Windows Hotspot Without Internet Instant

Windows does not make this feature obvious. To enable a hotspot without internet, you must dig into the Mobile Hotspot settings and toggle "Share my internet connection" to "Off."

Select your PC name at the top, then go to .

: Type netsh wlan show drivers . Look for "Hosted network supported: Yes." windows hotspot without internet

Under "Share my internet connection from," select your new . Toggle the Mobile hotspot switch to On . Prevent Auto-Shutdown :

Keep in mind that this method has some limitations: Windows does not make this feature obvious

By default, Windows turns off hotspots if no data is flowing. To stop this, expand the in the Mobile Hotspot settings and disable the Power Saving toggle. Method 2: Command Prompt (The "Hosted Network" Method)

To create a hotspot without internet, you'll need to use a feature called "ad-hoc" networking. This allows devices to connect to your computer without an active internet connection. Look for "Hosted network supported: Yes

Of course, creating such a hotspot in Windows is not as straightforward as clicking a single button. The native "Mobile Hotspot" feature in Windows 10 and 11 is designed to share an existing internet connection. To achieve a pure, offline hotspot, one must often use the command line or third-party utilities. The classic method involves using netsh wlan set hostednetwork and netsh wlan start hostednetwork (in older versions) or, more reliably, using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in a specific configuration where the shared connection is a dummy adapter with no internet access. Alternatively, open-source tools like "Maryfi" or even scripting a DHCP server via Python can accomplish the task. This technical hurdle reveals an interesting design bias: Microsoft assumes a hotspot’s primary purpose is internet egress. But for the savvy user, bypassing this assumption unlocks the deeper potential of the offline network.