How to Create a Wi-Fi Access Point on Windows 10

Like in previous OS versions, in Windows 10 it is possible to create a software Wi-Fi access point. This access point can be used for creating a local wireless network or sharing Internet connection by several devices. In Windows 10, the access point can only be created and controlled from the command prompt.

So, today we’ll consider how to create a virtual access point based on Windows 10 without additional third party applications. Let’s assume that our system has two network adapters — a wired Ethernet adapter (connected to a provider’s network to get Internet connection) and a wireless Wi-Fi adapter. We want our computer with a Wi-Fi module to be used by other clients such as a Wi-Fi access point and share its Internet connection.

How to Make Sure that a Wi-Fi Adapter Driver Supports Ad-Hoc Mode

Before you start to create an access point, please, make sure that your Wi-Fi adapter driver supports a virtual access point mode (Ad-Hoc). To do it, run this command in the command prompt:

netsh wlan show drivers

“Hosted network supported: Yes” line means that this driver supports running in an access point mode. Otherwise, try to update the driver version or install another Wi-Fi adapter.

How to Create a Virtual Wi-Fi Network

Let’s assume that we want to create a wireless network named Hotspot (SSID networks) with the password ZiZiPass. Start the command prompt (with the Administrator privileges) and run the command:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Hotspot key=ZiZiPass

This command will create a new virtual Wi-Fi adapter in the system, which will be used by other wireless devices as an access point. Now, turn on the created virtual adapter:

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

“The hosted network started” line tells that an access point has been turned on successfully.

A new wireless connection named Hotspot will appear in Network and Sharing Center.

Now, other Wi-Fi devices can detect and connect to this access point. Devices connected to such a network can share documents and hardware peripherals but they do not have access to the Internet through this access point yet.

How to Enable Internet Access  for the Connected Devices

Now, we will allow all devices connected to the Wi-Fi virtual access point to use a wired network connection to access the Internet. To do it, click the name of the network adapter, which provides the Internet connection, in Network and Sharing Center. In our example, it is the connection named Ethernet.

In a window with network adapter statistics, click Properties.

Go to Sharing tab in the Ethernet Properties window. Check “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection” and select the name of the virtual adapter created previously in the dropdown list.

Save the changes. In the Network and Sharing Center, the type of Hotspot network will be changed to Internet meaning that this network (and all devices connected to it) have an access to the Internet now.

Thus, all devices connecting to the created access point based on Windows 10 access the Internet using  the external network interface of the computer.

Possible Errors and Troubleshooting

Answer. To get a wireless network working again, run the hosted network with the command
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
There is no need to specify network name and password once again.

Answer. Run WLAN AutoConfig service from services.msc console or the command prompt:
net start WlanSvc
and start a virtual access point once again

Answer. Make sure that your Wi-Fi adapter is turned on. After that run Device Manager, select Show hidden devices in the View menu. Find Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter in network adapters section and turn it on. If it has not helped, run these commands one by one:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow

After that re-create the access point:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Hotspot key=ZiZiPass
netsh wlan start hostednetwork

Answer
netsh wlan show hostednetwork

Answer. To stop an access point, run the command:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork

To delete an access point (SSID and network password are deleted), do the following:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow