Share PC or Laptop Internet Connection to Android via Wi-Fi

Common causes

The PC's WiFi adapter does not support hosted network or mobile hotspot mode, which is required to share the connection wirelessly.
Windows Firewall or third-party firewall rules blocking Internet Connection Sharing traffic between the PC and the Android device.
The mobile hotspot feature in Windows is disabled by a network administrator or Group Policy setting in managed environments.
An outdated or generic WiFi driver that supports basic connectivity but lacks the virtual adapter required for hotspot functionality.
A VPN client on the PC that overrides the default network routing and prevents shared traffic from reaching the internet.
The Android device connects to the hotspot but cannot get a valid IP address due to DHCP configuration issues on the hosted network.
The PC's ethernet or primary WiFi connection is metered or restricted by the ISP, which blocks secondary sharing at the network level.

Who this guide is for

You are troubleshooting a android issue, not choosing new software yet.
The main problem matches this cluster: android networking.
You want the fastest reliable fixes first before trying a reset or reinstall.

Step-by-step fixes

Step 1

Enable the Windows Mobile Hotspot feature and configure it

Open Windows Settings, go to Network and Internet, then Mobile Hotspot. Toggle the feature on. Under Share my internet connection from, select your active internet connection, which is usually Ethernet for wired or Wi-Fi for wireless. Set a recognizable network name and a strong password. Choose the 2.4 GHz band for maximum compatibility with Android devices, or 5 GHz for faster speeds if your device supports it. Leave the hotspot running and proceed to connect your Android device.

Step 2

Connect your Android device to the PC's hotspot

On your Android phone or tablet, open Settings, then WiFi. Scan for available networks and look for the hotspot name you configured on the PC. Tap it, enter the password, and wait for the connection to establish. Once connected, open a browser and verify that you can load a website. If the Android device connects but shows No Internet, the issue is on the PC side. Check the firewall and Internet Connection Sharing settings on the PC as described in the troubleshooting steps below.

Step 3

Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the source adapter if needed

If Mobile Hotspot is not available or does not work, you can enable Internet Connection Sharing manually. Open Control Panel, Network and Sharing Center, then Change adapter settings. Right-click your primary internet connection adapter, select Properties, go to the Sharing tab, and check Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection. Select the hosted network or virtual adapter as the home networking connection. This step is only needed when the built-in Mobile Hotspot feature does not handle ICS automatically.

Step 4

Create a hosted network from the command line as a fallback

If the graphical Mobile Hotspot does not appear on your PC, open an elevated Command Prompt and run netsh wlan show drivers. Look for the Hosted network supported line. If it says Yes, run netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourNetworkName key=YourPassword to create the network, then netsh wlan start hostednetwork to broadcast it. Enable Internet Connection Sharing on your primary adapter and select the Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter as the home network. Connect your Android device to the new network.

Step 5

Update your WiFi driver if the hotspot fails to start

Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your WiFi adapter, and select Update driver. Search automatically for updated drivers. If Windows does not find a newer driver, visit the manufacturer's website and download the latest driver for your specific adapter model and Windows version. Generic or very old drivers sometimes lack the virtual adapter component needed for hotspot functionality. After updating, restart the PC and try enabling Mobile Hotspot again.

Step 6

Temporarily disable firewalls and VPN clients to troubleshoot connection failures

If the Android device connects to the hotspot but cannot reach the internet, temporarily disable Windows Firewall from the Control Panel and disable any third-party firewall or VPN client. If the internet works after disabling these, the firewall or VPN is blocking ICS traffic. Add firewall exceptions for ICS or configure the VPN to permit local network sharing. Re-enable protection after testing and verify that the connection still works with the exceptions in place.

What to do next if this fails

Move to the next fix instead of repeating the same step multiple times.
Check the related guides in this cluster before attempting a full reset.
If startup, update, and corruption symptoms overlap, widen the diagnosis instead of treating one error in isolation.

FAQ

Can I share my PC's wired ethernet connection to Android over WiFi?

Yes. The Windows Mobile Hotspot feature can share any active internet connection, including wired ethernet, mobile broadband, and another WiFi network, as a WiFi hotspot that your Android device can connect to. Your PC needs a WiFi adapter that supports hosted network mode to broadcast the hotspot signal.

Why can my Android connect to the hotspot but not reach the internet?

This usually means Internet Connection Sharing is not enabled for the source connection, or a firewall is blocking traffic. Check that the source connection in Windows has ICS enabled in its adapter properties. Also temporarily disable Windows Firewall and any third-party firewall to test. If disabling the firewall fixes the issue, add an exception for ICS traffic.

Does sharing internet from a PC slow down my connection?

The total bandwidth is shared between the PC and all connected devices. On a fast broadband connection, the impact is minimal for normal browsing and messaging. On slower connections or if the connected devices are streaming video, you may notice reduced speeds on the PC. You can limit the number of connected devices in the Mobile Hotspot settings.

Can I share a VPN connection from my PC to Android?

Sometimes, but it depends on the VPN client. Some VPN clients override network routing in a way that prevents Mobile Hotspot from forwarding traffic through the VPN tunnel. You may need to configure the VPN to allow local network sharing, or use a third-party hotspot tool that can bind to the VPN adapter specifically.

What if my PC does not have a WiFi adapter?

You need a WiFi adapter to broadcast a hotspot signal. Inexpensive USB WiFi adapters that support hosted network mode are widely available and work with the built-in Windows Mobile Hotspot feature. Check the adapter specifications for hosted network or SoftAP support before purchasing.

Is USB tethering a better alternative to WiFi sharing?

USB tethering shares the Android phone's mobile data to the PC, which is the reverse direction. If your goal is to give the Android device internet access from the PC, WiFi hotspot from the PC is the correct method. If you need to share in both directions, you can set up either method depending on which device has the active internet connection.