How to Use Windows PC as Router (Wireless and Wired)
Public Wi-Fi are pretty common in hotels and eateries and have been present for quite some time. But it will be a bummer if you’re limited to accessing the Wi-Fi on only one of your devices and you use multiple devices at once. To sort this out, you can use a Windows PC as a router which can be then used to connect multiple devices both wirelessly or using a wire.
1. Enabling Hotspot on Windows Devices
Starting with Windows 10 version 1607 and on Windows 11 as well, Microsoft introduced the native functionality to share your Windows PC’s internet connection using Wi-Fi hotspot with other devices. Here is how you can do it.
Also Read:How to Find Out Your Build and Version of Windows
This method is with the understanding that you have access to the Internet via Wi-Fi or ethernet and your Windows PC can connectto a Wi-Fi network. Most modern PCs have Wi-Fi enabled so this should not be a problem. With this out of the way, let’s get started.
Though we’ve showcased it in effect with an Android, connecting with Wi-Fi is similar in other devices like iOS, Android TVs among others, so it should not pose any problems.
On Windows PC
1.Search forMobile hotspotfrom the search icon on the taskbar and click on theMobile hotspot.
Note:If you don’t see the above option thenupdate to the latest version of Windowsor use the wired method mentioned in the later part.
2.Mobile hotspot is off by default. Click onShare my internet connection fromoption to change the source of sharing Internet.
For example, if you selectWi-Fiin the dropdown menu, your Windows PC will share the Wi-Fi network it is connected to with other nearby devices. If you selectEthernetthen Windows PC will share that with other devices.
3.Now, click onShare overand select if you’d like to share the Internet usingWi-FiorBluetooth. By default, it is set as Wi-Fi and you should leave it as is since Wi-Fi offers faster data transfer speed and better connectivity over longer durations.
4.In thePropertiessection click onEdit.
5.Enter theNetwork NameandNetworkPasswordas per your choice and click onSave. These credentials need to be entered in the secondary device when connecting to this shared Wi-Fi network.
6.We’ve left theNetwork Bandoption asAny availablebut you should set it to5 GHzif you’re also going to use a Bluetooth device alongside the device that is to be connected with this shared Wi-Fi network. And if not then you can leave it as is or set it to2.4 GHzfor a longer range.
7.EnableMobile hotspotto turn on the shared Wi-Fi network.
Your Windows PC is not ready to be used as a hotspot. Now let’s move to the secondary device that you want to connect to the newly formed Windows hotspot.
On Secondary Device
1.OpenWi-Fi Settingsand the device will detect the network created by the Windows PC. Enter theNetwork Passwordas set in Windows PC, press onConnectand your device will now connect to the Wi-Fi network created by Windows desktop.
Using this method, you may connect up to8 deviceswith your Windows PC hotspot simultaneously.
2. Sharing Internet via Wired Connection
Most users would be able to connect any device to Windows acting as a hotspot using the wireless method above. But if your Windows PC doesn’t have a Wi-Fi adapter or you don’t want to update to the latest version of Windows, you can refer to the wired method using a USB charging cable.
We’ve tested the method on Windows 10 and 11 but it should also work on Windows 7. The caveat is that it only works with Android and Android subsidiary devices like Android TVs, tablets, etc.
The feature is available for quite some time. It is completely open-source, and safe to use which was made possible by the developers ofGenymobile on GitHub. We noticed no ads or anything out of order during our testing at the time of writing this article.
On Android
1.On your Android, openSettings, scroll down to the end and tap onAbout phone.
2.Now selectSoftware Informationand tap 7 times onBuild Numberto enableDeveloper’s options(you might have to enter your lock screen PIN afterward).
3.Now go back twice to theSettingsmenu, scroll down, and tap onDeveloper’s options(sometimes listed under the System tab in some Android phones). From here, scroll down to findUSB Debuggingand turn it on (there might be a prompt, just tap on OK).
On Windows Device
1.Download the latest version ofgnirehtet tool on the Windows PC. It is open source and generally considered safe since it is available on GitHub.
2.In theReleasessection on the bottom right, click on the latest release. In our case it is v2.5.1.
3.Click ongnirehtet-rust-win64-v2.5.1.zipto download the tool.
4.Right-clickon the downloaded file, thenExtract Alland pressEnter.
5.Download theAndroid Platform Toolsby Google and extract it the same way as well.
6.Move all the files from the folderplatform-toolsto the foldergnirehtet-rust-win64.
7.Now, typecmdin theaddress barof the folder and pressEnterto open the command window on your PC.
Connecting Devices
1.Connect your Android with your Windows PC using the USB Charging cable. Then typeadb devicesin the command window on Windows and pressEnterto check for connection.
2.When you pressEnter, there will be a prompt on your Android. Mark the optionAlways allow from this computerand tap onAllow.
3.Now in the command window typeadb install -r gnirehtet.apkand pressEnter. This would install thegnirehtetapp on the Android but it won’t be visible in the app drawer.
4.From the folder containing all the tool files on Windows, locate and opengnirehtet-runexecutable file.
5.You will get a prompt on the Android to allow for a VPN connection, tap onOK. The phone will now be connected to the web and you’re able to continue browsing.
6.On the command window in PC you will see some IP addresses running withOpenandClose, this is the Android accessing the internet for multiple core services. You should keep the command window open in Windows to continue browsing.
7.To end your wired connection pressCtrl+Cin the command window.
After the initial set-up is done, all steps are not required every time. You can only run thegnirehtet-runexecutable file on your PC with your Android connected with it to access the internet the wired way.
Accio Internet!
With this detailed comprehensive guide, now you can connect multiple devices to the Internet even if you forgot to pay your phone bill or the public Wi-Fi allows only one device. Converting your Windows PC into a router will also come in handy when your router is not working properly.
Read this guide if yourWi-Fi is not working but ethernet is.
Nitin Singh
A tech writer during the day and an anime aficionado by the night. When not in front of a screen, he can be seen playing Badminton. Appreciating the beauty of nature is a habit that has been developed since early on. Have views on tech, cars or life? Drop a text!
