Web Analytics


Update: If you are not able to get it working, please post your question in the forum: Get help setting Windows 7 as a wi-fi hotspot in Windows Forums.

Windows 8 hotspot instructions

Windows 7 comes with a new feature for sharing your computers internet connection. Now, you can do it wireless. Well, As long as your system’s wireless network adapter supports Windows 7 “virtual wi-fi” feature, you can do it.

Next you need to check if your network card has the latest driver to support the feature. Intel, Broadcom, Realtek and some other NIC makers provide such drivers.

If the above conditions are met, you are good to read on …

The Commands – Step 1

Feel free to put the following commands into a .bat-file for simpler and faster usage.

  • Open an elevated command prompt (Type “CMD.EXE” in the start menu search bar, then right click the cmd.exe link and select “Run as Administrator”).
  • In the command window, type: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNet key=MyPassword keyUsage=persistent
  • Replace “MyNet” with the name you want to use for the wireless network and replace “MyPassword” with your chosen password for accessing it)
  • Press Enter.
  • Now type: netsh wlan start hostednetwork
  • Press Enter.

Step 2 – You need only do this once (usually):

  • Open Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center.
  • Click Change Adapter Settings.
  • Right click your Internet connection and select Properties.
  • Click the Sharing tab.
  • Check the box that says “Allow other network users to connect.”
  • Choose your virtual Wi-Fi adapter and click OK.

Now Wi-Fi enabled computers within range should see your new wireless network and others can connect to it if they know the password.

Android Connectivity Problems

Some users report that they loose connectivity after a while. User M3n0 commented that one solution might be to add Static IP to your device. There are many free apps in the Android Market offering this kind of feature. I have not tested this myself as I don’t experience any problems what so ever on my device (yeah, yeah, bragging, I know). But please do, and let us know if it helps you.

If you don’t want this connection to remain permanent, remove the: “keyUsage=persistent” from the first command line.

Updates

#1: If you are not able to get it working, please post your question in the forum: Get help setting Windows 7 as a wi-fi hotspot in Windows Forums.

# 2: Some experience connectivity issues after rebooting the computer or device. This May be solved with a hotfix from Microsoft. Read More here.

# 3:  Edited the origial script, after a sugestion from ScuubZ: added: keyUsage=permanent. Removed due to complaints that it doesn’t work. Try to use: KeyUsage=Persistent.

http://forum.mintywhite.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=6674

About Thomas

Computer geek from the age of 7, which amounts to 30 years of computer experience. From the early days (when every computer company had their own OS) of DOS, Windows 1.0 through Seven...

Free PC tips by email

Search Windows Guides




Comments

142 thoughts on “Set Windows 7 as WiFi HotSpot [Quick Tip]”

  1. ricky says:

    great tips, first time its not work because i’m using only one wifi adapter in my laptop trying to make in&out it wont work, then i add dlink usb wifi it works

  2. Gaj says:

    Still not working. Using win7+hotfix, wi-fi virtual enabled. problem is, once rebooted, the network, i.e. access point is no lnger there. any advice?

  3. stefano says:

    hello, I installed AVG on my PC windows 7 64 bit, and I want to share my internet connection with my smartphone turning the PC into a hotspot and then share the connection with my smartphone, but unfortunately AVG blocks access to my pc . Before installing AVG my smartphone saw the connection that I created, it connected and I could surf the internet, but not anymore, how can I fix this?

  4. just passing by says:

    Dudes, you’re the best. So many are people trying to sell their shitty shareware or ad-supported bullshit for doing just this ! You guys really should have more visibility with this great tip.

  5. Lee says:

    the network is started but my mobile phone couldn’t connect to the wifi network . why ? the status of my smartphone stuck at “connecting”

  6. Dhananjay Saha says:

    Thanx,,it worked :)

  7. Neelav says:

    “The Wireless AutoConfig Service is not running”
    this message flashes every time….what should I do??

  8. NitsuSaiNeko says:

    [Successful]
    I’ve encountered lots and lots of problems when I tried to set it up, I also googled around to help.
    Here’s my situation:
    My house already have a D-Link wireless router set up, but my room’s too far away from it, so my desktop is wired internet cable. I want to set up hotspot using a D-Link USB wifi adapter to allow my smartphone to have stronger signal connection.
    My desktop’s Win7 system and smartphone’s Android 4.4.2 if people wonders.

    1st problem I encountered:
    I plugged my USB wifi adapter in, and followed the steps. I encountered my 1st error when I type in “netsh wlan start hostednetwork” into cmd. I got the following message:
    “The hosted netwrok couldn’t be started. The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation.”
    This could be a driver issue. In my situation, I assume my USB wifi adapter don’t support wifi sharing (model: DWA-130). I’m glad I have another D-Link USB wifi adapter (DWA-140) that I know it support this feature (according to:https://virtualrouter.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Supported%20Devices). So I replaced 130 with 140 and yes it solved the problem. You could try updating the driver via Device Manager or through the adapter provider website.

    2nd problem I encountered is when I try to share my local network with the virtual wifi adapter.
    I have IPv4 address automatically assigned.
    “Internet Connection Sharing cannot be enabled. A LAN connection is already configured with the IP address that is required for automatic IP addressing.”
    In short words, the virtual wifi adapter we’re trying to set up need the IP of 192.168.0.1, but its taken by my wireless router already. To solve this problem, I have to go to my router’s setting. My D-Link is default to 192.168.0.1, and I have to change the Router IP Address to 192.168.1.1 to solve this problem. Need to replug the router’s power and reboot the PCs after changing the router’s IP. (People who does not already have a router set up probably won’t encounter this.)
    Detail explanation I found: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120620232641AA6cly5

    I successfully setup my hotspot after those two problems solved, and so far my phone have strongest signals and connects to the internet perfectly. I actually encountered several other problems before I solved the 2nd error.
    1. My phone can find and connect to the SSID wifi I set up, but the phone won’t be able to connect to internect correctly with a pop-up message of “XXX network could not connect to internet”.
    2. I messed my IP address around and screwed up, just go diagnose and have windows fix it for you. Remember, DON’T MESS AROUND WITH YOUR IP ADDRESS IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING just like me…

    Hope my ARTICLE can help someone who’s welling to read… and again, most people probably won’t encounter what I’ve seen, but

Comments are closed.


Computer tips in your inbox
Sign up for the Windows Guides newsletter to get PC tips and access to free Windows books (More details)

Subscribe now
Popular Guides

See which sites have been visited on your PC (even if private browsing mode is used)

Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc

Best Free Anti-malware

Hibernate vs. Sleep vs. Shut-Down

i3, i5, and i7; Dual, Quad, Hexa Core Processors. How to they Differ?

Intel's Ivy Bridge Processor: new Features

Windows Guides on Facebook