Internet Connection Sharing - Create WiFi HotSpot

How to Create a WiFi Hotspot in Windows 8 and 8.1


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This tutorial will show you how to create a virtual WLAN network on your WiFi equipped computer, to be used as a Hotspot to share the Internet connection with other WiFi devices when the router does not allow or support WLAN.

For this tutorial you will need the following:
  • A computer with both ETHERNET (LAN) and WLAN network adapters, ETHERNET connected to Internet
  • Windows 8 or later, any edition
  • A working Internet connection
  • Time required: less than two minutes




STEP 1: Enable but disconnect the WLAN adapter

In order to share the WiFi connection it must be enabled but disconnected. If your WLAN adapter shows it is enabled but not connected you can jump to step 2:
2014-08-30_22h52_31.png

Otherwise be sure to enable WLAN and disconnect it if connected to a WLAN network.
1.1 Enable WLAN:​
2014-08-30_22h51_28.png

1.2 Disconnect WLAN from a WiFi network:​
2014-08-30_22h49_21.png
-- OR --​
2014-08-30_22h40_07.png



STEP 2: Create a virtual WiFi network
2.1 Open an elevated command prompt.​
2.2 Type the following command to create a virtual WLAN network (HotSpot), hit Enter:​
Code:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow [COLOR=#ff0000][B]ssid=EightForums[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=#008000][B]key=YourPassword[/B][/COLOR]
(SSID = give your HotSpot any name you want to, KEY = give the HotSpot any pre-shared key (password) you want to.)​
2014-08-30_22h54_33.png

2.3 Still in elevated Command Prompt, start the HotSpot by giving the following command:​
Code:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
2014-08-30_22h56_18.png

2.4 Network Connections will now show a new virtual connection and that it is already connected to the HotSpot we created, in this case the "EightForums":​
2014-08-30_22h58_26.png




STEP 3: Share the ETHERNET connection with your virtual connection:
3.1 Right click your actual working ETHERNET (LAN) connection, select Properties:​
2014-08-30_23h03_24.png

3.2 On Sharing tab select Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection, select your virtual network connection from the drop down list, click OK to save settings:​
2014-08-30_23h04_29.png

3.3 Done! Your HotSpot is now online:​
2014-08-30_23h05_48.png

3.4 You can connect your other WiFi devices to your HotSpot and start surfing. In this example I have connected an Android device to my HotSpot:​
2014-08-30_23h24_27.png



STEP 4: Turn Off the HotSpot
4.1 Open an elevated Command Prompt, give the following command:​
Code:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
2014-08-30_23h11_10.png

4.2 Turning the computer off or rebooting also turns the HotSpot off. However, the HotSpot still exists (it "survives" the reboot); from now on you only need to turn it on when needed with the netsh wlan start hostednetwork command.​


That's it! Happy surfing :).

Kari


 

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Brink is there a quick easy way to actually remove the Virtual Network adapter completly? Do I need to go to Device Manager and such and "view hidden" or something?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Brink is there a quick easy way to actually remove the Virtual Network adapter completly? Do I need to go to Device Manager and such and "view hidden" or something?

Your question is posted in tutorial about creating a shared wireless connection, using your PC as a WiFi hot-spot. Step 4.1 in the tutorial shows how to stop / remove that hot-spot.

Could you please post a screenshot showing your Device Manager and the adapter you'd like to remove?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY 17-1150eg
    CPU
    1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3)
    Hard Drives
    Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
    External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media
    Cooling
    As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad
    Keyboard
    Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    50 MB VDSL
    Browser
    Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
    Other Info
    Windows in English, additional user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish.
Hi Kari,

Yes I posted this question here because It directly relates to how to turn off the Virtual Hotspot once you set it up.. I guess I could have put it out in the regular Network Forum but I figured it could go either way.. I could post this out there if you really want me to..

Step 4.1 of Brink's Tutorial tells you how to disable it.. or just "stop" it.. -but it's still ready to go when you turn it on again..


It's not actually deleted or removed..

I guess I could just click uninstall on the Network wifi in question.. here..
Notice they aren't actually gone, just stopped or disabled..

1. Know what the other ones are?

wifi.JPG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Step 4.1 of Brink's Tutorial tells you how to disable it.. or just "stop" it.. -but it's still ready to go when you turn it on again..

I am a bit confused... What tutorial are you referring to?

Sharing the wireless connection as told in this tutorial does not create any virtual devices. In screenshot below you see me creating a wireless hot-spot following instructions in this tutorial, then checking the Device Manager; no new virtual devices created, no need to remove anything:

2016-02-08_11h41_47.png
(Click to enlarge.)​
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY 17-1150eg
    CPU
    1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3)
    Hard Drives
    Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
    External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media
    Cooling
    As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad
    Keyboard
    Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    50 MB VDSL
    Browser
    Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
    Other Info
    Windows in English, additional user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish.
Ha ok.. Sorry Kari, I'm on little to no sleep... it's actually about to be 6am where I am posting from now.. and that's why.. I totally messed that up.. sorry not "brinks" tutorial I mean you.. ha.. I just got done reading about 5 other tutorials and they were posted by Brink so I got that stuck in my head and just typed real fast..

but anyway, I thought creating a hotspot and your commands in Command prompt create a virtual Network adapter.. that's how it shares and others connect.. or so I thought..

Well, if that is not the case, I need to find out what my "virtual adapters" are and why I have a "virtual hosted network adapter" then..

sorry Kari, I will actually go to sleep now.. sheesh.. brain is turning off as you can see.

Good post.

If you want to, you can delete my entire question and postings here then if you want to keep it clean..

(or I will if you want.) -not sure how deleting posts works yet as I rarely delete!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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