How to Share Internet over Wi‑Fi
from a Laptop in Windows 10 & Windows 11

How Windows Internet Sharing over Wi‑Fi Works

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a built-in feature called Mobile Hotspot. It creates a Wi‑Fi network from your laptop and shares the laptop's active Internet connection with nearby devices. You do not need a third-party hotspot program.

This is useful when you have Internet on your laptop through Ethernet, USB tethering, a cellular modem, or a hotel Wi‑Fi network and want to connect a phone, tablet, TV, or another computer through the laptop.

Which Internet Sources Can Be Shared?

How to Share Internet over Wi‑Fi from a Laptop in Windows 11

In Windows 11, the Mobile Hotspot feature is located in the Network & Internet section of the Settings app.

1. Connect your laptop to the Internet using Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, USB tethering, or mobile broadband.
2. Press Win + I to open Settings.
3. Go to Network & Internet.
4. Open Mobile hotspot.
5. In Share my Internet connection from, select the active connection you want to share.
6. In Share over, choose Wi‑Fi.
7. Click Edit to set the network name, password, and available band.
8. Turn on Mobile hotspot.

After the switch is enabled, Windows creates a Wi‑Fi network using the name and password shown on the Mobile Hotspot page. Other devices can connect to it like a normal router.

How to Create a Wi‑Fi Hotspot on a Windows 10 Laptop

The steps in Windows 10 are very similar, but the Settings layout is slightly different.

1. Make sure the laptop has Internet access.
2. Open Start → Settings or press Win + I.
3. Select Network & Internet.
4. Open the Mobile hotspot tab on the left.
5. Choose the connection under Share my Internet connection from.
6. Set Share my Internet connection with other devices to On.
7. Click Edit if you want to change the network name or password.

Windows 10 will show the hotspot network name and password on the same page. Use them on your phone, tablet, or another PC to connect.

How to Change the Wi‑Fi Hotspot Name and Password

It is a good idea to replace the default hotspot name with something recognizable and set a strong password before connecting other devices.

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot.
2. Click Edit near the network properties.
3. Enter a new Network name.
4. Enter a secure Network password. Use at least 8 characters.
5. Choose the network band if Windows offers this option.
6. Click Save.

How to Share Ethernet, USB Tethering, or Another Wi‑Fi Connection

The Mobile Hotspot page includes a drop-down list called Share my Internet connection from. The correct choice depends on how the laptop is connected to the Internet.

If Windows does not show the expected connection in the drop-down list, reconnect the cable, disable and re-enable USB tethering, or restart the laptop before opening Mobile Hotspot again.

Alternative Method: Share Internet through Network Adapter Settings

If Mobile Hotspot does not choose the correct connection automatically, you can check Internet Connection Sharing settings in the classic Control Panel.

1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Find the adapter that currently has Internet access, such as Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, or a USB tethering adapter.
3. Right-click the adapter and open Properties.
4. Go to the Sharing tab.
5. Enable Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.
6. If Windows asks for a home networking connection, choose the virtual adapter created by Mobile Hotspot.
7. Click OK and test the hotspot again.

How to Share Wi‑Fi from Windows Using Command Prompt

Older versions of Windows supported a command line hosted network feature through netsh. On many modern Windows 10 and Windows 11 laptops, this feature may be unavailable because newer Wi‑Fi drivers use the Mobile Hotspot platform instead.

To check whether your Wi‑Fi adapter supports hosted network mode, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

netsh wlan show drivers

Look for Hosted network supported. If it says Yes, you can try the following commands:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyLaptopHotspot key=StrongPassword123
netsh wlan start hostednetwork

To stop the hosted network, run:

netsh wlan stop hostednetwork

How to Connect a Phone, Tablet, TV, or Another PC to the Laptop Hotspot

Once the hotspot is turned on, connecting other devices is the same as connecting to any Wi‑Fi router.

1. On the second device, open Wi‑Fi settings.
2. Select the network name shown on the Windows Mobile Hotspot page.
3. Enter the hotspot password.
4. Wait until the device shows Connected.
5. Open a website or app to test Internet access.

