Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up Windows 11 Hotspot using CMD

Creating a Windows 11 hotspot using CMD (the Command Prompt) is a practical solution when you find yourself without a Wi-Fi router.

Similar to your smartphone, your Windows 11 computer can effortlessly set up a Wi-Fi hotspot. The process is straightforward, especially if you’re familiar with utilizing the Command Prompt or Terminal utilities.

Below, I’ve laid out a detailed setup guide along with alternative methods, so let’s get started!

What Is Windows 11 Hotspot CMD?

The Windows 11 Hotspot CMD method provides an efficient way to create a Wi-Fi hotspot directly from your computer. By using the command-line tool (CMD), you can execute specific commands and establish a hotspot with personalized settings. This is achieved through the built-in Windows Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell.

You might choose this method over the Windows Settings app for several reasons:

• CMD provides enhanced control over your hotspot settings, enabling the customization of functions that may not be accessible through the graphical user interface (GUI).
• You can create scripts to automate the hotspot setup process, allowing you to activate the feature even when you’re not present.
• Using CMD offers more detailed information and troubleshooting options when issues arise with the Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot feature.

System Requirements for Hotspot

This method can be utilized if your user account and PC satisfy the following criteria:

• Your Windows 11 PC must be equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter that supports the Hosted Network feature, typically found in a modern wireless adapter.
• You need to run CMD or Terminal as an administrator to establish and manage the hotspot.
• The PC is utilizing the latest driver for the Wi-Fi adapter.

How To Configure Windows 11 Hotspot via CMD

Here are the simple commands and steps to follow to get your hotspot up and running:

Check Hosted Network Support

First, determine if your PC supports the Hosted Network feature by executing a simple command in CMD.

1. Click on the Start menu and type CMD.
2. Select the Run as administrator option for Command Prompt.

1. The Windows 11 CMD will open in admin mode displaying the default address:

C:\Windows\System32>

1. Copy and paste the following command into the CMD and press Enter:

netsh wlan show drivers

1. An extensive report will appear in CMD.

1. Depending on your Wi-Fi adapter’s capabilities, you will see either Yes or No for the Hosted network supported status in the report.
2. If you see Yes, proceed to the next step.
3. If you see No, you will need a Wi-Fi adapter that supports Hosted Network.

Enabling a Mobile Hotspot

Assuming your PC’s Wi-Fi adapter has the required functionalities, return to the CMD you opened earlier and input the following command:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyHotspot key=12345678

In the aforementioned script, modify the following parameters:

• ssid=MyHotspot: Replace MyHotspot with your desired network name.
• key=12345678: This represents the hotspot network password. Substitute 12345678 with your chosen password.

Hit Enter to execute the command.

If the Hosted Network feature of your device is functioning correctly, the CMD console will display:

The hosted network mode has been set to allow.
The SSID of the hosted network has been successfully changed.
The user key passphrase of the hosted network has been successfully changed.

You have successfully configured the hotspot network name (SSID) and the hotspot password.

Next, use the following command in the same CMD interface to activate the Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot feature.

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

Upon successful execution, the CMD window will display:

The hosted network started.

This confirms that you have correctly enabled the Windows 11 hotspot using CMD.

Checking the Hotspot Status

To check the status of your active Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot, execute the following command in CMD:

netsh wlan show hostednetwork

Upon successful execution, you will receive a report detailing the hotspot status in the following format:

Hosted network settings
-----------------------
Mode : Allowed
SSID name : "MyHotspot"
Max number of clients: 100
Authentication : WPA2-Personal
Cipher : CCMP

Hosted network status
———————
Status : Started
BSSID : xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Radio type : 802.11n
Channel : 11
Number of clients : 2

Here’s a brief explanation of the information provided to help you gauge the wireless network status:

• Mode: Indicates whether the device has permitted the Hosted Network.
• SSID name: Shows the name of the Wi-Fi network (in this case, MyHotspot).
• Status: If the Status parameter indicates Started, the feature is active, and your device is sharing its internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
• BSSID: Represents the MAC address of the virtual adapter of the Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot.
• Number of clients: Indicates the count of active devices using the network (currently, there are two devices).

Change the Hotspot Configuration

Below are various commands that can be used to personalize the hotspot settings:

Configure the Maximum Number of Clients

Input the following command into an administrator CMD terminal and press Enter:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourNetworkName key=YourPassword maxclients=Number

In this command, replace YourNetworkName with the SSID of your choice, YourPassword with your desired passphrase, and Number with a numeric value like 10 for a maximum of 10 devices.

If successful, you should see the following output in the terminal:

The maximum number of clients has been successfully changed.

Change the Authentication Method

The Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot feature incorporates an encrypted authentication system for improved security. To change the protocol, use the following command in CMD:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourNetworkName key=YourPassword auth=WPA2-Personal

The terminal will confirm the change with this message:

The authentication type has been successfully set to WPA2-Personal.

Modify the Wireless Mode

If you need to adjust the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network sharing mode, utilize the following command to initiate the Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot feature:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourNetworkName key=YourPassword mode=n

Substitute WirelessMode with g for 802.11g mode or n for 802.11n mode.

If successful, the CMD will display the following message:

The radio type has been set to 802.11n.

Reset Hosted Network Settings

If the wireless network is experiencing slowness or failing to accept connections from new devices, consider refreshing it with the following command:

netsh wlan refresh hostednetwork

A successful refresh will yield this message in the terminal:

Hosted network has been refreshed.

Stopping the Mobile Hotspot

If you wish to disable the Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot service, run this command in CMD:

netsh wlan stop hostednetwork

The following output confirms that the service is now deactivated:

The hosted network stopped.

Setting up a Windows 11 Hotspot Using CMD Batchfile

If you’d like to enable the hotspot feature on system startup, follow these steps:

1. Open a new Notepad file.
2. Copy and paste the following script into your Notepad file:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass "$connectionProfile = [Windows.Networking.Connectivity.NetworkInformation,Windows.Networking.Connectivity,ContentType=WindowsRuntime]::GetInternetConnectionProfile(); $tetheringManager = [Windows.Networking.NetworkOperators.NetworkOperatorTetheringManager,Windows.Networking.NetworkOperators,ContentType=WindowsRuntime]::CreateFromConnectionProfile($connectionProfile); $tetheringManager.StartTetheringAsync();"

1. Click the Save option from the File menu.
2. Exit the file.
3. Select the file, press F2, and change its extension to .BAT.
4. Click elsewhere on the screen to save the Notepad file as a batch script file.

1. Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously to open the Run command.
2. In the Open field, type the following command and press Enter:

shell:startup

1. The Startup folder will open.
2. Place the batch file in this directory.

1. Now, restart your PC and observe that the Windows 11 Mobile Hotspot feature activates upon system startup or power on.

Alternatives to Windows 11 Hotspot CMD

If you encounter issues launching the Command Prompt as an administrator, follow these steps to enable the hotspot:

1. Access the Settings app by pressing Windows + I keys together.
2. Select the Network & internet option from the left-hand navigation panel.
3. On the right menu, click on the Mobile hotspot option.

1. Toggle the button to activate the service.

1. To switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth or the other way around, click on Share over and select your preferred method.

1. If using the Wi-Fi radio for the mobile hotspot, click Edit under the Properties section.
2. Adjust the Network band to either 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz, as desired.
3. Click Save to apply the Network band modifications.

Summary

You can now create a shareable wireless network using the Windows 11 Hotspot CMD feature.

You’ve also learned how to configure this function in a detailed manner using various commands.

If this article was helpful to you or if you have any other methods to share, please feel free to comment below.

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