For some time, users of the Windows operating system of the tenth version after the update encountered several new and, it must be said, quite non-standard functions. Among all the innovations, it is worth mentioning the Windows 10 mobile hot spot 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 questions in the most detail.
What is a mobile hot spot?
If you do not take into account the purely technical side of the issue, and confine ourselves to the simplest explanation, the new function is a unique tool that can be used to create an Internet connection point for any other devices.
Roughly speaking, the Windows 10 mobile hot spot is a tool for turning a computer terminal or laptop into a kind of station from which the connection signal is broadcast. To make it even simpler, a computer device turns into a regular router like a router or modem based on a wireless connection.
Previously, it was necessary to perform complex manipulations with the use of the command line in order to correctly configure the distribution. Now the question of how to set up the mobile hotspot of Windows 10 is reduced only to determining for yourself which connection will be distributed, to set the network name and specify the desired password (this is a prerequisite).
And there can be a lot of connection and distribution options (each of them will be considered separately). In addition, any device 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 distribute 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 have the update installed automatically need to search for updates on their own using the Update Center.
After installing the update in the notification menu, whose icon is located in the system tray at the bottom right, the Mobile Hot Spot tile will appear during deployment. 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 serves solely to enable the hot spot, 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 the network name and password, which the system sets by default on its own. Below there is a button for changing them, which must be pressed if adjustments need to be made to the established combination.
In the settings window, you can change the name of the selected network and the access password itself, but it must contain at least eight characters.
The network sharing string can indicate any connection currently available (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 remote enable function (the description explicitly states 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 (it will be impossible to connect more purely for technical reasons).
Distribution via 3G / 4G modems
With modems that can work on the basis of 3G / 4G technologies, there should not be any special problems. 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, when the distribution is activated, the system determines it automatically.
Windows 10: setting up a mobile hot spot 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 a signal distribution through it. It turns out that the terminal receives the Internet through the established network and issues a signal through it.
There is no particular sense in this, however, in practice, such a connection can be applied if the existing Wi-Fi network has restrictions on connecting only one device and no more.
The simplest management methods
As for the management, here the developers tried so that the user had everything at hand. Naturally, you can switch the slider directly in the settings shown above.
However, as already noted, in the notification area there is a special tile, clicking on which activates or deactivates the distribution. Reasonable and simple.
What to do if Wi-Fi does not turn on?
Now a few words about possible failures and problems. Suppose that in Windows 10 the mobile hot spot does not turn on, and the system displays a message that Wi-Fi is not turned on.
Conventional troubleshooting does not always work (not to mention reinstalling the drivers for the wireless adapter). In this case, the command console will help, in which the line netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode = allow ssid = "NetworkName" key = "XXXXXXXXX" keyUsage = persistent is written, as shown in the image above. Instead of the specified network name (NetworkName) and password (XXXXXXXXX), 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 that such a situation is in no way connected with its absence (if it had not been installed in the system, even the Mobile Hot Spot tile in Windows 10 would not have existed).
The best solution to start is to call the “Device Manager” and turn on the display of hidden components. There may be several Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter adapters, on each of which you need to make RMBs 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 up either directly from the RMB menu or the property bar can be used, and in the new settings window go to the driver tab).
Problems with Mobile Modems
In the case when in Windows 10 the mobile hot spot does not work when trying to distribute using connected modems, usually the problem is 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. This will help either a regular reboot of the system, or the choice of a different location where the connection becomes stable.
What to do if it is not possible to connect to existing networks?
Finally, let's see what can be done if the mobile hotspot on Windows 10 is gone, and after that the user received a notification that the system cannot connect to the existing wireless or Ethernet network.
Apparently, the connection is really absent. In this case, it makes sense to check the cable for a wired connection or even reboot the router, after disconnecting it from the mains and keeping a pause before turning it on again for about 15-20 seconds.
A similar situation may also arise due to the fact that the Internet connection uses the high-speed PPPoE protocol to connect. Unfortunately, just such connections, the mobile hotspot of Windows 10 just does not see or, if you want, does not recognize. Alas, this is the case. It may be necessary to change the settings of the router a little, setting the use of L2TP or choosing a static or dynamic IP with the automatic settings for the IPv4 protocol in its properties.
Finally
That's all for such an 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 under the tenth modification. And before, even many system administrators rack their brains over the organization and inclusion of the access point, using the maximum number of system tools. Now you just need to specify the network name, set a password and press the power button. One can only wonder why this idea was implemented so late.
As for errors or failures when connecting, as you can already see, almost all of them, with rare exceptions, are programmatic in nature. Do not forget that the service itself seems to be 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 service can be blocked by various kinds of antiviruses or even the built-in firewall of the system, so it makes sense to turn them off for a while 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 arrange distribution from their computer device. And of course, I would like to hope that in the near future this service will be slightly improved (at least in order to use support for high-speed PPPoE connection).