How to Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot From a WiFi Connection on Mac
you’re able to’t share a Wi-Fi connection via a Wi-Fi hotspot on Mac. Well, not natively. This may sound weird but Windows has had this functionality for a while and eventhe latest Android smartphoneslet you do that. In this article, we’ll create a WiFi hotspot on Mac using a Wi-Fi adaptor. Let’s Begin.
Before we begin
Let’s understand the problem first.
Macs, unlike Windows and Android, can not share a single Wi-Fi adapter. In simple words, the WiFI adapter on Mac only works in a single-mode, i.e. either it’ll be connected to a Wi-Fi network or creates its own WiFI hotspot. But it can’t do both at the same time.
We can get around this problem using a simple Wi-Fi adaptor. For this article, we are using thisTP-Link Nano USB Wifi Donglewhich costs around $13 on Amazon. Once you buy it, all the tools you need to share your Mac’s Wi-Fi connection are built right in.
Must Read:How to share Hotel Wi-Fi with multiple devices
Create and Share a Wi-Fi hotspot on a Mac
Grab your Wi-Fi adaptor and plug it to your Mac. If it isn’t detected automatically,install the appropriate driversfrom the website of your product.
Once you have the drivers and the application installed,open the application and connect to your home Wi-Fi networkusing the Wi-Fi adaptor. In my case, I have the application sits on the Menubar and I can access it easily.
Read:Best Calendar Apps that you can access from Menubar
Now, we have the TP-Link wireless adaptor acting as a WNIC so we’ll use it to access the internet andshare the internet access using Macbook’s WiFi. OpenSystem Preferenceson the computer andselect Sharing.
Under Internet Sharing,select 802.11 NICfrom the drop-down menu against “Share your connection from”. Now Wifi will appear in the box below.Check the box against Wi-Fiunder “To computers using”.
Now click on “Wi-Fi Options“. Here you may edit the name, password, and security of your Wi-Fi adaptor. After making the changes click “OK”.
ensure you turn the Internet Sharing option.Check the Internet Sharing boxto enable Wi-Fi sharing and you have a hotspot with active internet.
Also Read:Keyboard shortcuts for Mac that every user should know
This was a quick way to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Mac. The Wi-Fi adapter is an inexpensive way to achieve this, however, I’ll keep looking if we can achieve this without using any external hardware whatsoever. Try this on your Mac and let me know if you face any problems, I’d be happy to help you out.
Works as an in-house Writer at TechWiser and focuses on the latest smart consumer electronics. Closely follows the latest trends in consumer IoT and how it affects our daily lives. You can follow him on Twitter. Yes, he sometimes speaks in Third Person.
