In this article, we will look at the most popular programs with which you can run Wi-Fi distribution from a laptop, or a computer that runs on Windows 10, Windows 8 (8.1), and Windows 7. But, I will show the setup process using a laptop as an example. , on which Windows 10 is installed. All the same, this is a new, popular system, and we will consider it as an example. But, you won't notice any significant difference even with Windows 7. So, this guide is suitable for all computers and laptops that run on Windows 7 and newer systems.

For those who are not in the subject, and do not know how to distribute Wi-Fi from a laptop, start an access point, and why use special programs, I explain. Windows has the ability to run a virtual Wi-Fi network... Simply put, turn a laptop or a computer with a Wi-Fi adapter into a regular router. We have the Internet connected to the laptop. We launch a Wi-Fi access point, in our case using the program, and the laptop starts to distribute the Internet over the wireless network. In this way, you can distribute Wi-Fi to your phone, tablet, other laptops, etc. The main thing is that your computer must have Wi-Fi and the Internet (via network cable, or via USB modem).

To launch a wireless access point, you can use special programs. And you can do without them, and start the distribution by running certain commands in the command line, and opening the general access to the Internet. For example, it's easier for me to start the network using commands than to use third-party programs for this. We already have detailed instructions to launch an access point on a laptop via the command line:

• And the instruction is specially for those who have.

In this article, I will show you several programs created specifically for launching Wi-Fi distribution from a laptop, and for managing a virtual network. I have selected 4 of the most popular programs, including one paid (I do not know if it is necessary, but I will show it)... Today I sat for half a day and checked these programs on a computer with Windows 10. I figured out, configured, and checked each one. Everything works for me, the laptop was distributing Wi-Fi to the smartphone, the Internet was working.

Choosing a program:

• Virtual Router, she Virtual Router Plus (as far as I understood, in older versions)... The simplest, free and working programm... Well, and probably the most popular. Works great in Windows 10. There is a Russian language, but the translation is very poor (he is not needed there).
• Switch Virtual Router... Another one free program to distribute Wi-Fi from a computer. It has more options than "Virtual Router". There is a Russian language and an intuitive interface. I have already written about this program, but consider it again.
• Maryfi (Russian version) . The program is also free, but something went wrong with it. First, Yandex did not let me go to the official website, they say there is a virus (but this is not a fact, the antivirus did not swear)... I downloaded it, installed it, but I could not start the access point. And in general, problems began with the virtual adapter, the driver had to be reinstalled. Perhaps this is just my problem. So that kind of program is good and popular.
• Connectify 2016... Very cool and functional program. But, paid. There seems to be a trial period. At least, I managed to launch a virtual Wi-Fi network with it. It is immediately clear that the software is paid, there are a lot of cool features. But, I never found the Russian language.

There are, of course, other options, but we will only consider these programs. There are enough of them.

Important advice! Choose one program for yourself (which you liked the most), download and use it. You don't need to download and install / run everything at once. Otherwise, nothing will work out at all. If, for example, when starting the network in the Virtual Router program, an error appears that it cannot be started, then it will be in other programs as well, since the problem is most likely in the Wi-Fi adapter (no driver, it's disabled, wrong driver)... The principle of operation of these programs is the same, we can say that they differ only in the interface, and in not very necessary functions (such as autostart, displaying Wi-Fi clients, etc.).

The program will only create and launch a virtual network. You can connect to it, but in order for the Internet to work, you need be sure to allow sharing to the Internet (except Connectify). I will write how to do this at the end of the article.

We configure it according to the following scheme:

• Download and install the selected program.
• We start the distribution of Wi-Fi in the program. If a startup error appears, then we solve it.
• We open the general access to the Internet, in the connection properties.

Here we go!

Virtual Router Plus: Windows 10 Wi-Fi Sharing Software

I have checked Virtual Router v3.3. It is, of course, very different from Virtual Router Plus, but it works well. You can download it by.

No installation required. Just unzip the downloaded archive and run the file VirtualRouter.exe... Most likely, the official website will open in a browser, just close it.

Immediately after starting, Virtual Router will try to start distributing the Wi-Fi network. If the status says "work", then the network is already running. And now, you need to open public access to the Internet (how to do this, see the end of the article), restart your computer, and start the program again.

And if the status says that "Virtual Router failed to start", then the problem is most likely in the wireless adapter itself. I wrote about the solution to this problem in the article:.

