To set up a Windows 11 hotspot, open Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot, choose the connection to share, configure the network, and turn on Mobile hotspot. You can share over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with compatible networking hardware and drivers. These steps use Windows 11 menus, and the available sharing options depend on your hardware.
The short version
- Start in Settings: Open Network & internet > Mobile hotspot to configure sharing.
- Choose the source: Under Share my internet connection from, choose the Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular connection you want to share.
- Set the details: Expand Properties, select Edit, and save your network name, password, and band.
- Connect another device: Join the hotspot using its Wi-Fi name and password, or scan its QR code with a compatible device.
- Toggle it later: Press Windows + A and select Mobile hotspot in Quick Settings.
| Option | What it does | Requirement or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile hotspot in Settings | Sets the source, sharing type, and network details | Compatible networking hardware and drivers |
| Taskbar Quick Settings | Toggles sharing and opens configuration | Uses existing or default hotspot settings |
| Windows + A | Opens Quick Settings | You still select Mobile hotspot |
| Settings search | Finds the hotspot page by name | Ordinary search works without a Copilot+ PC |
| Direct Settings address | Opens configuration from Run or a command line | The hotspot page must be available |
| Settings agent | Suggests a sharing change from your request | Copilot+ PC with the agent available |
| Voice access | Operates the existing hotspot controls | Windows 11 version 22H2 or later with voice access configured |
| Wi-Fi password or QR code | Connects another device to your hotspot | QR joining needs a compatible client |
| Bluetooth Personal Area Network | Connects a Windows client over Bluetooth | Bluetooth on both devices and a compatible host |
| Internet Connection Sharing policy | Permits or blocks sharing configuration | Administrator control on supported editions |
| Settings Page Visibility | Controls whether the hotspot page appears | Showing the page does not enable sharing |
| Windows tethering API | Lets an application start sharing | Developer implementation and the listed capability |
| Connectify Hotspot setup | Configures sharing through a separate app | Supported Intel or AMD Windows 11 PCs with Wi-Fi |
| Connectify download | Provides the installer | Optional software for supported PCs |
| MyPublicWiFi | Offers Wi-Fi Direct and Mobile Hotspot modes | Suitable networking hardware |
| Phone Link Instant Hotspot | Connects your PC through your phone's hotspot | Supported phone, software, and hotspot-capable SIM plan |
Choose the internet connection to share
Press Windows + I to open Settings, select Network & internet, then choose Mobile hotspot. Under Share my internet connection from, choose the connection you want your other devices to use. Windows supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and cellular sources, with the choices available on your PC depending on its hardware.
Next, under Share over, choose Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The source is the internet connection your PC shares, while this second choice determines how another device connects to your PC. For a device that will join through its Wi-Fi settings, choose Wi-Fi and continue with the network details below.
Set your hotspot name and password
Expand Properties and select Edit to customize the hotspot. Change the network name, password, and network band, then select Save. Choose from the band options offered by your PC, since available options depend on its hardware.
Once you have saved the details, turn on Mobile hotspot. Keep the network name and password ready for the device you want to connect.
Connect your phone or another computer
On the device you want to connect, open its Wi-Fi settings and select the network name you saved for the hotspot. Enter the hotspot password to join. A compatible device can also join when you scan the hotspot QR code and connect.
If a laptop will not connect, compare the network name and password you entered with the hotspot details on the host PC. Confirm that Mobile hotspot is turned on and check the intended source under Share my internet connection from. For a continuing connection problem, follow the steps to fix a laptop hotspot connection.
Turn sharing on or off from Quick Settings
After setup, select the network, sound, and battery area on the taskbar to open Quick Settings. Select Next page if necessary to reach the hotspot control, then select Mobile hotspot to toggle sharing. This uses the existing or default hotspot settings.
For keyboard access, press Windows + A to open Quick Settings, then select Mobile hotspot. The key combination opens the controls; it does not toggle the hotspot by itself. You can use the same control to turn sharing off when you finish.
To change the network details from there, right-click or long-press Mobile hotspot and select Go to Settings. Choose the source or edit the hotspot properties on that page, then select Save after editing the network details.
Use Bluetooth sharing with a Windows client
Bluetooth sharing is another option when both devices have Bluetooth and the host supports a Bluetooth hotspot. If Bluetooth is off, enable Bluetooth in Windows 11 before pairing. Pair the host PC with the Windows 11 client, then activate Bluetooth sharing on the host by choosing Bluetooth under Share over and turning on Mobile hotspot.
On the Windows 11 computer that will receive the connection, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Under Other devices, expand the host computer. Beside Personal Area Network (PAN), select Join.
