Not infrequently in the comments I have come across questions about whether it is possible to distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi at 5 GHz from a laptop or computer. As it turned out, Windows 10 has this feature. There, using the "Mobile hotspot" function, you can configure the distribution of a Wi-Fi network at a frequency of 5 GHz. Of course, your laptop or PC must have a Wi-Fi module with support for the new range.
As for Windows 7 and Windows 8, there is most likely no such possibility. Since in previous versions of Windows there was no Mobile Hotspot feature, and there is no command to change the range of the access point via the command line. Perhaps, such an opportunity is in the proprietary utilities from the manufacturers of the Wi-Fi adapters themselves, but to be honest, I doubt it very much.
In fact, I put off writing this article many times because I was unable to launch a virtual Wi-Fi network in the 5 GHz range. I tested on a Lenovo laptop with an Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 Wi-Fi module. In the hotspot settings, you can select the 5 GHz network range, but when I tried to start the distribution, I got the message "Unable to start the mobile hotspot. Turn on Wi-Fi "and all settings became inactive. But at 2.4 GHz, everything works fine. I tried changing the Wi-Fi adapter drivers, installed all Windows 10 updates, but I could not start the distribution in this range.
Now I'll show you how to do it. Perhaps everything will work for you. And in the near future I will try to test this function with another Wi-Fi adapter and supplement the article.
Changing the network range to 5 GHz in the hotspot settings
And so, to launch a hot spot in Windows 10, go to "Start" - "Settings" and go to the "Network and Internet" section.
Next, go to the "Mobile Hotspot" tab, and to change the network range, click on the "Change" button.
There you can change the Wi-Fi network name, password, and network range. There are three options: 5 GHz, Any Available, and 2.4 GHz. Select 5 GHz and click "Save".
If you do not have a band selection menu, then most likely the Wi-Fi module on your computer is not dual-band. Or just try updating your driver on Wi-Fi.
And we start the distribution by choosing an Internet connection for general access.
After that, you can connect your devices to a Wi-Fi network in the 5 GHz range, which your laptop or PC will distribute.
Please note that not all devices can connect to Wi-Fi networks at 5 GHz. I wrote about this in the article why a laptop, smartphone, or tablet does not see a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Possible problems and errors
As I wrote at the beginning of this article, my laptop was unable to start the access point in the 5 GHz band.
In the settings, I selected the desired range, but when the hotspot was turned on, an error appeared and all elements became inactive.
But in the 2.4 GHz band, or "Any available" everything works fine.
Reinstalling the driver and replacing it from the list of those already installed did not help in my case. Let's check with other adapters.
Related article links:
- Mobile hotspot in Windows 10. Launching an access point in an easy way
- "Mobile Hotspot" does not work in Windows 10. Cannot share Wi-Fi
I believe that there is no point and no need to launch an access point on a laptop in the 5 GHz range. It is unlikely that the connection speed will be higher in this range. But maybe I'm wrong, I need to test. If you have information on this topic, you can share it in the comments.
