A Windows PC can share its internet connection through Mobile hotspot when its network hardware and drivers support the feature. This creates another network for your phone or tablet. It is not automatically a transparent Wi-Fi repeater, and the PC must remain powered and connected.
Set up Mobile hotspot in Windows 11
- Connect the PC to the internet and confirm that a website opens.
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot.
- Under Share my internet connection from, select the working connection.
- Choose Wi-Fi for sharing when available, then edit the network name and password.
- Turn on Mobile hotspot and connect the other device using those details.
Microsoft‘s Mobile hotspot instructions describe the supported sharing controls. Windows 10 also has a Mobile hotspot page under Network & Internet, but the layout can differ. Available bands and sharing options depend on the adapter and drivers.
Choose a useful connection
| PC’s internet source | Practical point |
|---|---|
| Ethernet | Leaves the Wi-Fi adapter free to provide the hotspot. |
| Wi-Fi | Receiving and sharing simultaneously depends on the adapter and driver. |
| Cellular data | Connected devices can consume your mobile-data allowance. |
| A VPN | Do not assume its protection automatically extends to hotspot clients. |
Use a strong hotspot password and turn sharing off when you no longer need it. If you use a metered connection, check the data usage of connected devices, not just activity on the PC.
If the hotspot appears but has no internet
Check the source connection selected in Windows. The PC may be connected to a router that itself has no internet, or it may need a captive-portal sign-in. Complete that legitimate sign-in on the PC, then retest the other device.
If the hotspot cannot start, check that Wi-Fi is enabled and install the PC maker’s network driver for your exact model. Restart and test once. A missing supported option is not a reason to run old hosted-network commands copied from an unrelated adapter guide.
Understand its limits before replacing a repeater
The hotspot can stop when the PC sleeps, shuts down or loses its source connection. Using Wi-Fi for both directions can also reduce practical performance. For permanent coverage, compare a properly placed access point or mesh system with leaving a computer running.
Our router placement guide helps with the original wireless signal. Once the hotspot is working, the separate Windows Wi-Fi QR-code guide covers compatible ways to join a wireless network without retyping its details.
Frequently asked questions
Can a PC share the Wi-Fi connection it receives?
Sometimes. The adapter and driver must support receiving and sharing at the same time.
Will the hotspot keep working when the PC sleeps?
Do not rely on it. Sharing needs the PC, its adapter and source connection to remain available.
Are hotspot clients automatically protected by my VPN?
Not necessarily. Follow the VPN provider's supported sharing instructions and verify the client's connection.
Why can my phone join but not browse?
Check the PC's own internet access, the selected source connection and any required network sign-in.