One wired connection, several devices, no extra hardware. The built-in hotspot turns the PC into an access point — and needs a specific fix when Windows refuses to start it.
Turn on **Mobile hotspot** under Network settings, pick the source connection and the band, then check the client side against **192.168.137.1**. If it refuses to start, restart **WlanSvc** and the shared adapter.
**netsh wlan show drivers** names the radio capabilities. A driver that reports no hosted network support cannot run the hotspot, whatever the settings page offers.
netsh wlan show drivers | Select-String -Pattern 'Hosted network|Radio types supported'
Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name,InterfaceDescription,Status,LinkSpeed**Settings > Network & internet > Mobile hotspot** takes the SSID, the password and the source. Choose the connection the PC uses for internet, not the adapter you are broadcasting on.
start ms-settings:network-mobilehotspot**5 GHz** gives more speed and less interference but shorter range. When the PC reaches the internet over Wi-Fi itself, the hotspot usually has to stay on the other band.
netsh wlan show interfaces | Select-String -Pattern 'Channel|Radio type|Band'The failure is almost always a stopped service or a stale virtual adapter. Restart **WlanSvc**, then disable and re-enable the shared adapter so Windows recreates it.
Restart-Service WlanSvc -Force
Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object Name -like '*Local Area Connection*' | Disable-NetAdapter -Confirm:$false
Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object Name -like '*Local Area Connection*' | Enable-NetAdapterConnect a phone, then read its address and gateway. Clients get an address in **192.168.137.0/24** from the ICS service; a 169.254 address means no DHCP answer.
ipconfig | Select-String -Pattern 'IPv4|Default Gateway'
ping 192.168.137.1
Test-NetConnection 192.168.137.1 -Port 80 -InformationLevel QuietWindows drops the hotspot when the machine sleeps or when the adapter saves power. Turn that off for the duration, and switch the hotspot off when you are done.
Get-NetAdapterPowerManagement -Name 'Wi-Fi' | Select-Object AllowComputerToTurnOffDevice
Get-NetAdapterPowerManagement -Name 'Wi-Fi' | Set-NetAdapterPowerManagement -AllowComputerToTurnOffDevice DisabledThe upstream connection or the ICS service is the problem. Confirm the PC browses, check the Internet Connection Sharing service, and reselect the source connection in the hotspot page.
A VPN or a second virtual adapter owns the default route. Disconnect the VPN, then enable the hotspot again.
Band mismatch. Switch the hotspot to 2.4 GHz and confirm the SSID is not hidden; older phones cannot see 5 GHz channels above 100.
Expected with Wi-Fi upstream. Move to a wired uplink, or accept the radio sharing its time between client and access point.
No. It uses the connection the PC already has. On a metered mobile connection, set the upstream as metered so Windows limits background traffic.
Yes, they share 192.168.137.0/24. If you do not want that, keep the hotspot off when you are not using it.
Turn the Mobile hotspot toggle off in Settings, then re-enable adapter power management with Set-NetAdapterPowerManagement -AllowComputerToTurnOffDevice Enabled. The virtual adapter disappears on its own.
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