Choose Access Point, then select Connect. After the connection succeeds, select OK. Complete these joining steps on the receiving Windows computer, with sharing enabled on the host.
Open hotspot settings through search or Run
Press Windows + I, search for mobile hotspot, and open the matching settings page. You can also right-click Start and select Settings before searching. Ordinary Settings search does not require a Copilot+ PC.
For a direct route, press Windows + R to open Run. Enter the following address, then press Enter:
ms-settings:network-mobilehotspotYou can open the same page from Command Prompt. Execute this command:
start "" ms-settings:network-mobilehotspotIf you are using PowerShell, use its command instead. Execute the following:
Start-Process 'ms-settings:network-mobilehotspot'These commands open the configuration page on Windows 11 PCs where it is available; they do not start sharing. Choose your source and sharing option, edit and save the network details, then turn on Mobile hotspot.
Restore access when an administrator restricts sharing
On a managed PC, organizational policy can block internet sharing or hide its settings page. If your organization manages the PC, ask its administrator to check the applicable restriction. Permission to configure sharing and visibility of the page are separate controls.
If you administer a supported Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education, or IoT Enterprise device, the policy at ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Wifi/AllowInternetSharing uses 1 to allow sharing and 0 to block it. The corresponding Group Policy is Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Network Connections > Prohibit use of Internet Connection Sharing on your DNS domain network. Set that prohibition to Disabled or Not Configured to permit configuration. This allows sharing to be configured without starting a hotspot.
When an administrator has hidden the page on a Windows 11 edition with Group Policy management, open Local Group Policy Editor > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Settings Page Visibility. The value Hide:network-mobilehotspot hides the hotspot page. To restore access, remove that restriction or adjust the applicable ShowOnly: list. Showing the page does not itself enable sharing.
Set up Connectify as an optional alternative
The built-in hotspot requires no download. If you prefer a separate application, Connectify Hotspot 23 and later supports compatible Intel or AMD Windows 11 PCs with Wi-Fi. Connectify excludes Windows 11 on ARM from its supported operating systems.
Get the installer from the official Connectify download page and install the application. On the License page, select I Agree. Open Connectify Hotspot and select Try It Out if you are using the trial.
Open Wi-Fi Hotspot, then choose the source under Internet to Share. Enter the hotspot name and password, then select Start Hotspot. Connect your other device using that network name and password.
Use your phone as the hotspot through Phone Link
If you want your PC to use your phone's internet connection, Phone Link offers Instant Hotspot. This makes the phone the hotspot. You need Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621 or later, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, Phone Link 1.22092.211.0 or later, Link to Windows 1.22093.2.0 or later, and a hotspot-capable SIM plan.
Microsoft lists supported phones running Samsung OneUI 4.1.1 or later, HONOR Magic OS 8.1 or later, OPPO, OnePlus, or Realme ColorOS 14.1 or later, and vivo Funtouch 15.0 or later. Check that your phone and software meet those requirements before starting setup.
In Phone Link, open Settings > Features > Instant Hotspot > Setup Instant Hotspot, then select Send Notification. On your Android phone, open the notification and select Allow. Alternatively, open Link to Windows on Android and enable Instant Hotspot. Connect through your PC's Wi-Fi menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you use netsh hostednetwork commands to create a Windows 11 hotspot?
Use Mobile hotspot in Settings for current consumer setup. Microsoft deprecated the underlying Hosted Network APIs used by older netsh tutorials and directs developers toward newer Wi-Fi Direct APIs. The continued presence of an old command does not establish compatibility with current Windows 11 hardware.
How can you operate the hotspot controls with your voice?
With Voice access already configured on Windows 11 version 22H2 or later, open the hotspot settings and say Show numbers. Speak the number beside the desired control, then repeat to operate the source, sharing options, and toggle. Microsoft also documents the general command template Click <item name> for operating on-screen controls.
How can the Settings agent help configure internet sharing?
On a Windows 11 Copilot+ PC with the Settings agent available, open Settings and enter How can I share internet with other devices in its search field. Review the suggested change, then select Apply. If you receive ordinary search results, open the relevant settings page and configure sharing manually. Microsoft lists availability in all countries except China, with support for Chinese (Simplified), English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Does MyPublicWiFi support Windows 11 on ARM?
Yes, MyPublicWiFi advertises Windows 11 ARM support, provided you have suitable networking hardware. Its official English product page offers Download MyPublicWiFi 31.3.
Can an application start a Windows 11 hotspot programmatically?
Yes, applications can call NetworkOperatorTetheringManager.StartTetheringAsync(), and Microsoft recommends calling StopTetheringAsync first. The per-session configuration overload requires Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, and Microsoft lists the wiFiControl capability. This is an application development interface, not a built-in consumer PowerShell command.