How to Make Your Laptop a Wi-Fi Extender
In today’s world where almost everything is connected to the internet, having a stable and strong Wi-Fi connection is crucial. However, sometimes we may experience weak or spotty Wi-Fi signals in certain areas of our homes or offices. This is where a Wi-Fi extender comes in handy. A Wi-Fi extender is an easy and effective way to extend the coverage of your existing Wi-Fi network. But did you know that you can turn your laptop into a Wi-Fi extender? In this article, we will show you how to make your laptop a Wi-Fi extender.
What you’ll need:
– A laptop running on Windows 10
– A strong Wi-Fi signal from your main router
– A secondary device like a smartphone or another laptop to test the connection
Step 1: Check your laptop’s capabilities
Before you begin, it’s essential to check if your laptop is compatible with the feature that allows it to become a Wi-Fi extender. To do this, open the Command Prompt on your computer by pressing the “Windows Key + R” and typing “cmd” in the Run dialog box.
Once the Command Prompt window is open, type “netsh wlan show drivers” and hit enter. Look for the “Hosted network supported” line and make sure it says “Yes.” If this line doesn’t appear in the results, your laptop cannot function as a Wi-Fi extender.
Step 2: Create a hosted network
The next step is to create a hosted network on your laptop, which will act as a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices. To do this, enter the following command in the Command Prompt window: “netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Wi-Fi name key=password.” Replace “Wi-Fi name” with the desired network name and “password” with the desired password. Hit enter to execute the command.
Step 3: Start the hosted network
Now that the hosted network is created, it’s time to start it. Enter the command “netsh wlan start hostednetwork” and press enter to begin the network.
Step 4: Connect your secondary device to the laptop
You can now connect your secondary device to the laptop’s Wi-Fi network. Search for available Wi-Fi networks on your secondary device, and you should see the network name you set up earlier. Enter the password you chose, and your secondary device should be connected to the network.
Step 5: Test the connection
Once your secondary device is connected to the network, it’s time to test the connection. Check the signal strength and speed of the connection to see if it’s better than your main Wi-Fi network. If it’s better, you can use your laptop as a Wi-Fi extender to extend the coverage of your Wi-Fi network.
In conclusion, turning your laptop into a Wi-Fi extender is a simple and cost-effective solution to boost your Wi-Fi signal. With just a few steps, you can create a Wi-Fi hotspot and extend the coverage of your existing network. So, the next time you experience weak or spotty Wi-Fi signals in your home or office, don’t despair. Grab your laptop and follow these steps to make it a Wi-Fi extender.