It is very simple to use the program: they minimized it, it was hidden in the notification panel. Closed, the distribution of the wireless network has stopped.

Switch Virtual Router program to run a Wi-Fi hotspot in Windows

It seems to me that this best program... There are all the necessary functions, Russian language and it is free. You can download it here. Or, from the official site http://switchvirtualrouter.narod.ru.

Run the installation and install Switch Virtual Router. Then, we launch the program. If you want to change the default network name and password, then click on the button in the form of a gear, and set new parameters. There are also other settings there.

To start the access point, just click on the "Start" button, and open the general access to the Internet (instructions at the end of the article).

I will not write anything else on this program, since we already have it on our site. Everything is detailed there, with all the nuances. By the way, if the error "Wi-Fi adapter is off" appears, then you need to check the operation of the virtual adapter.

Setting up Maryfi. We distribute the Internet from a laptop

If you decide to use the Maryfi program, then the Russian version can be downloaded by (version 1.1), or from the page on the official website http://www.maryfi.com/maryfi-russian-edition.php (I do not give a direct link, since Yandex is talking about the site's harmfulness. But, the antivirus did not find any viruses).

Run the setup file and install the application. Most likely, during the first launch of Maryfi, the program will ask you to install the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 component. You just need to agree. The system itself will download and install everything. Then you can start Maryfi.

In fact, the entire program fits into one small window. There we set the network name and password, and click on the "Start Wi-Fi" button. If everything is in order with the Wi-Fi adapter, the network will be started.

If the network starts, then you need to open the general access to the Internet, and you're done.

Connectify 2016 to run Hotspot on computer

Let me remind you that this is a paid program, but it seems to have a free, heavily cut version, or with a trial period. But, the program is very cool. Lot different functions... What I liked the most was that there is no need to manually open Internet sharing. (many have problems with this)... Just choose from which connection to share the Internet, and you're done.

I downloaded Connectify from the official site: http://www.connectify.me/hotspot/. After downloading the program, you need to install it on your computer and run it.

Further, everything is very simple (even without Russian)... Select the connection through which you are connected to the Internet, if necessary, change the network name and password, and click on the "Start Hotspot" button.

The computer will immediately start distributing the Internet. I plugged in my phone and the internet was already working. After starting, a tab immediately opens, which displays the connected devices (clients). And even statistics on how much internet they use is displayed. In the program, near the fields, you can see the inscriptions "MAX", and "PRO". These are most likely features that are only available in the paid version. But you can do without them.

If I'm not mistaken, and there really is a free, cut-down version of this program, then I advise you to use it.

We open the general access to the Internet

If you launched a Wi-Fi network through the Virtual Router, Switch Virtual Router, or Maryfi, then you definitely need to set up sharing. Otherwise, there will be no internet access.

Right-click on the Internet connection icon and open the "Network and Sharing Center". Then go to "Changing adapter parameters".

Right-click on the connection through which you have an Internet connection and select "Properties".

Open the "Access" tab, put a check mark next to "Allow other network users ...", select the connection we created from the list, and click "Ok".

Important! After these steps, you need to restart your computer, and restart the distribution of Wi-Fi in the program. After that, you can connect your devices to the network. The internet should already work.

If devices do not connect to a running Wi-Fi network

If an error appears during connection that it is impossible to connect, or the IP address is constantly being obtained, then the first step is to disable the antivirus. Also, you can disable the firewall and other programs that may block the connection.

More often than not, it is the antivirus that is to blame. It blocks the connection of the device.

Afterword

Something seems to me that this article will have a lot of questions. Ask them in the comments.

I tried to describe all the moments that may appear in the process of starting the access point using programs. But, the hardware, operating system, set of programs and drivers are different for everyone. Therefore, different problems may appear. Read the article carefully, see the links that I gave, but if all else fails, then describe the problem in the comments. Good luck!

Thanks to specially created programs, the procedure for detecting and connecting to Wi-Fi, as well as organizing a wireless access point to the Internet, using only a laptop or other device connected to the global network is greatly facilitated.

The following guide will help you understand the huge variety of these applications and introduce you to the basic techniques for working with them.

The advantages and main purpose of such programs

They provide the convenience of finding, connecting and creating Wi-Fi hotspots.

When analyzing the presence of wireless networks, such programs are able to automatically determine the stability of connections, sort by the strength of the transmitted signal, etc.

Many utilities are supplied with regularly updated databases of hotspots, and this allows the user to quickly find a Wi-Fi network even when out of its coverage area.

