If your Windows 11 PC has a working Internet connection (through Ethernet, a cellular modem, Wi-Fi, or otherwise), you can share that connection as a mobile hotspot wirelessly through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Here’s how to set it up.
First, open Windows Settings by pressing Windows+i on your keyboard. Or you can open Start and search for “Settings,” then click its icon.
In Settings, click “Network & Internet” in the sidebar, then click “Mobile Hotspot” (ignore the on/off switch for now).
In Mobile Hotspot settings, you’ll see several options listed. We’ll go through each one below.
Before you switch “Mobile Hotspot” on, it’s best to configure how it will work. First, click the drop-down menu labeled “Share my internet connection from” and choose the source of the internet you’re sharing. A few examples are “Ethernet” and “Wi-Fi.”
Next, click the drop-down menu labeled “Share Over” and select the method you’d like to use to share the internet connection with other devices. Usually, you can select “Wi-Fi” or “Bluetooth,” but there might be another option based on how your PC is configured.
In the “Properties” section at the bottom, click “Edit,” and an “Edit Network Info” window will pop up. Using this window, you can set the network’s name (similar to a Wi-Fi SSID), the password people will use to connect to your hotspot, and the Network Band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or “Any Available”) if you’re sharing via Wi-Fi. When you’re done configuring, click “Save.”
Finally, return to the top of the Mobile Hotspot settings window and flip the switch beside “Mobile Hotspot” to “On.”
After that, you’re ready to receive incoming connections to your new mobile hotspot.
If you change your mind at any time and want to turn off your mobile hotspot, just launch Settings again, navigate to “Network & Internet,” then switch “Mobile Hotspot” to “Off.”
Connecting to Your Mobile Hotspot
Connecting to your new Windows 11 mobile hotspot is easy, especially if you’re using Wi-Fi. Just launch your device’s Wi-Fi settings and connect to the network with the name you set in the section above. While connecting, enter the password you set in the “Edit Network Info” window under Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot > Edit.
You can connect to your hotspot using Bluetooth in a similar manner if the connecting device supports Bluetooth internet connections. If you’re hosting the hotspot, you can see how many devices are connected at any time in Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot, listed at the bottom of the window. Good luck, and happy surfing!
RELATED: What Is Bluetooth?
