the screen that opens, you will see the item “Internet Connection Sharing”. Here you need to select the method of connecting to the global web, which is currently being used. For example, if you are connected to the global web via a network cable, then you need to select «Ethernet».

1. Below you can see the network data. Below them is the «Change» button, on which you need to click the mouse.

2. A new window will open. Here you need to come up with a name for the network and a password to gain access to it. You will enter this data on another device that connects to the created Wi-Fi network. When the input is complete, click the «Save» button.

3. Now all that remains is to activate the checkbox next to the item «Allow my Internet connection to be used on other devices.»

4. That’s all. You can safely connect to a brand new Wi-Fi network. At the same time, up to eight devices are connected to such a hot spot. To deactivate the network, click on the «Network» icon located on the taskbar — here you will find the button for this.

We recommend that you activate Bluetooth on both devices, and then connect them to each other. In this case, the access point will automatically turn off if the smartphone is outside the created network. It will also be activated immediately after the device has appeared near the computer.

Unfortunately, not everything is as simple as it seems. In some cases, when creating a network, one or another error occurs. Most often, the system writes: “It is not possible to set up a mobile hot spot. Turn on Wi-Fi.» This is a common problem, usually related to a malfunctioning wireless adapter driver.

If you also get this error, your actions should be as follows:

1. Reset your network adapter. To do this, follow the path «Network and Internet» — «Status» — «Network Reset». Then write down the network settings.

2. If this does not help, uninstall the Wi-Fi driver. Just do not forget to pre-download a new one on the manufacturer’s website. It is possible that there is no driver for Windows 10 for your laptop. Usually, in this case, a driver for Windows 8 is downloaded — these operating systems are very similar, so such a driver can also work. If this does not help, we recommend that you go to the «Device Manager». See if there is a Microsoft virtual adapter in this list. Enable it if it is not enabled.

If all of the above methods do not help, you will have to use the command line, writing some amount of text with pens.

Using Command Prompt in Windows 10

The command line has been present in Windows since the days of DOS. It usually works flawlessly. However, it is not so user-friendly, since all commands here are entered in text.

To call the command line, you must first click on the «Start» button, and then click on «Command Prompt (Administrator)». Here you will need to enter the following commands:

1. Netsh wlan show drivers — this way you will know for sure whether your Wi-Fi adapter supports Internet distribution. As mentioned above, some laptops have adapters that can only connect to an existing network. The answer to your question is contained in the line «Hosted network support» — it should indicate «Yes». If the answer is no, you can try updating the driver. It is possible that the new version of it has the desired opportunity to create a hot spot.

2. Netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Login key=Password — instead of «Login» come up with a network name, and instead of «Password» — a password to connect. This command will create a hotspot.

3. Netsh wlan start hostednetwork — this command will start a hot spot, after which you can connect to the access point from any portable device. However, there are a few more things you need to do first.

Left click on the «Start» button. Here you need to select «Network Connections». Find your active internet connection in the list. Right-click on it, and then select «Properties».

In the window that appears, go to the «Access» tab. Here you should check the box next to the item «Allow other network users to use this computer’s Internet connection.» Well, in the field below, select «Local Area Connection», ending with a number.

Now you will definitely not have problems connecting to the Wi-Fi network distributed by the computer. If you want to disable the access point, then again head to the command line. Here you need to enter the command «netsh wlan stop hostednetwork» (without quotes).

Conclusion

Distributing the Internet from a laptop is most relevant if you are at home. In this case, the Internet cable can be directly inserted into the computer’s Ethernet port, and a Wi-Fi network can be distributed from it, as if it were some kind of router. Also, creating such a network using a laptop is relevant if you have connected a 4G modem to it.