We are all familiar with the concept of using a smartphone as a personal hotspot to share mobile data with a laptop. But did you know you can do the exact reverse with your Mac? macOS includes a built-in feature called Internet Sharing that allows you to turn your Mac into a fully functional Wi-Fi router for other devices.
This is incredibly useful in several specific scenarios. For example, if you are in a hotel room that only provides a single wired Ethernet connection, you can plug that cable into your Mac and broadcast a wireless signal for your iPhone, iPad, and your partner’s devices to use simultaneously.
In this guide, we will show you exactly how to set up Internet Sharing on your Mac and protect your new hotspot with a secure password.
How to Turn Your Mac into a Wi-Fi Hotspot
Before you begin, it is important to understand the one major limitation of this feature: Your Mac cannot broadcast a Wi-Fi signal if it is actively using Wi-Fi to connect to the internet. You must be receiving your internet connection from a different source (like a wired Ethernet cable or a USB tether) in order to share it via Wi-Fi.
- Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings (or “System Preferences” on older versions of macOS).
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on General, then select Sharing on the right.
- Look for the option labelled Internet Sharing in the list of services. Do not click the toggle switch to turn it on just yet; instead, click the small “i” (info) button next to it to configure the settings.
- A pop-up window will appear. Look at the Share your connection from dropdown menu. Select the source of your internet (for example, “Ethernet” or “USB 10/100/1000 LAN”).
- In the To computers using box underneath, check the box next to Wi-Fi.
- Click the Wi-Fi Options… button at the bottom of the window.
- This is where you configure your hotspot:
- Network Name: Give your new Wi-Fi network a name (e.g., “My Mac Hotspot”).
- Security: Change this from “None” to WPA2/WPA3 Personal. (Never leave a hotspot unsecured).
- Password: Type a strong password that your other devices will use to connect.
- Click OK to save your password settings.
- Click Done to close the info window.
- Finally, click the toggle switch next to Internet Sharing to turn the service On. Click “Start” on the confirmation warning that appears.
How to Connect to Your Mac’s Hotspot
Once Internet Sharing is actively running, a small upward-pointing arrow will appear inside the Wi-Fi icon on your Mac’s menu bar, indicating that the computer is actively broadcasting.
Grab your iPhone, iPad, or any other wireless device. Open their Wi-Fi settings, and you will see the network name you just created appear in the list of available networks. Tap it, enter the secure password you created, and you will instantly be sharing your Mac’s internet connection.
When you are finished, simply go back to the Sharing menu on your Mac and toggle Internet Sharing off to return your Wi-Fi card to its normal operating mode.
