How to share my Windows PC Internet connection to my other devices via Wi-Fi
This is the most efficient way to share your Windows PC's internet connection to your other Wi-Fi capable devices. This setup is also advisable if you're connecting to a public internet or if your connection is limited to a number of connected devices. This article shows you the steps to do this.
Hardware requirements:
- Internal Wi-Fi card, External Wi-Fi USB adapter (optional).
Sharing a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, or a phone tethered over USB, as a Wi-Fi hotspot works on every edition, including Hotspot Lite (free). Sharing a 3G/4G connection that Windows lists as cellular or mobile broadband, or a PdaNet connection, needs Hotspot PRO or MAX.
Step 1: There are several ways to get an internet connection to your computer. Please see these options below.
- How to Connect your Windows PC to Internet via Wired Ethernet
- How to Connect your Windows PC to Internet via WiFi
- How to Connect your PC to Internet using a USB 3G/4G LTE Dongle
- How to Tether an Android to a PC via PDANet+: Wi-Fi
- How to Tether an Android to a PC via PDANet+: USB
- How to Tether an Android to your PC via WiFi
- How to Tether an Android to your PC via USB
- How to Tether an iPhone or iPad to your PC via WiFi
- How to Tether an iPhone or iPad to your PC via USB
Step 2: Open Connectify Hotspot. On the Hotspot screen, under Create a, choose Wi-Fi hotspot.
Step 3: Under Internet to share, choose the connection your PC gets its internet from. The icon next to each connection shows what kind it is, and connections that aren't online show a No internet tag. Learn more about what to choose for Internet to share.
Step 4: Set a Hotspot name and a Password of at least 8 characters. The hotspot name is what your devices see when they look for Wi-Fi. On Hotspot Lite (free), the name starts with "Connectify-". Your Connectify Hotspot is a real, working hotspot that you use just like any other wireless network.
Step 5: Under Network access, leave Routed (the default), or choose Bridged (Hotspot MAX) to put your devices directly on the network you're sharing. Learn more about the difference between routed and bridged network access.
Optional: turn on Block ads on the Protection card. It blocks ads for every device on your hotspot, with nothing to install on them, and can save you a lot of data. Ad blocking works with Routed network access. Learn more about the ad blocker in Connectify Hotspot.
Step 6: Click Start hotspot to begin sharing your internet connection with your other Wi-Fi capable devices.
