Sometimes you will need to let your friends or family share your internet connection on the go. Other times, you might need devices with no VPN capabilities to be routed through a VPN. In such instances, you will need to create a virtual router. If you are a Windows user in such a situation, we have created this article to guide you through the process of creating and setting up a virtual router in your Windows machine. Please do give it a read.
Reasons to Create a Virtual Router
How to Create a Virtual Router in Windows
Below, we have outlined three different ways to create a virtual router in Windows. The first method uses a command line tool to set up a virtual router. However, your wireless device needs to be able to support the function. The second method outlined uses Windows settings to create a portable hotspot. In the third method, we will look at third-party softwares design to provide you with this functionality.
Using the Command Prompt
The latest versions of Windows has a built-in command line tool that lets you connect to a wireless network, while at the same time also creating a virtual wireless network with the same adapter. If your device supports it, you can use this method to set up a virtual router in Windows. Identify if the parameter Hosted network supported is flagged Yes. If Hosted network supported is flagged Yes, then you can use the command netsh to set up a virtual router. If it is flagged No, then you can try updating the device driver and see if that changes the situation. Now execute the command netsh wlan show drivers at the command prompt and see if Hosted network supported is toggled to Yes. If it is still No, you will instead need to turn on Mobile Hotspot from Settings. If your device supports hosted network, then please follow the steps below:
Mobile Hotspot in Windows Settings
If your device does not support hosted network, you might still be able to turn on Mobile Hotpot from Settings, allowing other devices to connect to the internet. To turn off the hotspot, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot and toggle it to Off.
Using Third Party Apps
You can also configure a virtual router in Windows using certain third-party apps. In the example below, we have selected Virtual Router, which is a free and open-source application.