Some applications allow even a novice user to easily create their own hotspots. All that is usually required from a person is, by clicking, create a point, assign it an original name.

The utilities are designed not only to work on a Windows PC, but also on Android mobile platforms and Windows Phone.

They are most often used in laptops and smartphones, since they are already equipped with built-in Wi-Fi modules from the factory.

Its activation is not a problem on mobile devices, but to enable it on a laptop, you need to know about some of the nuances of the laptop model used.

How to enable Wi-Fi adapter on laptop?

To connect to Wi-Fi on a laptop, you must activate the module with a switch or a key combination.

To enable the wi-fi adapter on a laptop, you must do the following:

Various combinations of buttons can be used. If there are no typical pictures on them, then it is recommended to go through the options from "F1" to "F12", of course, not forgetting to hold down the "Fn" button.

Application for connecting to Wi-Fi "Maxidix Wifi Suite"

This utility has gained popularity among users all over the world in less than four years.

Many such programs do not have a Russian interface, and Maxidix is \u200b\u200bdevoid of such a drawback.

Often professional programmers give preference to this particular application, as it allows you to establish one hundred percent control over Wi-Fi connections.

In addition to the basic functions of detecting and connecting to wireless networks, it is able to count the consumed traffic.

Thanks to the use of a special algorithm, the procedure for connecting to Wi-Fi takes several times less time.

The program shows the geographic location, has the function of exporting and importing network profiles and much more.

WeFi

The utility searches for networks to connect to Wi-Fi.

Two main advantages have made it popular all over the world:

1. The application is distributed free of charge;
2. The utility's database contains hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi networks around the world.

The main drawback of the application is the lack of a Russian interface.

Even when there are no accessible access points within the user's radius, he can quickly find the closest one on the map and, for example, quickly get to it by metro.

Flexible application settings allow you to adapt it to the specific needs of the user.

If you need a network connection all the time, you can set the launch of the utility simultaneously with the completion of Windows loading on the computer.

Sociable people will love the "Friends Online Status" option. Through it, the user will always know the location of his friends and comrades, or rather, to which point they have connected (the point is displayed on the map).

There are versions of the utility designed not only for work in a PC, but also for operating systems Windows Phone and Android.

Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector

If you need a real radar for wireless networks, then this free program has a similar built-in tool.

The application analyzes the stability and speed of the connection. The user only needs to click on the appropriate virtual keys: "Test" and "Speed \u200b\u200bTest".

Experienced users and specialists often use this utility to select optimal location router.

Thanks to the accurate analysis of the quality of the broadcast of the wireless signal, reliable connection between the access point and, for example, a smart TV or computer.

The application is also useful in determining the location of the surveillance cameras that use the channel. wireless with router and PC.

Unfortunately, all modifications of the application do not have a Russian-language menu.

However, using the application is not difficult even without knowledge of a foreign language.

After clicking on "Radar", the utility automatically analyzes the available networks, and then provides the laptop owner with a list of them in an intuitive interface.

The user has access to detailed information about each detected point, up to the signal strength and the manufacturer of the router.

MyPublicWiFi

If you need to create a Wi-Fi hotspot, then the free utility MyPublicWiFi does an excellent job.

A user may suddenly stop working with a router, or some people may not have one at all. However, this does not prevent them from actively using their own Wi-Fi access point on the PC.

To this end, you will need to perform the following sequential actions:

Note: Before starting the utility, you need to enable the laptop's Wi-Fi module, following the instructions from the first paragraph of this manual.

mHotspot

Similar to the previous program in its purpose, it allows you to turn a PC into a router and protect the network with an access code, so you don't have to worry that someone else will connect to the user's resources.

The utility is not Russified, but it is absolutely free.

The application allows you to manually set the allowed number of network clients.

The details of the users connected to the created point are shown in the Clients section.

The "Hotspot" tab displays the values \u200b\u200bof the speed of receiving and transmitting data.

As you can see, everything is simple, therefore, despite the English-language interface, a beginner can easily cope with the operation of the application.

Connectify

Another program for creating Wi-Fi hotspots. Despite the fact that it is paid, it has many fans. Not demanding on laptop resources and easy to configure.

After installing and running the utility, the following menu will appear.

Using 4 tabs, the utility is configured.

It is recommended, having entered the "Settings" tab, click "Launch parameters".

