How to distribute WiFi from a Windows 8 laptop: instructions, setup and recommendations

The Internet is tightly woven into our daily lives, and we often do not imagine ourselves without all sorts of gadgets that allow exchanging messages and accessing any information in a matter of seconds. However, sometimes there is such a situation that you can connect a cable giving a life-giving signal only to a laptop, and communication is needed, for example, for a tablet or smartphone. So can a laptop hand out WiFi? Windows 8 and earlier Windows 7 allow you to do this.

This brief overview will show in detail how to create your own WiFi network and how to distribute WiFi from a Windows 8 laptop if you only have a router at hand. In most cases, this is not difficult. The main requirement for the laptop will be the presence of a wired connection to the Internet and built-in wifi module, as well as all the necessary drivers. This method works with Windows 8 and earlier operating systems. So, let's get started.

First steps

First of all I would like to note that for this method no additional program is needed, it is possible to distribute WiFi from the laptop of Windows 8 using the standard means of the system. First you need to disconnect the Internet on your laptop, simply pulling out the cord. We will connect it later, when we make some of the necessary settings.

After that you should start by opening the command line. You can do this by typing the cmd command in the search field of the Start menu. After the search results appear, at the top we find the shortcut cmd.exe, make a click with the right mouse button and start the console as administrator.

The third step is to enter our first command, which can be simply copied. It's worth noting that you can not paste the copied command into the command line using the usual combination Ctrl + V, but you can use the context menu that appears after right-clicking the mouse in which to select the "Paste" item. The command itself looks like this:

• Netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode = allow

After entering the command, the console should notify us that a mode has been started that allows you to create and edit networks in the body of the wireless network service. This can be said that almost a third of the way has already been passed, it's really simple! So you could advance a little in how to distribute WiFi via a laptop. Windows 8 itself helps us with this, and this function is inherent in it initially, just hidden from users.

Creating a network and specifying its parameters

The next team is designed to create the wireless network itself. We need to set a name for it and protect it with a password so that our neighbors do not use our Internet. To do this, enter:

• Netsh wlan set hostednotwork mode = allow ssid = XXXXXXXXX key = YYYYYYYYYYY.
• Key Usage = persistent.

In this case, the symbols XXXXXXXX indicate the name of your future wireless network, and YYYYYYYY is the password that you can enter to connect to it. Do not forget that the password must contain at least eight characters. Try to come up with a complicated password in order to make it difficult to find. Thus, you will protect yourself from unauthorized use of Internet access paid by you. In addition, when entering the network name and password, use only Latin characters and numbers, entering other characters is undesirable, and sometimes unacceptable.

Launching the created wireless network

With the help of one more command we start the wireless network created earlier. To do this, enter the following at the command prompt:

• Netsh wlan start hostednetwork.

After that, the console should receive a message that the previously created network was successfully launched. However, this is not the end, because it can unite the devices, but so far it itself has no access to the Internet. In order for it to appear, you need to properly configure our virtual router. However, the main question about how to distribute WiFi from a laptop of Windows 8, we have already decided, because at this stage you can already find a new network and connect to it.

Setting up Internet access

For further configuration, go to the network management center that is part of the Windows operating system. It can be found in the control panel or called via the network connection icon in the tray. In the very center, you need to find the link "Changing adapter settings".

Once in the next menu, look for our wired connection adapter to the Internet, through which we will receive a signal. Usually it is not difficult to find, since on laptops in most cases there are only two adapters: one for wired connection, the other for wireless networks.

Having made a click on its icon the right button of the mouse, we pass in properties. Next, we find the "Access" tab and use the checkbox to enable the Internet connection to other users of the computer, and in the drop-down list on the same tab (it's only there), we find our connection created earlier and select it. On this question about how to distribute WiFi from a laptop Windows 8 is almost exhausted.

After that, you just need to return the cable to the socket and connect from any gadget to the newly created network. You do not need to make any more settings if you only plan to use the network to surf through the browser or messaging. If it is necessary, for example, to download a file via torrent on a mobile device, then it will take a couple more actions.

How to open full access

If you need to run additional protocols for downloading files via torrent, or for e-mail, then in the "Access" tab, which we opened earlier, you need to find the "Settings" button. A list of services is displayed, among which you can select the necessary services. If you do not know which ones you might need, the best solution is to run everything. Now you can say that you have completely learned how to distribute WiFi from a laptop. Windows 8 at the same time became a little easier for you, because you could parse in parallel and how to work with the command line.

The disadvantages of this method

However, like everything else in this world, this method of creating a wireless network is not without its minuses. After rebooting the laptop, the created network will disappear, and it will have to be created anew. Since the settings for the adapters are retained, only commands in the console will be enough to do this, but this is still not entirely convenient. In order to facilitate the task, you can use the programs that automate this process and help distribute WiFi from the laptop Windows 8, F1Comp and other sites are full of instructions on this topic. Or, if there is a financial opportunity, purchase an inexpensive wireless router to unplug your laptop and cable, and without any problems to move with it around the apartment.