What is the Difference Between Routed and Bridged Network Access?

Whenever you're setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot or sharing the Internet via wired Ethernet with Connectify Hotspot, you choose between Routed and Bridged under Network access on the Hotspot screen. Bridged needs Hotspot MAX; on other editions it shows a MAX badge. (In Wi-Fi repeater mode there is no choice to make, so Network access isn't shown.)

Network access: Routed or Bridged, with the help text Routed gives devices their own private network behind this PC.

What is Routed Network Access?

This is the default setting and sets up the Connectify Hotspot as a "classic" router. This means that your computer will run network address translation (NAT) and a DHCP server to assign IP addresses for devices that connect to your Wi-Fi hotspot or wired network.

The connected devices will be able to only discover and see other devices connected to the same Wi-Fi hotspot or wired network that you're creating with Connectify Hotspot. They will not be able to communicate directly with other devices from the network you're sharing.

Routed works with every kind of connection you can share, and it is what makes these features possible: Block ads, the DNS server choice, Let apps open ports automatically (UPnP), Pause when there’s no internet, Addresses for devices, and, on the Clients screen, Gaming mode and Fixed IP address.

What is Bridged Network Access?

Bridging mode allows devices that are on your Hotspot and on the network you're sharing to communicate between them. This means your devices on the Hotspot can:

Use network file sharing
Cast content to Chromecast, Apple TV and other streaming media devices
Participate in LAN gaming
Connect to online gaming

In bridged mode Connectify Hotspot doesn't run its own router, so the features listed above for Routed aren't available: the settings show "Not available in bridged mode.", and Gaming mode and Fixed IP address are hidden. To extend the range of a Wi-Fi network, use Wi-Fi repeater mode (Hotspot MAX) instead. Learn more about bridging mode.

NOTE: Bridged isn't available when the Internet to share is Automatic or Don’t share internet, with Speedify, on a disconnected connection, or on 3G/4G and dial-up connections (including PdaNet).