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

Co-authored by Spike Baron and Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Windows Settings

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Using the Connectify App

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to broadcast your Windows computer's Wi-Fi connection to your smartphone. You can do this on any computer that has a network hosting-enabled Wi-Fi adapter installed, meaning that you won't be able to use many desktop computers for this process. 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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows Settings

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Open Start
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.^{[1]
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Open Settings
. Click the Settings gear in the lower-left side of the Start menu. The Settings window will open.^{[2]
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Click
Network & Internet. It's the globe-shaped icon in the middle of the Settings window.^{[3]
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This is on the left side of the window.^{[4]
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Click the grey "Mobile hotspot" switch
. It's at the top of the page. Clicking the switch turns it on
which signifies that your computer is now broadcasting your Internet connection.
6
Review the network name and password. In the middle of the page, look at the "Network name" and "Network password" headings to determine the name and password for your mobile hotspot.^{[5]
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- The network name should be your computer's name, and the password should be your network's usual password.
7
Connect your smartphone to your Wi-Fi network. 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.^{[6]
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- 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]
  X
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Connectify App

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1
Make sure that you have a wireless adapter installed. 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
Download the Connectify setup file. Connectify is a free app that you can use to broadcast your computer's Wi-Fi over short distances:
- Go to https://www.connectify.me/ in your computer's web browser.
- Click the purple Download button.
- Click Continue to Download.
3
Install Connectify. Once the Connectify setup file finishes downloading, you can install it by double-clicking it and then doing the following:
- Click Yes when prompted.
- Click I Agree.
- Click Agree
- Check the "Reboot now" box.
- Click Finish.
Once your computer boots back up, you can proceed.
5
Open Connectify if necessary. Double-click the "Connectify Hotspot 2018" icon on your computer's desktop.
- Skip this step if the Connectify window opens automatically.
It's a purple button at the bottom of the Connectify app window.
This is at the top of the Connectify window.^{[8]
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8
Change your password if necessary. In the "Password" text box, delete the existing text and type in the password you want to use for your network.
- You cannot change the network name in the free version of Connectify.
It's at the bottom of the window.^{[9]
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Once Connectify alerts you that the hotspot is enabled, you can proceed.
11
Connect your smartphone to your Wi-Fi network. Now that your Wi-Fi hotspot is set up on your computer, you can connect to it via your smartphone's Wi-Fi menu:^{[10]
X
Research source}
- iPhone — Open your iPhone's
  Settings, tap Wi-Fi, tap your hosted hotspot's name, enter the password, and tap Join.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
- 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.^{[12]
  X
  Research source}

Expert Q&A

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Add New Question

Question

Can I share my phone's internet with my computer?

Spike Baron
Network Engineer & Desktop Support
Spike Baron is the Owner of Spike's Computer Repair based in Los Angeles, California. 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 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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Question

How can mobile WiFi connect to PC WiFi?

Community Answer

Open the WiFi hotspot setting on your phone and connect through there.

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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.

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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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