How to Share Your PC's Internet Connection over Wi-Fi
Using Windows' native feature, with no third-party programs to install.
You want your PC to act as a small router, sharing its connection with a phone, tablet or another computer — Windows includes this feature natively and for free, with no additional third-party program needed.
The native way: Mobile hotspot
- Settings → Network & internet → "Mobile hotspot".
- Under "Share my internet connection from", choose the connection that has internet (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- "Properties" → "Edit" to set your own network name and password (minimum 8 characters).
- Turn on the switch at the top.
Your PC will start broadcasting that network — any nearby device can connect with the name and password you set.
This feature comes built into Windows 10 and 11 as standard — no need to install MyPublicWiFi, Connectify or any similar program for normal use. These third-party tools add more advanced features (IP blacklists, for example) that most people don't need.
Hardware requirement
Your PC needs a Wi-Fi adapter compatible with this specific feature (not all of them are, even though they work fine for connecting to networks normally). If Windows doesn't show you the "Mobile hotspot" option, that's the most likely sign your adapter doesn't support it — a cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter usually fixes it.
If you'd rather share via cable (more stable)
Connect the other device via Ethernet or USB, and instead of Mobile hotspot, use "Internet Connection Sharing": Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → right-click your internet connection → Properties → "Sharing" tab → check "Allow other network users to connect".
Advanced command-line alternative (if the graphical option fails)
On machines where the graphical option doesn't appear or fails, there's an alternative via Command Prompt as administrator:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNetwork key=MySecureKey
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
This creates the network; afterwards you need to manually share the internet connection from the Network and Sharing Center, as in the cable method.
Tip: watch your data usage if the connection you're sharing is on a limited mobile plan — automatic updates on the connected devices can use up quite a bit without you noticing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install any program to share Wi-Fi from my PC?
No, Windows 10 and 11 include this feature natively ('Mobile hotspot'). Third-party programs only add advanced features most users don't need for normal use.
Why doesn't the Mobile hotspot option show up for me?
The most common cause is that your Wi-Fi adapter isn't compatible with this specific feature, even though it works fine for connecting to networks normally. A compatible USB Wi-Fi adapter usually fixes it.
Is it safe to share my connection with other devices?
Yes, as long as you use your own strong password (minimum 8 characters) — the shared connection uses the same type of encryption as a normal Wi-Fi network.