How to Set up Connectify Hotspot

Connectify Hotspot is a virtual router software app for Windows computers that allows you to share the Internet connection with all your devices. Setting Connectify Hotspot up is very easy, depending on what you want to achieve:

• Wi-Fi Hotspot: create a Wi-Fi hotspot and share your Internet connection via Wi-Fi.
• Wired Router: share your Internet connection over wired Ethernet.
• Wi-Fi Repeater: extend the range of a Wi-Fi network.

How to Setup a Wi-Fi Hotspot on Your Computer

See the dedicated article on turning your computer into a Wi-Fi hotspot and also the video tutorial on that.

Wi-Fi Hotspot

Step 1. Use the 'Internet to Share' drop-down menu to select the Internet connection you want to share with other devices. This adapter could be a USB modem, a tethered cell phone, an Ethernet connection, or even a wireless connection. 

Learn more about the types of connections you can share with Connectify Hotspot.

Step 2. For ‘Network Access’ you can select Routed or Bridged. Routed is the default setting as a network access mode, as Connectify Hotspot will act just like a router and assign IP addresses to devices connecting to the hotspot. 

Selecting Bridged will allow devices connected to the Hotspot network to communicate with the ‘Internet to Share’ network, as they were part of that network directly. Learn more about the difference between routed and bridged network access.

Step 3. Set a name and a password for your Wi-Fi hotspot. Learn more about setting a custom name in Connectify Hotspot.

Step 4. Make sure the 'Ad Blocker' option is enabled and then click Start Hotspot to begin broadcasting your network.

Learn more about the universal ad blocker in Connectify Hotspot.

How to Setup a Wired Router on Your Computer

See the dedicated video tutorial on using Connectify Hotspot as a wired router.

Wired Router

Step 1. Under the ‘Internet to Share’, select the network adapter that’s connected to the Internet. Connectify Hotspot will share this adapter’s Internet connection. This adapter can be a USB modem, a tethered cell phone, an Ethernet connection, or even a wireless connection.

Learn more about the types of connections you can share with Connectify Hotspot.

Step 2. For ‘Network Access’ you can select Routed or Bridged. Routed is the default network access setting here, as Connectify Hotspot will act just like a router and assign IP addresses to devices connecting to the hotspot. 

Selecting Bridged will allow devices connected to the Hotspot network to communicate with the ‘Internet to Share’ network, as they were part of that network directly. Learn more about the difference between routed and bridged network access.

Step 3. Select the Ethernet adapter connected to the Internet under ‘Share Over’. It is not possible to have the same Ethernet adapter selected as the ‘Internet to Share’ adapter and ‘Share Over’ adapter.

Step 4. Make sure the 'Ad Blocker' option is enabled and then click Start Hotspot to begin broadcasting your network.

Learn more about the universal ad blocker in Connectify Hotspot.

How to Setup a Wi-Fi Repeater on Your Computer

See the dedicated article on turning your computer into a Wi-Fi repeater and also the video tutorial on that.

Wi-Fi Repeater

Connectify Hotspot's Wi-Fi Repeater mode can only repeat Wi-Fi networks that you are connected to if they are using WPA2 encryption. To get started, select the network you wish to repeat and then click the ‘Start Hotspot’ button.