How to use your PC or laptop as a wireless router

To set up a Mac or Windows laptop as a wireless router, you can use an app that does it all for you or set it up manually within the operating system. Using your Mac as an access point tends to cut off Wi-Fi because you need to use the component as a wireless local area connection (WLAN). Mobile phones do the same thing. However, Windows 10/11 offers a virtual Wi-Fi Direct adapter that allows Wi-Fi to continue working on the desktop or laptop. This setting is a great feature that many people use, some more than others.

For Mac, you need an external USB Wi-Fi adapter or Ethernet connection to create an access point. For Windows, all you need to do is turn on the hotspot to get everything working. Regardless, Ethernet is the best option, mainly because it is faster and more reliable as a source. You can also use Ethernet in Windows 10/11 if you want.

This article explains how to create an access point using an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection in Windows 8, 10, 11, or macOS. Let us begin!

Using a laptop as a wireless router in Windows 10 and 11

If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, you can turn your laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot with ease, thanks to the pre-included virtual device and settings. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update added the ability to share your network connection while maintaining that of the laptop or desktop. Windows 11 includes it out of the box. This is what you do.

1. Open the “Settings” menu in Windows 10 or 11.
   
2. Select “Network and Internet” from the grouped menu options if they are not already present, then click “Mobile hotspot” from the menu on the left.
   
3. Lever “Share my Internet connection with other devices” to move forward.
   
4. Turn on Wi-Fi on the other device (if it is not already active) and search for the network.
   
5. Join the network created by your laptop. The network name appears in the “Share my internet connection” window.
   
6. Enter the network password on the other device, which also appears on the page “Share my internet connection” window, then tap “Connect.”
   

You should now be able to access the Internet using your laptop as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Using a laptop as a wireless router in Windows 8

If you use Windows 8, you can still create a Wi-Fi hotspot, but it requires a little more setup than in Windows 10 or 11.

1. Navigate to “Control Panel > Network Connections”.
   
2. Right click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select “Properties.”
   
3. Select the “Exchange” tab, check the box next to “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection” then click “OK.”
   
4. Open the command prompt as administrator.
5. Write the following: netsh wlan set hosted network mode = allow ssid =””key=”” and press “Get into.” is the name of the network and is the network password.
6. Now write: netsh wlan start hosted network and press “Get into.”
7. Then, write: netsh wlan show hosted network to check that everything is working correctly.

You should now be able to join that Windows 8 network on your other device. Search and connect, as usual, entering the SSID and password when prompted.

Windows 8, 10 or 11 hotspot not working?

If you try to use your Windows 8 or Windows 10 laptop as a wireless router and it doesn’t work, there could be several reasons. These are the most common Windows access point problems.

Problem number 1: poor network cable connection

A cable can look good on the outside but be damaged on the inside, especially because cables are fragile and thin, and the ends can become loose or frayed.

Problem #2: Old router

An older router that barely supports your laptop’s Wi-Fi hardware and drivers may disconnect or not connect at all every time you use a second Wi-Fi adapter as an Internet source.

Problem #3: Connecting from your smartphone

When you use your Android phone or iPhone as a tethering device in Windows 8 or 10, it is not identified as an internet source in some apps or drivers. Yes, it works, but some aspects of Windows don’t recognize USB Ethernet as a valid Internet connection, even though it is to some extent. This scenario occurs because networking applications like pdaNet and EasyTether do not offer automatic IP addressing or multiple IP management compared to the PC’s Wi-Fi features and your phone’s built-in hotspot features. So Windows gets confused due to communication and data sharing restrictions. After all, tethering was designed to connect to a single device.

It is important to note that you CAN share your Ethernet connection when using third-party application options. For example, pdaNet offers Wi-Fi direct (an access point that uses your phone’s data signal), Wi-Fi Sharing which automatically sets up a hotspot on your connected laptop using your existing network connection, and bluetooth internet functions.

To share Wi-Fi with Samsung smartphones, see the article on using Wifi-Hotspot on Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus.

Use an Apple Laptop as a Wireless Router

If you want to use a MacBook or MacBook Pro as a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can do so. The limitations found in Windows 8 and 10 also apply to MacBooks. Requires an Ethernet connection to supply Internet and the Wi-Fi adapter for the access point. Here’s how to do it.

1. Select the “apple logo” and then “System preferences.”
2. Select “Exchange“and then the words”Sharing through Internet“ from the list on the left. DO NOT click on the box yet. Instead, click on the words.
3. Select “ethernet” as source and “Wifi” in it “To computers using” box.
4. Select how other devices will connect to your Mac on the next line.
5. Return to “Share > Internet Sharing”and check the box.
6. Click on “Begin” in the pop-up window that appears.
7. Click on “OK”within all indications, if applicable.
8. Search for available networks on your other device and use the network name and password from Step 4.

Use DD-WRT x86 to turn your PC into a wireless router

Admittedly, this one requires a little more know-how, but it can be worth the effort and potential frustration involved in setting up and troubleshooting. DD-WRT is a Linux-based open source firmware designed for routers and embedded systems, but it has an x86 version that runs on PCs.

Check the detail dd-wrt wiki page for a complete set of instructions.

The power of the PC

Both Windows and Mac operating systems support multiple Wi-Fi adapters, but Mac PCs may experience problems when using this method. You should manually configure both Wi-Fi adapters with different IP addresses and use only one for local access. This setting tells the Mac to select one for Internet traffic and another for local IP traffic. Additionally, you should place the Wi-Fi adapter with Internet access on top so that Mac gives it priority. Other than using a third-party app or program to enable wireless access point routing, these are the only ways to get the job done.