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Create a WIFI hotspot from a WIFI-enabled PC, with Winhotspot

January 12, 2013 By 13 Comments

If you have a single PC with WIFI access and you would like to use that connection to broadcast A WIFI signal to other devices then read on: Winhotspot is one of the simplest FREE virtual WIFI programs available, and possibly the easiest to use.

Windows 7 (and above) supports the broadcasting of a WIFI connection as a virtual WIFI hotspot. This can actually be done manually, but you can think of Winhotspot as a GUI interface that makes broadcasting a virtual hotspot a very simple process as easy as pressing a button. It is also 100% free software

How it works:

Download and run (the program is a single executable that does not require installation). In the main screen (above) simply enter a name for the hotspot network and a password. The ‘share internet’ dropdown should be inactive unless you have multiple wired/wireless connections coming in. Click ‘Start’. Unless the program displays any prompts such as ‘enable wireless adapter’ (accept) or anything of the sort, you should be up and running. You can click on the ‘clients’ tab to see the devices that are successfully connected to your WIFI hotpot (screenshot below).

WinHotSpot Screenshot1

Troubleshooting:

This program requires Windows 7 or above, and requires that the MS .Framwork 3.5 be installed on your machine. Clicking the ‘show repair tools’, button (bottom left) will display shortcuts to some troubleshooting tools. To learn more on troubleshooting go to these pages on the program page itself: How to Configure (which walks you through activating .NET framework), or try the ‘Fix Obtaining IP Address’ page.

WinHotSpot Screenshot2

The verdict:

Freewaregenius 5-Star Pick

I am well aware that there are a handful of such free utilities (Virtual Router, mHotspot, Virtual Access Point (web app), and others). In my experience, however, some of these suddenly become feature limited or shareware (e.g. Connectify), and some aren’t as simple or easy to use as they should be, so Winhotspot is a welcome alternative, and the go-to virtual server app of the moment as far as I am concerned).

Note on downloading: make sure to download the latest version, as previous versions are also available on the download page. Also note that the latest version is a web downloader that likely includes other ‘offers’ for non related installs. Uncheck these if you do not want them.

Get Winhotspot here. (Requires MS .NET Framework 3.5).


 
 
 
Samer Kurdi

Samer Kurdi

Has been reviewing software since 2006 when he started Freewaregenius.com
Samer Kurdi

@freewaregenius

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January 12, 2013
Samer Kurdi
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  • http://www.winhotspot.com harsha

    Hi,
    If you guys face any problem or need any feature let me know..
    Thanks
    Harsha
    Developer of Winhotspot

    • Samer Kurdi

      Thanks Harsha for a great app!

  • Darrow Eymundson

    What’s with the date on the Homepage?

    Monday April 01, 2013……….?
    Sounds like a scam or malware to me!

    • Samer Kurdi

      Apparently a wrong date on a page speaks volumes, and is a harbinger of some sort of malware. Never mind that someone has tested and critiqued the software, and found it good enough to write about.

      Next time do yourself a favor and run anything you want to validate through Virustotal (where Winhotspot comes out with a squeaky clean profile https://www.virustotal.com/file/61b89f0071435781fd579e21d62aad848948ebfdcfeded9de7af62ba3b243669/analysis/).

    • http://www.winhotspot.com harsha

      Its not scam,
      Or any thing .. :)
      I have just Kept a screenshot which tells how to use for dumb users :) .
      So if i post any new article this screenshot will go somewhere missing in the Blog.
      I do not have enough money and time to create a separate website.. to arrange them in some order.
      you can think that as a hack in blogspot to make a post always stay on top.
      :)
      Thanks
      Harsha

  • Darrow Eymundson

    RE: Last comment I made;
    I was hasty in my post and I apologize to you and Harsha. I will triple check anything that doesn’t look right before making snap judgements. Again my apologies to you and Harsha.

    • Samer Kurdi

      @ Darrow: no worries man, no harm done.
      I tend to react strongly against suggestions of malware in the comments, so bear with me. I do this because many users will see that and run away from a perfectly good app that someone spent a lot of time and energy on, even when the argument against the program is weak or unsubstantiated.

  • http://www.winhotspot.com harsha

    No Problem.
    :)

  • Nicholas Smith

    I remain frustrated! Despite many attempts and following the trouble shooting advice I cannot get this to work. Always the same message “This programme has stopped working……” Any further help would be really appreciated. Thank you.

    • Samer Kurdi

      @ Nicholas: which version of Windows are you using?

      • Anonymous

        I’m using Win 7 (starter edition) with an Intel Atom N 570 1.66gz Processot.

  • Nicholas Smith

    Apologies I forgot to put my personal details regarding the Win 7 (Starter Edition)!