The ability to turn your computer into a mobile hotspot is nothing new on Windows 10. The operating system had the ability to share an internet connection for a long time, but it required the use of commands to set it up, which is not an easy task for most users.
However, since the release of the Anniversary Update, Windows 10 includes an option in the Settings app to make it easy to share an internet connection with up to eight devices.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to set up and configure a wireless hotspot to share your internet connection with other devices without the need for extra software or commands.
Enable mobile hotspot on Windows 10
You can turn Windows 10 into a mobile hotspot using the Settings app. Here’s how:
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Open Settings on Windows 10.
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Click on Network & Internet.
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Click on Mobile hotspot.
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Turn on the “Share my Internet connection with other devices” toggle switch to enable mobile hotspot on Windows 10.
Mobile hotspot enabled -
Use the “Share my Internet connection from” drop-down menu to select the network connection you want to share.
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Under the “Share my Internet connection over” section, select over which wireless technology to turn Windows 10 into a mobile hotspot – for example, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Quick note: If you select “Bluetooth,” both devices have to have Bluetooth enabled for the feature to work. -
(Optional) Click the Edit button.
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Specify a name that users will see when trying to connect to the mobile hotspot.
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Specify a network password that users will need to authenticate and connect.
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Click the Save button.
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(Optional) Turn off the Power saving toggle switch if you want to keep the mobile hotspot enabled even when no devices are connected.
Once you complete the steps, you would have turned Windows 10 into a mobile hotspot, and now, nearby users should be able to see and connect devices, such as other Windows devices, Android phones, iPhone, macOS computers, iPad, etc., to the internet. The only caveat with the wireless hotspot feature is that it is limited to up to eight devices. (See also the video tutorial to complete these steps.)
After devices connect to your shared wireless connection, you will see them listed on the “Mobile hotspot” section with some useful information, such as the name, IP address, and mac address.
Disable mobile hotspot on Windows 10
To disable the mobile hotspot feature, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Network & Internet.
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Click on Mobile hotspot.
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Turn off the “Share my Internet connection with other devices” toggle switch to disable the mobile hotspot on Windows 10.
Mobile hotspot disabled
After you complete the steps, Windows 10 will stop sharing the internet connection over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Update June 10, 2021: This guide was originally published in 2016, and it has been updated to reflect the new change to set up the feature.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].