How to Connect PC Internet to Mobile via WiFi

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Share your PC’s internet with your phone, tablet, or other devices
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This wikiHow teaches you how to broadcast your Windows computer's Wi-Fi connection to your smartphone. You can do this on any computer or laptop that has a Wi-Fi card. Keep in mind that this process is different than using your smartphone's data as a Wi-Fi network on your computer . If your computer's Wi-Fi adapter doesn't allow you to create a hotspot, you can use Connectify to broadcast your Wi-Fi.

Easily & Quickly Share Computer Internet with Phone

Use built-in features in Windows 10/11 to make your PC a hotspot. To do this, go to Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot and turn it on. Then, connect your phone to your computer's network.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows Settings

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  1. Press Win + I to quickly open Settings, then click Network & internet .
    • The location of this menu setting will vary between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the steps will be the same.
  2. You'll see this as a tab on the left side of the window if you're using Windows 10 or on the right side of the window if you're using Windows 11.
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  3. It's at the top of the page. Clicking the switch turns it on, indicating that your computer is now broadcasting your Internet connection.
  4. In the middle of the page under "Properties", look at the "Network name" and "Network password" headings to determine the name and password for your mobile hotspot. [1]
    • The network name should be your computer's name, and the password should be your network's usual password.
  5. Now that your Wi-Fi hotspot is set up on your computer, you can connect to it via your smartphone's Wi-Fi menu:
    • iPhone — Open your iPhone's Settings , tap Wi-Fi , tap your hosted hotspot's name, enter the password, and tap Join . [2]
    • Android — Swipe down from the top of the screen, long-press the Wi-Fi icon, tap your hosted hotspot's name, enter the password, and tap JOIN or CONNECT . [3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using the Connectify App

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  1. You can check to see if your computer has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter by doing the following:
    • Open Start.
    • Type in command prompt , then click Command Prompt .
    • Type in netsh wlan show drivers and press ↵ Enter .
    • Wait for your adapter's information to appear. If you instead see "The Wireless AutoConfig Service is not running" appear, you don't have a wireless adapter installed.
  2. Connectify is an app that you can use to broadcast your computer's Wi-Fi over short distances:
    • Go to https://connectify.me/hotspot/ in your computer's web browser.
    • Click the purple Download button.
    • Click Continue to Download . You may need to avoid the "Buy now" links and continue clicking the download option to use the free version.
    • Click the download file to begin the installation wizard.
    • Your computer needs to restart to finish installing the software. Once it restarts, Connectify will automatically open.
  3. It's a purple button at the bottom of the Connectify app window.
  4. If you purchased the additional features, you won't see this splash screen and can skip this step.
  5. You'll see your Hotspot name and password as well as more network information, such as which network is being shared.
  6. It's at the bottom of the window. [4]
  7. Once Connectify alerts you that the hotspot is enabled, you can connect your phone to it.
    • Now that your Wi-Fi hotspot is set up on your computer, you can connect to it via your smartphone's Wi-Fi menu: [5]
    • iPhone — Open your iPhone's Settings , tap Wi-Fi , tap your hosted hotspot's name, enter the password, and tap Join . [6]
    • Android — Swipe down from the top of the screen, long-press the Wi-Fi icon, tap your hosted hotspot's name, enter the password, and tap JOIN or CONNECT . [7]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I share my phone's internet with my computer?
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Spike Baron is a Network Engineer & Desktop Support Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the owner of Spike’s Computer Repair. With over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry, Spike specializes in PC and Mac computer repair, used computer sales, virus removal, data recovery, and hardware and software upgrades. He has worked as an IT Systems expert for numerous companies, including Huntington Health, Blackbox, Honda, and Manufacturers Bank. In his spare time, Spike also builds and restores computers. He has his CompTIA A+ certification for computer service technicians and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Expert Answer
    Yes, this is called tethering. You can do it either wirelessly with Bluetooth or with a USB connection, depending on the types of phone and computer you have.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 40
  • Question
    How can mobile WiFi connect to PC WiFi?
    Community Answer
    Open the WiFi hotspot setting on your phone and connect through there.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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  • Question
    I followed the instructions, but this didn't work for my Lumia 730. Is there anything else I can try?
    Community Answer
    Make sure you are not being hacked, make sure you don't have a virus, and make absolutely sure you have the WiFi password correct.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Tips

      • The Connectify method will work for any Windows 10, 8.1, or 7 computer that has a network hosting-enabled Wi-Fi adapter card installed.
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      Warnings

      • Not all USB Wi-Fi adapters come equipped with network hosting abilities. If you decide to use a Wi-Fi adapter, make sure that yours supports network hosting.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-your-windows-pc-as-a-mobile-hotspot-c89b0fad-72d5-41e8-f7ea-406ad9036b85
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202639
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/9075847?hl=en
      4. ↑ https://support.connectify.me/article/123-wifi-to-wifi
      5. ↑ https://connectify.me/blog/how-to/share-internet-from-laptop-to-phone-wifi/
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202639
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/9075847?hl=en

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Windows 10 Settings .
      2. Click Network & Internet .
      3. Click the Mobile hotspot tab.
      4. Click the "Off" switch at the top of the page to turn it on.
      5. Connect to the network on your smartphone.

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