Windows can display the number of connected devices on the Mobile Hotspot page. If too many devices connect at once, speed and stability may drop.

Mobile Hotspot Not Working in Windows 10 or Windows 11: Fixes

If the hotspot does not start, devices cannot connect, or connected devices have no Internet, work through the fixes below in order.

1. Restart the Internet Connection and Hotspot

1. Turn Mobile hotspot off.
2. Disconnect and reconnect the laptop's Internet connection.
3. Turn Wi‑Fi off and on again.
4. Enable Mobile hotspot again.

2. Choose the Correct Source Connection

Open Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot and make sure Share my Internet connection from is set to the adapter that actually has Internet access.

3. Update or Reinstall the Wi‑Fi Driver

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click the Wi‑Fi adapter and choose Update driver.
4. If the problem started after an update, open Properties → Driver and try Roll Back Driver if available.

4. Run the Network Troubleshooter

In Windows 11, open Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters and run the network-related troubleshooters. In Windows 10, open Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters.

5. Reset Network Settings

If nothing works, a network reset can rebuild adapters and TCP/IP settings. Use this only after simpler fixes, because Windows will remove and reinstall network adapters.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Network & Internet.
3. Open Advanced network settings in Windows 11 or Status in Windows 10.
4. Select Network reset.
5. Confirm the reset and restart the PC.

6. Check Firewall or VPN Software

Some VPN clients, third-party firewalls, and security suites can block shared connections. Temporarily disconnect the VPN or disable custom firewall rules to test whether the hotspot starts working.

Security and Performance Tips for a Windows Laptop Hotspot

• Use a strong password. Anyone with the password can use your shared connection.
• Turn the hotspot off when you are done. This saves battery and reduces unwanted access.
• Use Ethernet as the source when possible. A wired source usually gives better performance than repeating Wi‑Fi.
• Watch mobile data usage. If the laptop shares phone tethering or cellular Internet, connected devices can consume data quickly.
• Keep the laptop plugged in. Hotspot mode can drain the battery faster than normal browsing.
• Avoid public sharing names. Do not put personal information, apartment numbers, or phone numbers in the hotspot SSID.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sharing Internet over Wi‑Fi in Windows

Can I share Wi‑Fi from my laptop while the laptop is connected to Wi‑Fi?

Yes, in many cases. Modern Wi‑Fi adapters often support receiving a Wi‑Fi connection and broadcasting a Windows Mobile Hotspot at the same time. If your adapter or driver does not support it, share Ethernet or USB tethering instead.

Do I need special software to create a Wi‑Fi hotspot in Windows?

No. Windows 10 and Windows 11 include Mobile Hotspot in the Settings app. Third-party tools are usually unnecessary and can create driver or security issues.

Why does my phone connect to the hotspot but show no Internet?

The laptop may be sharing the wrong adapter, a VPN may be blocking traffic, or Internet Connection Sharing may not be working correctly. Select the correct source connection, disconnect VPN temporarily, and restart Mobile Hotspot.

Can I change the hotspot password?

Yes. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot, click Edit, enter a new password, and save the change.

Is it safe to share my laptop Internet connection?

Yes, if you use a strong password and share only with trusted devices. Turn the hotspot off when you no longer need it.

Why is the command line hosted network method not working?

Many newer Wi‑Fi drivers no longer support the older hosted network feature. This does not necessarily mean your hotspot cannot work; it usually means you should use the Mobile Hotspot feature in Settings instead.

Best Way to Share Internet over Wi‑Fi from a Windows Laptop

The easiest and most reliable way to share Internet from a laptop in Windows 10 or Windows 11 is to use Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot. Choose the Internet source, select Wi‑Fi as the sharing method, set a secure network name and password, and turn the hotspot on.

If the hotspot does not work, update the Wi‑Fi driver, verify the source adapter, test without VPN software, and use Network reset as a last resort.