VPN technology has numerous exceptional advantages. You can use a VPN to change your virtual location to access blocked services, hide your browsing history from your ISP, and even improve your browsing speeds on a throttled connection.
A VPN for Windows subscription-only comes with a few device slots, so you either have to buy an expensive VPN-capable router or rotate your devices. However, some devices, such as your gaming console, media box, and others, do not have VPN apps. So, is it still possible to share a single VPN connection without purchasing a VPN router? The answer is YES!
Everyone knows your phone or tablet’s mobile data connection can be shared with other devices. You have to enable the “mobile hotspot” feature on your smartphone to make this happen.
Why do you need to share a VPN-protected hotspot?
Are you at ease with the thought that someone may be observing what you do online, what websites you visit, or the buttons you click? Worse, are your credit card details, social network login information, and other sensitive data being stolen? This occurs every minute, which is where a VPN comes in. It encrypts your internet traffic, even from your ISP, so nobody can view your online activities. Furthermore, you can also access geo-restricted material in a particular region by utilizing a VPN.
The best way to unblock content and secure your devices with a VPN is to share it over a Wi-Fi network. If you can’t afford a good Wi-Fi router with a built-in VPN for Windows (prices start at $100, not including the VPN), you can use your Windows laptop to share one VPN connection with your devices.
What do You Need to Set up a VPN-Protected Hotspot?
What you’ll need to share your VPN connection over a Wi-Fi hotspot is as follows:
- A fully functional Windows laptop or PC with a Wi-Fi card or dongle. This could be a laptop you are using, an older laptop, or a PC just collecting dust.
- A quick VPN service that can deliver decent speeds and security to all your devices simultaneously.
How to Share a VPN-Protected Hotspot on Your Windows?
Did you know you can share a VPN-protected hotspot with a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop or desktop computer? You can easily connect the laptop to your router using an ethernet cable. Then when devices connect to that computer through Wi-Fi, they can use a VPN-protected connection. There are several ways to accomplish this, but we’ll start with the simplest processes.
1. Use A Software
There are several free software applications available to assist you in quickly creating a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Windows PC. Furthermore, with most of these tools, you may decide which network connection should be your internet source for all Wi-Fi devices. Virtual Router 1.0, for example, automatically configures and activates the virtual Wi-Fi hotspot. It also lets you select which internet connection to share. Remember to connect to the VPN server using its client software to ensure that all traffic over your connection is secure.
You don’t need to utilize any additional software using Windows 10 or 11. Right-click on the network icon in the system tray and select Properties.
Select “Open Network Internet Settings,” then “Mobile Hotspot,” and finally allow internet sharing of your secured connection.
2. Manually Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot
You can manually create a Wi-Fi hotspot if you don’t want to utilize software to configure your virtual Wi-Fi router. This requires the use of the Windows Command Prompt. This can be a bit frightening. It’s pretty straightforward, and you’ll be up and running in no time.
Note: You need to have a VPN for Windows installed and connected to your network for you to create a VPN-protected Hotspot; otherwise, your connection can be compromised.
Through Network Settings:
So, here’s how to set up a “hosted network” on Windows 11.
Step # 1:
Go to the “Settings” app on Windows or use the combination of the “Windows + I” key.
Step # 2:
Now click on “Network and Internet.”
Step # 3:
After clicking, you will see something similar to the following
Step # 3:
Click on “Mobile Hotspot.”
Step # 4:
Now you will see something like this:
Step # 5:
Now configure the Name and Password of your Hotspot by clicking on “Edit.”
After clicking Edit, you will see the following:
Step # 6:
Now edit and configure your Hotspot according to your choice and click on “Save.”
Step # 7:
Now toggle the Mobile Hotspot switch to “ON.”
You can also change other Network Settings like “Share my Internet Connection” or “Share Over” according to your need.
Step # 8:
Now go back to “Settings,” “Network and Internet,” and then “Advanced Network Settings.”
Step # 9:
You will then see the following screen:
In the Network Adapters list, you will see the name of your chosen VPN for Windows. Now scroll down and click on “More Adapter Network Options.”
You will then come across the following tab:
Here you’ll see the name of your chosen VPN for Windows. Right-click on it and click on Properties.
Step # 10:
Click on the “Sharing” tab and check the “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.” Now from the drop-down menu, select the Hotspot you created above. And you’ll be good to go!
The procedure is almost the same for Windows 10 users, but if you are using Windows 7 or 8, you must go through several additional steps to share a VPN-protected network with your peers and family members.
Final Thoughts
Given that your VPN is connected and operational, every device connecting to your virtual Wi-Fi network should now have complete VPN security. If you restart your computer, you’ll also have to restart the virtual network. All in all, all of this might seem complicated, but it will hardly take a few minutes and does not require extensive technical knowledge to set up a VPN via a Wi-Fi hotspot.