What should I choose for 'Internet to Share'?

On the Hotspot screen, the Internet to share list shows the sources of internet that Connectify Hotspot can share. The source you choose here is the one the devices on your hotspot will use to get online. If a source is not on the list, Connectify Hotspot cannot identify it as a working device or connection.

Each connection has an icon that shows what kind it is: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile broadband, VPN or Speedify. A Wi-Fi connection shows the name of the network it's on, for example "Hotel Guest (Wi-Fi)".

Which connections need Hotspot PRO or MAX

Every edition, including Hotspot Lite (free), can share Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. That includes a phone tethered to your PC by USB, because Android and iPhone USB tethering show up in Windows as an Ethernet connection.

A connection with a PRO badge needs Hotspot PRO or MAX. Clicking it shows you how to upgrade. On Hotspot Lite, these show the badge:

Automatic (see below).
3G/4G connections: USB 3G/4G modems and dongles, built-in mobile broadband, and dial-up connections. The PdaNet adapter counts as one of these too.

Connections with a No internet tag

A connection that isn't online right now has a gray icon and a No internet tag. Choose one without the tag. If you start your hotspot with a connection that has no internet, Connectify Hotspot asks first:

The network adapter you selected is not connected to the internet.
Choose OK to start the hotspot anyway or Cancel to go back and choose a different option.

Learn more in Why does Connectify Hotspot say a connection has "No internet"?

Special entries

There are a few entries on the list that are not "real" connections:

Don't share internet lets you broadcast a hotspot without letting devices use the internet through your computer. This is useful if you would like to create a local network for reaching nearby computers without giving them your internet connection. When you start the hotspot, Connectify Hotspot checks that this is what you want: click OK to go ahead.
Automatic (Hotspot PRO or MAX) makes Connectify Hotspot pick the best internet source by itself and change it when needed. For example, it switches from an Ethernet connection to Wi-Fi if the cable is unplugged, and back to Ethernet when the cable is plugged in again.
If you have the Speedify fast bonding VPN installed, a Speedify entry is on the list, so you can share your Speedify connection with the devices on your hotspot. While Speedify is connected, choose Speedify or Automatic: sharing any other connection won't work, because its name lookups only answer inside the Speedify tunnel.

With Bridged network access (Hotspot MAX), you need to choose a real connection: Bridged isn't available with Automatic, Don't share internet, Speedify, or a 3G/4G or dial-up connection.

Chosen connection not available

If the connection you chose before is no longer on your PC (for example, a USB adapter or a tethered phone that's unplugged), the list keeps it as Chosen connection not available, and you can't start the hotspot until you choose another connection or reconnect it.

Internet to share showing Chosen connection not available, with the message The connection you chose isn't on this PC right now. Choose another one to start, or reconnect it.

If your connections aren't listed

If nothing is listed besides Don't share internet and Automatic and you are sure that something should be listed there, another program may be interfering with Connectify Hotspot (or its drivers), preventing it from discovering available sources. Programs that affect the way your computer interacts with networks might be causing it. These programs include firewalls and security suites, and often the only way to figure out which is causing the problem is to investigate each one. Try disabling and/or uninstalling programs that fit this description.

If you determine that a particular program is preventing your connections from being listed, please let us know so that we can create a workaround or otherwise resolve the issue.