Specify parameters based on personal preferences, for example, organize the autostart of the utility after Windows boots, etc.

In the "Display" tab, you can enable or disable the display of ads.

In the tab "Conversion parameters network addresses»Advanced users can enter specific information, however, the default is already configured here for optimal application performance.

Additional settings are located in a separate section "Advanced settings".

Through the item "Languages", if "Russian" is not installed, then for convenience it is recommended to select. After that, the application interface will immediately be Russified.

Wi-Fi Point is a small and easy-to-install program for creating a wireless access point on your desktop computer or laptop. What does it mean? - And the fact that to access the Internet you do not need to buy an expensive router. By running this software once, you will save a decent amount of money and a lot of time, and in return you will get a full-fledged wireless working connection for all your electronic gadgets.

To run a Wi-Fi point, you don't need to be an IT specialist or a sysadmin - you just need to use our advice and choose the best solution for yourself, namely, download Wi-Fi Point. There are no complex configurations in the software, in fact the interface is very minimalistic - it contains two columns: the name of the connection and the password. You don't need to know anything else! Super easy, isn't it?

Once launched, the application will test and find available network connectionsand then select the active one. We repeat - all actions are automatic without your participation (you can, if you wish, participate - set a limit on the number of connected devices, or you can leave all 10 (!!) devices connected). And you can connect not only PCs or laptops, but also tablets, smart TVs, game consoles and consoles, Wi-Fi speakers, flash drives and other "chips".

Wi-Fi Point runs on Windows XP / Vista / 7/8 / 8.1 / 10, does not require installation, and takes up a minimum of system resources. The utility will save you time and finances (since it is absolutely free), while being multifunctional and efficient.

Help: the analogue of this application is 160WiFi (OSToto Hotspot).

I think we have dispelled all your doubts about this software - it remains to try it.

MyPublicWiFi Is a free utility with which you can turn your laptop or computer into a WiFi hotspot.

According to the developers themselves, the MyPublicWiFi program is ideal for organizing network access in an apartment, hotel room, office or conference room. Wi-Fi hotspot creation is fully automated.

Features of the MyPublicWiFi program:

• Distribution of access to the Internet via a wireless communication channel Wi-Fi. Anyone who knows the password will be able to connect to such a point: your relatives, colleagues, friends.
• Supports WPA2 encryption. When creating an access point, it is recommended to come up with a complex password so that only trusted people can use your hotspot.
• Built in (firewall)... It is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool for tracking outbound traffic. It also allows you to restrict access to specific servers. For example, it can be used to prevent downloading files from certain sites.
• Accounting for all actions of users who connected to the access point during a working session. Thanks to this feature, the administrator or hotspot owner can view the URLs of all pages visited from a portable device.
• Logging. All program actions are written to a text file.
• Small size. The installation file for the MyPublicWiFi application is just over 1 MB.

It is enough to download MyPublicWiFi and activate the access point in the contribution "Settings"by specifying a name and type of network, as well as a password. In another contribution Client Tab the user will see a list of all devices connected to the created hotspot.

Screenshots of the program

Wi-Fi Point is a great alternative to an expensive router. Using it, you can make a full-fledged Wi-Fi access point out of a laptop (you can find other programs for launching HotSpot on Windows and instructions for them), and then connect to it using a smartphone, tablet, etc. portable devices... It is very profitable and convenient: there is no need to purchase additional equipment, which often breaks down.

Once launched, the application will detect all network connections on this computer and select the active one among them. That is, you need to download Wi-Fi Point and run it - the program will do the rest by itself. Next, you just set the access point name, set the password (if necessary) and limit the number of devices that can simultaneously connect to the Wi-Fi.

Where can I use Wi-Fi Point? First of all, in a house or apartment, when the size of the room is relatively small, and the created Wi-Fi point will allow you to surf the Internet even in the kitchen. Also, the program will help you create a temporary network access point in a conference room, office or hotel room.

Other advantages of Wi-Fi Point are no less interesting:

• The program is very easy to use. It does not even require installation, the use of any special devices.
• To create a hotspot (another name for wi-fi point), you only need to set the SSID and password for the network. The name can be anything!
• 10 clients can simultaneously connect to the point created in the Wi-Fi Point program. This is maximum.
• You don't have to worry about the security of the transmitted data. If only because encryption is performed using the reliable WPA protocol
• In the status of the program, the user will be able to monitor the network data, its state (active or not), as well as the number of connected clients.