If you want to share your internet connection with other devices at home, you may still be looking for a way to make it happen without having to resort to complex network configurations. Fortunately, your Windows or Mac computer can easily share an internet connection on a network. You can even turn your computer into a wireless access point so you don't need a router to connect your wireless devices.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Sharing Connection from Windows Computer
Step 1. Configure the device on the network
To be able to share internet on a network, your device needs a slightly different layout than a regular network. The basic layout is as follows:
- Connect the computer sharing the connection (the "host") to the broadband modem via an Ethernet cable or 4G USB signal area. If you are connecting the modem to the host computer via an Ethernet cable, you will need two Ethernet ports (one to connect to the modem, and one to connect to a hub or router).
- Connect the host computer to the WAN port of a wired hub or wireless router using an Ethernet cable.
- Connect another computer to a hub or router using an Ethernet or wireless signal. Note that the connected computer does not require any special settings and can run any operating system.
- If you are connecting only two computers, connect them directly via an Ethernet cable.
Step 2. Open the Network Connections window on the host computer
You can quickly open this window by pressing Win+R and typing ncpa.cpl.
Step 3. Right click on the adapter connected to the internet source
This source can be a modem or a USB signal area. Make sure you perform these steps only on adapters that are connected to the internet, and not to the host or to the entire network.
Step 4. Select "Properties" and click the tab
Share.
Step 5. Check the box "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection"
Click Apply to save changes.
At this point, you can change your host computer to a wireless access point if you have an unused wireless adapter
Step 6. Click the button
Settings… to activate certain services.
This is important if other computers must also access email, FTP, or other special services. Check the box for each service you want to enable.
Step 7. Open the wireless router configuration page
After setting up the host computer, you must now configure the router to allow it to pass connections. Look for the Wikihow article for detailed instructions on how to open the router configuration page.
If you're using a hub or switch, you don't need to do any additional configuration
Step 8. Open the Internet Settings page on the router
The title of this page varies for each router model.
Step 9. Make sure the "IP Address" section is set to "Get Automatically"
Again, the wording will vary slightly depending on your router.
Step 10. Connect computers and other devices on a router or hub
The host and router have been configured, and now it's time to connect the other devices.
- If you are connecting via an Ethernet cable, connect each additional computer to the LAN port on the router or hub.
- If you are dialing wirelessly, connect to the router the same way you would dial a wireless network.
Solve the problem
Step 1. No tabs
Share.
This usually happens if you have only one network adapter installed. You must install at least two network adapters to be able to share an internet connection.
Step 2. Other computers on the network are not getting internet connection
This is usually caused by the computer not getting the correct IP address.
- Make sure that you only share the internet connection of the host computer, and only on the adapter that is connected to the internet. All other computers on the network must not share the internet connection.
- Open the Network Connections window on the computer that can't get an internet connection. Press (⊞ Win+R then type ncpa.cpl).
- Right-click on the network adapter and select Properties.
- Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click Properties.
- Select "Obtain IP address automatically". Repeat for "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)".
Step 3. Other computers can share files but cannot connect to the internet
Bridging the two network adapters can help solve this problem.
- Open the Network Connections window on the host computer (⊞ Win+R then type ncpa.cpl).
- Select the two adapters you want to bridge. These two adapters are the one that connects to the internet and the one that connects to the rest of the network. Press Ctrl and click each adapter to select it.
- Right-click on one of the selected networks and select "Bridge Connections". Click Yes when prompted.
- Reboot another computer and try connecting again.
Step 4. The message "An error occurred while Internet Connection Sharing was being enabled
(null).
This could be due to a problem with the internet sharing service in Windows.
- Press Win+R and type services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services window.
-
Look for each of the following services:
- Application Layer Gateway Service
- Network Connections
- Network Location Awareness (NLA)
- Plug And Play
- Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
- Remote Access Connection Manager
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
- Telephony
- Windows Firewall
- Double-click on each service and set the "Startup Type" value to "Automatic".
- Restart the computer after setting the values for each service and then retry your connection.
Method 2 of 3: Turning a Windows Computer into a Wireless Signal Area
Step 1. Follow the steps in the first section to share the internet connection on the host computer
This method allows you to use an unused wireless adapter on a Windows host computer to broadcast a wireless network to other devices, such as a wireless router. First, you need to enable internet connection sharing on the host computer by following Steps 1-5 from the first section.
