The Best Way to Make Your Mac a Wi-Fi Hotspot

March 20, 2023 By Prelo Con

(Image Credit Google)

Photo Credit: Setapp You can link your other devices to your Mac and share its Internet connection by using it as a wireless hotspot. Similar to tethering your iPhone, in that regard. This is especially helpful if your desktop or MacBook Mac is linked via Ethernet to a wired network port. It works nearly exactly like a wireless router when you connect your wireless devices to your Mac and share the wired Internet connection with them.

Setup Your Hotspot and Allow Internet Sharing

A facet of your Mac's sharing functions in macOS is the Wi-Fi hotspot option. It may be accessed by going to System Settings > General > Sharing, click the Apple menu and choose "System Settings.” The "Internet Sharing" option will be visible in the list. You need to set everything up before you switch it on, so resist the impulse to do so right now. Top 6 Ways to Fix Mac Not Connecting to Hotspot - Guiding Tech

Top 6 Ways to Fix Mac Not Connecting to Hotspot - Guiding Tech

Photo Credit: Guiding Tech The Internet connection you want to share with the devices can now be chosen. To view a list of available connections and destinations, click the I information button next to Internet Sharing. Be warned that after you've linked to a Wi-Fi network, you cannot share it. You must share a different kind of connection if you wish to share through Wi-Fi. Let's take the scenario where your Mac is using an Ethernet adapter to access the Internet. On the list at the top of the window, choose "Ethernet Adapter," and then choose "Share" to allow "Wi-Fi" to use the wired connection. Choose "iPhone USB" at the top, then check "Wi-Fi" in the menu that appears if you wish to share your iPhone's cellular data connection with another device using a USB-to-Lightning cord. Also Read: How to reduce MacBook battery drain by using this app? To set up your Wi-Fi hotspot, click the "Wi-Fi Options" option at the bottom of the window. Choose the ideal Wi-Fi channel and the network name of your choice. To maximize compatibility with older devices, use the "Security" box and choose "WPA2/WPA3 Personal" (you can also choose WPA3-only, which is more secure). Go to System Settings > General > Sharing and turn on the "Internet Sharing" toggle. Your connection will be shared if you approve the modification using your fingerprint or the admin password.

You have an option to share the Wi-Fi Connection

The Wi-Fi interface on your Mac can only do one of these things at once: it can either join to a Wi-Fi network or run its own network. This means that you cannot share a Wi-Fi network's connection while also connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Sure, there are situations when you might wish to do this. For instance, if you're staying somewhere where the Wi-Fi network only enables you to connect one device, like a hotel.

Photo Credit: Zapier Without using an additional adapter, you can share your current wireless network by selecting "Wi-Fi" as the source connection and doing so in a different way. This might be done using a cable with the "iPhone USB" option to connect to your iPhone, a Thunderbolt cable to connect to another Mac (using "Thunderbolt bridge"), or plain old Ethernet. A Bluetooth PAN (Personal Area Network) can be created on some earlier Mac models, but the M1 and M2 Macs do not have this feature. Due to the Bluetooth pairing procedure, these networks can be slower to connect to and can't match Wi-Fi speeds, but they may be a little lighter on your Mac's battery life.

Solving common connection-sharing issues

Remember that you can always go back to System Settings > General > Sharing and click on the I next to Internet Sharing to reach the "Wi-Fi Options" panel if you have problems connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot you have made. You can then change the hotspot's name, reset your password, or lower the security level. Even though you might like to utilize a VPN at all times, if you are experiencing problems connecting, you might think about turning it off. Once any client devices have joined, you can always attempt re-enabling your VPN connection. How a VPN (Virtual Private Network) Works | HowStuffWorks

How a VPN (Virtual Private Network) Works | HowStuffWorks

Photo Credit: Computer| HowStuffWorks If anything isn't working as it should if you're using a cable connection to span the distance, try replacing your Ethernet or Lightning cable. Particularly Ethernet cables can deteriorate over time. It's generally a good idea to keep a few extra cables on hand that you can use later on. It's probably time to discard your Lightning cable if it begins to fray.

By Prelo Con

Following my passion by reviewing latest tech. Just love it.

The Best Way to Make Your Mac a Wi-Fi Hotspot

Setup Your Hotspot and Allow Internet Sharing

You have an option to share the Wi-Fi Connection

Solving common connection-sharing issues

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