How to Use Mac as a Hotspot
Many people tend to overlook some of the rarely used features on their Mac. For example, the Sharing panel in System Preferences may reveal a wide range of new features that you are not familiar with. One of these allows you to use your Mac as a hotspot. If you are not familiar with what this means, then let us explain. Basically, this feature turns your Mac into a router – other devices can connect to the WiFi network your Mac runs. This can be very useful if your wireless router broke or if you want to share your Internet connection with a visitor. However, there is one requirement – in order to use your Mac as a hotspot, you will need to connect to the Internet via a cable.
It possible to run a hotspot via a WiFi-connected Mac, but this will limit the connectivity options of other devices. In order to use the hotspot, they will need to connect via Thunderbolt, USB, or Bluetooth.
How to Use your Mac as a Hotspot
Let's assume that you want to run a WiFi hotspot from your Mac. To do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Open Apple Menu -> System Preferences.Select Sharing -> Internet Sharing.
- Use the dropdown menu to choose Share Your Connection From -> Ethernet Adapter. Note that this will only be available if your Mac is connected to the Internet via a cable.
- Select To Computers Using -> Wi-Fi.
- Configure the name and password of your WiFi network.
- Confirm the changes and make sure to select the box next to Internet Sharing. Finally, click Start.
Your other devices should now be able to connect. If you want to turn off the sharing, then go to System Preferences -> Sharing and uncheck the box you checked in step six.
Keep in mind that while using your Mac as a hotspot can be very convenient, it may take its toll on your connection speed. If you connect too many devices or someone tries to download a large file, you may feel a drastic drop in the speed of your connection. Experiencing issues with your Internet? Learn How to Optimize Your Internet Speed.
