Share 3G/4G Internet: Windows Tablet Guide
Sharing Mobile Data from Windows Tablets
Many users today manage several devices but often possess only a limited number of mobile data plans. If your Windows tablet is the device currently associated with your data plan, a convenient solution is available.
This guide details how to effectively share your tablet’s mobile data connection with your other devices, expanding its utility.
Setting Up Data Sharing
The process involves creating a mobile hotspot directly on your Windows tablet. This allows other Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect through your tablet’s cellular data.
To begin, navigate to your Windows settings and locate the 'Network & Internet' section.
Configuring the Mobile Hotspot
Within 'Network & Internet', select 'Mobile hotspot'. Here, you can configure the hotspot's name (SSID) and password for secure access.
Ensure the 'Mobile hotspot' toggle is switched to the 'On' position to activate the feature.
Connecting Other Devices
On your other devices (smartphones, laptops, etc.), search for available Wi-Fi networks.
Select the hotspot name you configured on your Windows tablet and enter the password when prompted.
Verification and Considerations
Once connected, your devices will utilize the Windows tablet’s mobile data connection. Data usage will be counted against your existing mobile data plan.
Important Note: This method was successfully tested on a Samsung ATIV Tab, but should function similarly on other Windows-based tablets with cellular connectivity.
Monitoring data usage is recommended to avoid exceeding your plan’s limits.
Sharing Your Internet Connection From a Windows Tablet
To initiate the process, simultaneously press the Windows key and the 'R' key. This action will open a Run dialog box.
Within the Run box, type 'ncpa.cpl' and then press Enter to execute the command.
Once the Network Connections control panel window appears, locate your Wireless network adapter in the list. Right-click on it and select 'Properties' from the displayed menu.
Navigate to the 'Sharing' tab. Enable internet access for other devices by checking the first box. Then, ensure the second box is unchecked before clicking 'OK'.
Next, press the 'Win + X' key combination to open the WinX menu, located in the lower-left corner of your screen.
From this menu, launch either an administrative Command Prompt or a PowerShell prompt, depending on your Windows version (Windows 8.1 or later).
The initial step involves configuring the wireless network. This is accomplished using the following netsh command:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=”How-To Geek” key=”Pa$$w0rd$”
Remember to replace 'ssid' with your desired network name and 'key' with the password you want to assign for device connections.
It’s important to note that the created access point utilizes WPA2-PSK (AES) encryption for security.
To begin broadcasting the newly created network, allowing other devices to detect it, execute this command:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
The setup is now complete. To disable the network when no longer needed, simply run the following command:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