- The host computer must have an unused wireless adapter to broadcast a signal to other computers and devices. If the host computer does not have a wireless card installed, you can use a USB wireless adapter.
- Make sure you only share internet connection on internet connected adapters. Do not share internet on the wireless adapter that you will use to create the wireless network.
Step 2. Right-click on the network icon in the System Tray and select "Open Network and Sharing Center"
This will open a new window containing the active network connections.
Step 3. Select "Set up a new connection or network"
This link can be found at the bottom of the Network and Sharing Center window.
Step 4. Select "Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network"
If you are using Windows 8, you will need to download a free program such as Virtual Router (virtualrouter.codeplex.com) to complete this step.
Step 5. Enter the settings for the new wireless network
Give the network a name and select "WPA2-Personal" under Security Type. Make sure that the security key cannot be guessed easily.
Make sure you check the "Save this network" box, or you'll have to reconfigure it every time you restart your computer
Step 6. Connect computers and other devices to the new wireless network
By creating a wireless network and enabling internet connection sharing, you can connect other computers or mobile devices to the wireless network as usual. When connecting, enter the security key that was created in the previous step.
Solve the problem
Step 1. My device is not connected to the wireless network
Some older devices can't connect to ad-hoc networks, especially if they don't support WPA-2. If you do want to connect these devices, lower the ad-hoc network security to WEP.
Method 3 of 3: Sharing Connection from Mac
Step 1. Understand how you can share a connection
The Sharing menu in OS X allows you to easily share your Mac's internet connection using the attached network adapter. Computers that share a network are called "host" computers. You need at least two network adapters installed on the host to share the connection, one to connect to the internet, and one to connect to the rest of the network.
- If you have an unused wireless adapter (for example, your host is connected to your modem via an Ethernet cable), you can use it to create a wireless network for other devices to access the internet.
- If you have two Ethernet adapters, you can connect one to the modem, and the other to a switch or network router. Computers and other devices will be able to connect to the network.
Step 2. Connect the host computer directly to the internet source
For best results, it is recommended that you connect the host computer directly to the broadband modem via an Ethernet cable or use a USB signal area. If your Mac doesn't have an Ethernet port, you can use a USB or Thunderbolt adapter.
Step 3. Open the System Preferences menu on the host Mac computer
Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences".
Step 4. Click the "Sharing" option
This will open the Sharing window.
Step 5. Check the "Internet Sharing" box in the left frame
This allows you to share an internet connection on the host computer.
Step 6. Click the "Share your connection from" menu and select the internet source
You can choose Ethernet or USB signal area, depending on which one you are using.
Click Start to confirm that you want to enable internet sharing. Note that enabling internet connection sharing will likely interfere with the network you have set
Step 7. Choose how you want to broadcast the connection
The method you choose depends on how the other computers will be connected.
- If you want to turn your Mac into a wireless area, check the "Wi-Fi" box.
- If you want to connect your Mac to a network wireless hub or router, select "Ethernet."
Step 8. Connect the host Mac to the network router's (Ethernet) hub or WAN port
If you're sharing your host's internet connection using a hub or router that connects other computers, use an Ethernet cable and connect the host to the hub's WAN port.
Step 9. Configure wireless (Wi-Fi) settings
If you're turning your Mac into a wireless access point, click Wi-Fi Options… to set a network key name and security. Make sure you select "WPA2 Personal" as the "Security" type, and create a password that is not easy to guess.
If you're in a crowded space, such as an apartment complex, change "Channel" to something other than 6 or 11, as these are the two most common channels (aka channels). Doing this will help reduce distractions
Step 10. Connect your computer and other devices to your router or hub
Your Mac host is now ready to share your internet connection, and you can connect other computers and devices just as you would a regular network.
- If you are connecting via an Ethernet cable, connect the device to the LAN port on the router or hub. The device will automatically get an IP address and be able to connect to the internet.
- If you are connecting wirelessly, contact the router the same way you would connect to a wireless network.
Solve the problem
Step 1. Other devices are not getting internet connection
This often happens if you have made changes to the sharing settings after enabling the wireless network. The quickest way to fix this problem is to disable Internet Sharing, restart the Mac, then turn it back on and create a new wireless network.
Tips
- Sharing your internet connection at work or in another secure location can cause network problems. Sharing the connection at home will disable the preconfigured network.
- The host computer must be powered on and connected to the internet which shares the connection with other computers on the network.
- If you want to turn your mobile device into a portable Wi-Fi signal area, look for instructions on Wikihow.
