For some time now, users of the tenth version of the Windows operating system, after updating, have encountered several new and, I must say, quite non-standard functions. Among all the innovations, it is worth noting the Windows 10 mobile hotspot separately. So far, few ordinary users know what it is, what it is for, and how to activate this tool in the system. Further, it is proposed to dwell on all these issues in as much detail as possible.
What is a mobile hotspot?
If we do not take into account the purely technical side of the issue, but limit ourselves to the simplest explanation, then the new function is a unique tool that can be used to create an Internet connection distribution point for any other devices.
Roughly speaking,Windows 10 mobile hotspot is a tool for turning a computer terminal or laptop into a kind of station from which a connection signal is broadcast. To put it even simpler, the computer device turns into the most ordinary router like a router or modem based on a wireless connection.
It used to be necessary to perform complex manipulations using the command line in order to correctly configure the distribution. Now the question of how to set up a Windows 10 mobile hotspot comes down only to determining for yourself from which connection the distribution will be made, set the network name and specify the desired password (this is a prerequisite).
And there can be quite a lot of connection and distribution options (each of them will be considered separately). In addition, the connection activated by this method can be used by any device, including computers and mobile devices. But you should immediately pay attention that all of them must have built-in or external Wi-Fi adapters with correctly installed drivers.
How to enable mobile hotspot in Windows 10 to share Wi-Fi?
Based on the fact that the new function appeared only when updating to build 1607 (Anniversary Update), all those users who did not install the update in automatic mode need to search for updates themselves using the Update Center "".
After installing the update in the notification menu, the icon of which is located in the system tray at the bottom right, when deployed, the tile "Mobilehot spot". Windows 10, however, can provide access to this function through the options menu with the choice of the network and Internet settings section, where the corresponding line is displayed in the list. The tray icon is used exclusively to turn on the hotspot, but the main settings are made in the specified section.
So, after entering the desired menu, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the name of the network and the password that the system sets by default by itself. Just below there is a button to change them, which you need to click if you need to make adjustments to the set combination.
In the settings window, you can change both the name of the selected network and the access password itself, but it must contain at least eight characters.
The network sharing line can be set to any currently available connection (provider name, Ethernet, wireless network, etc.).
To activate access, you just need to move the permission slider to the on position. Additionally, you can enable the permission to enable the function remotely (the description directly says that Bluetooth must be activated on both devices), but this is not a prerequisite for the service to work correctly.
Note: with this type of distribution, the maximum number of simultaneously connected devices cannot exceed eight (more, purely for technical reasons, it will be connectedimpossible).
Distribution via 3G/4G modems
There should be no particular problems with modems capable of operating on the basis of 3G / 4G technologies. Here the main condition is the presence of a working device with correctly installed drivers.
The settings are the same, and modems, as a rule, are automatically detected by the system when the distribution is activated.
Windows 10: Set up a mobile hotspot to distribute a signal over a Wi-Fi network
No less interesting, although somewhat unnecessary, is the ability to connect a computer or laptop to a wireless network with signal distribution through it. It turns out that the terminal receives the Internet through the established network and distributes a signal over it.
There is no special meaning in this, however, in practice, such a connection can be used if the existing Wi-Fi network has restrictions on connecting only one device and no more.
Simple management methods
As for the management, here the developers tried to make the user have everything at hand. Naturally, you can switch the slider directly in the settings shown above.
However, as already noted, there is a special tile in the notification area, clicking on which activates or deactivates the distribution. Smart and simple.
What to do if Wi-Fi does not turn on?
Nowa few words about possible failures and problems. Let's assume that in Windows 10 the mobile hotspot does not turn on, and the system displays a message that Wi-Fi is not turned on.
Normal troubleshooting is not always possible (not to mention reinstalling the wireless adapter drivers). In this case, the command console will help, in which the line netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid="NetworkName" key="ХХХХХХХХ" keyUsage=persistent is written, as shown in the image above. Instead of the specified network name (NetworkName) and password (ХХХХХХХХ), you must enter your data). Usually, after executing such a command, everything falls into place.
In some cases, if the mobile hotspot is disabled in Windows 10, you should pay attention to the status of the corresponding driver. It should be understood here that this situation is in no way related to its absence (if it had not been installed in the system, there would not even be a “Mobile Hot Spot” tile in Windows 10).
The best solution to start with is to call the "Device Manager" and turn on the display of hidden components. There may be several Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapters, on each of which you need to make RMB and use the "Enable" line through the menu if the device is not active.
In extreme cases, updating drivers is also suitable (this item can be called either immediately from the RMB menu, oruse the property bar, and in the new options window go to the driver tab).
Problems with mobile modems
When Windows 10 mobile hotspot does not work when you try to distribute using connected modems, the problem is usually not with the drivers.
Most likely, this is due to short-term failures of the operating system itself or the lack of a signal from the mobile operator's network. Either a normal system reboot will help here, or choosing another location where the connection will become stable.
What if I can't connect to existing networks?
Finally, let's see what can be done if the mobile hotspot on Windows 10 disappears, and after that the user receives a notification that the system cannot connect to an existing wireless or Ethernet network.
Apparently, there really is no connection. In this case, it makes sense to check the cables for a wired connection or even reboot the router, first disconnecting it from the mains and pausing before turning it back on for about 15-20 seconds.
A similar situation may also occur due to the fact that the Internet connection uses the high-speed PPPoE protocol to connect. Unfortunately, Windows 10 mobile hotspot simply does not see these connections or, if you like, does not recognize them. Alas, that is how things are. You may need to change the router settings a little, setting the use of L2TP or choosing a static or dynamic IP with automatic settingsfor the IPv4 protocol in its properties.
In closing
That's all there is to this interesting innovation. Finally, a simple and universal tool has appeared in Windows that allows you to distribute the Internet from any computer (or mobile) device running the tenth modification. And before that, even many system administrators puzzled over the organization and inclusion of an access point, while using the maximum number of system tools. Now you just need to specify a network name, set a password and press the power button. One can only wonder why this idea was implemented with such a delay.
As for errors or failures when connecting, as you can already see, almost all of them, with rare exceptions, are of a software nature. Do not forget that the service itself seems somewhat unfinished to many users (for example, some modems or Wi-Fi USB adapters may not work, while there are no problems with other models).
Sometimes the operation of the service can be blocked by various antiviruses or even the system's built-in firewall, so it makes sense to temporarily disable them and see what the result will be.
But in general, the novelty looks decent enough and will be useful to all those who are trying to quickly organize distribution from their computer device. And of course, I would like to hope that soon this service will be slightly improved (at least in order to use support for high-speed connection via PPPoE).
