What security protocols does Hotspot support?

Connectify Hotspot protects its Wi-Fi hotspot with WPA2 encryption (WPA2-Personal), the same Wi-Fi security standard used by most home routers. It creates the hotspot with Windows' Wi-Fi Direct feature (the default) or, if you turn off Settings > Network > Wireless > Prefer Wi-Fi Direct, with Microsoft Hosted Network. Windows sets the security for both, and both use WPA2. WPA3 and open (password-free) hotspots are not available.

This means your hotspot always has a password, and it must follow these rules:

• 8 to 63 characters long.
• Letters, numbers and common symbols only (plain ASCII characters, including spaces). Accented letters and emoji can't be used in the password, though they can be used in the Hotspot name.

You set it in the Password box on the Hotspot screen, where the Generate a new password button can also make one up for you. If the password is too short or has a character that can't be used, the box tells you, for example "Use at least 8 characters."

When Connectify Hotspot is a Wi-Fi repeater (Hotspot MAX), it repeats an existing network rather than creating its own, and it can only repeat networks that use WPA or WPA2.