Yes maybe! But there are many nuances and unclear points, which I will discuss in this article. Below you will find a detailed answer to the question: "can the laptop share Wi-Fi?" Since I have already written many detailed instructions on this topic, in the course of writing the article I will provide links to detailed instructions by which you can set up the distribution of the Internet via Wi-Fi from your laptop or desktop computer.
For those who are interested in how it works. A few words about the technology itself and how everything is implemented. In order to somehow expand the functionality of Wi-Fi wireless technology, Microsoft has developed Virtual WiFi technology. This is a software shell (in fact, just a program built into Windows) that can create virtual Wi-Fi adapters. Here in a laptop, or a single physical adapter, or a Wi-Fi module (in other words, a board) is connected to the computer. And this adapter can, for example, only connect to Wi-Fi networks. And thanks to Virtual WiFi technology, Windows has the ability to create a virtual Wi-Fi adapter that will work independently of the main one (with different settings). For example, one accepts Wi-Fi, and the other distributes it. This is how it all works. It is Virtual WiFi technology that allows you to distribute Wi-Fi from a laptop without a router.
Starting with Windows 7, it became possible to launch a virtual access point in a simple way (using certain commands). All that is needed is SoftAP support in the wireless network adapter driver. As practice shows, there are no problems with this. Although, on the rare occasion that the virtual hotspot fails to start, updating the driver might help.
Despite the fact that the Internet can be distributed to your devices from a laptop or PC, this method of organizing a Wi-Fi network will never replace a real router. With a router, everything is much simpler, more reliable and more stable. Many more features and functions. A virtual Wi-Fi network can be used temporarily, sometimes, but it is not entirely correct to consider this method as a complete replacement for a router. It is better to buy the cheapest router (read more about the choice in this article). It's better that way, believe me.
As I wrote above, Virtual WiFi technology is built into the operating system Windows 7 (except for the initial version), Windows 8, and of course Windows 10. By the way, in the tenth version there is already a shell for working with this function, which is called "Mobile Hot -spot ". We will return to this later.
What do you need to share Wi-Fi from a laptop?
Nothing special. A laptop with a built-in working Wi-Fi module (it is available in every model), or a stationary computer with an internal or external Wi-Fi adapter. I wrote about them here. It is clear that it must be connected to the internet. By cable, or via USB modem. It is also possible to use a laptop as a repeater (amplifier). This means that it will receive the Internet via Wi-Fi, and distribute it in the form of another wireless network.
The driver must be installed on the Wi-Fi adapter. That is, the adapter itself should be displayed in the device manager. Wi-Fi should work. How to check? In the device manager, on the "Network adapters" tab, there should be an adapter with the name "Wireless", "Wi-Fi", "802.11", or "WLAN".
And the network connections must have a "Wireless Network Connection" adapter, or "Wireless Network" in Windows 10.
If you do not have these adapters in the settings, then install the driver. Download the driver from the official website of the laptop manufacturer, or the adapter itself. And only for your model and the installed version of Windows. You may find useful an article on installing a driver on a Wi-Fi adapter in Windows 7, and a separate instruction for installing a driver in Windows 10.
Useful information on this topic is in the article: Driver for distributing Wi-Fi from a laptop.
But that's not all. You can check if the driver supports SoftAP. Launching a virtual access point. What we need to distribute the Internet over a Wi-Fi network from a laptop.
To do this, run the following command on the command line running as administrator:
netsh wlan show drivers
The result should be like this ("Hosted Network Support" - "Yes"):
If you have "No" there, then I advise you to try starting the access point. If it doesn't work, then update the driver.
Windows 10 often says "Hosted Network Support" - "No", but the laptop is excellent at distributing the Internet through a mobile hotspot.
We found out what is needed to distribute a Wi-Fi network, you can proceed directly to configuring and launching the access point itself.
How to start an access point and distribute the Internet without a router?
There are three ways:
- Using commandsto be executed on the command line. This is a versatile method that works in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. The commands are the same. In most cases, this is the best choice. Of the minuses: it's hard to figure it out (according to my instructions, it's easy) and every time you need to open the command line to start the distribution. But there is a solution here too. I'll tell you further in the article.
- Through special, third party programs... There are many free and paid programs to run SoftAP. All of these programs are just shells, and they execute the same commands that you can run yourself through the command line. Simply in programs, this can be done by pressing buttons. Many problems often arise with them. And if you cannot start a virtual network through the command line, then most likely it will not work through the program.
- Via mobile hot spot... Only in Windows 10. This is a separate function in the parameters, with which you can distribute the Internet in a few clicks. If you have Windows 10 and the Internet is not via PPPoE, then I recommend this option.
And now in more detail:
Universal way: via the command line
Suitable for all Windows operating systems. You need to run the command line as administrator. To control a virtual Wi-Fi hotspot, we need only three commands:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode = allow ssid = "mywi-fi" key = "11111111" keyUsage = persistent - where "mywi-fi" is the network name and "11111111" is the password. You can change them to your own. We execute this command only once. Or when you need to change the network name or password.
netsh wlan start hostednetwork - start the distribution of the Wi-Fi network.
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork - stop distribution.
Something like this:
An important point:
After starting the network, be sure to open public access in the properties of the Internet connection. Otherwise, the laptop will distribute a Wi-Fi network, but without access to the Internet, or the devices will not connect to it. How to do this, I showed in detail in the articles on the links below.
Detailed instructions:
- How to share Wi-Fi from a laptop on Windows 10
- How to distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi from a laptop on Windows 7
- How to distribute Wi-Fi from a laptop if the Internet is via USB modem (3G / 4G)
- Sharing the Internet via a Wi-Fi adapter on a Windows 10 PC
- How to make a Wi-Fi hotspot on a laptop
Choose the instruction that is more suitable for you and customize.
Problems and solutions:
- Distributed Wi-Fi from a laptop, but the Internet does not work "Without Internet access"
- Failed to start the hosted network on Windows (Error: Failed to start the hosted network. The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation.)
- Problems Opening Wi-Fi Internet Sharing in Windows 10
Useful feature: automatic start of Wi-Fi distribution when the laptop is turned on.
Through special programs
Something I never liked this option. Easier already with the help of commands. But the way is working, so you can try. I recommend the following programs: Virtual Router, Switch Virtual Router, Maryfi, Connectify 2016.
I wrote in great detail on setting up these programs in the article: programs for distributing Wi-Fi from a laptop. There you will find detailed instructions and all the information you need.
It can also come in handy:
- Solution for "unable to start virtual router plus" error in Virtual Router Plus
- Separate instructions for configuring the Switch Virtual Router program.
With this sorted out.
Windows 10 Mobile Hotspot feature
If you have a dozen installed, then I recommend this method. If you can run. It's just that this "hot spot" is still that fruit 🙂
It is located in the parameters:
Everything is very simple there. But just in case, we have detailed instructions:
- Setting up Mobile Hotspot in Windows 10
- If the Mobile Hotspot does not work in Windows 10
- Configuring a hotspot over a PPPoE connection.
It seems that I collected all the articles. This information will be enough for you.
Conclusions
We have found out that almost every laptop and computer can share the Internet via a Wi-Fi network with other devices. This requires only a configured Wi-Fi adapter. Then it is enough to start the distribution in one of the ways, and, depending on the chosen method, open public access to the Internet. After which our laptop turns into a router
Judging by the comments to other articles, this function does not always work stably and without problems. Everything works. Although I use this method only when I write instructions on this topic. If you have a router, then there is no need to torment the laptop.
Most likely you still have some questions. Ask them in the comments, do not hesitate 🙂
