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Setting Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot on Windows with WireSock VPN Client ​

Version: December 2024

Introduction ​

Imagine you're on a family vacation in a country with strict internet restrictions, and accessing your favorite websites has become a challenge. To ensure your family stays connected to the open internet, you can use your Windows laptop or an affordable mini PC/NUC to create a Wi-Fi hotspot that routes traffic through a VPN. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Windows machine using the WireSock VPN Client.

Share Wi-Fi Hotsport with VPN Connection Schema

Prerequisites ​

  • A Windows 7 or later machine with Wi-Fi capabilities.
  • An active VPN subscription that supports WireGuard configurations.
  • The latest version of WireSock VPN Client installed on your machine.
  • Administrative privileges on the Windows machine.

Steps to Set Up the Wi-Fi Hotspot ​

1. Install WireSock VPN Client ​

If you haven't already installed the WireSock VPN Client, download it from wiresock.net and follow the installation instructions.

2. Configure WireSock VPN Client ​

  • Obtain the WireGuard configuration file (.conf) from your VPN provider.

  • Place the configuration file in the WireSock VPN Client's configuration directory, usually located at:

    C:\WireGuard\

  • Rename the configuration file to wg0.conf for simplicity.

3. Enable Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) ​

To share your VPN connection over Wi-Fi, you'll need to enable Internet Connection Sharing on the VPN network adapter.

  1. Open Network Connections:
  • Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.

  1. Right-click on the WireSock VPN Client network adapter (it may be named something like WireGuard Tunnel) and select Properties.

  2. Navigate to the Sharing tab.

  3. Check the box that says "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection."

  4. From the Home networking connection drop-down menu, select "Wi-Fi" or the name of the network adapter you plan to use for the hotspot.

  5. Click OK to save the settings.

4. Set Up the Wi-Fi Hotspot ​

There are two ways to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on Windows:

Method 1: Using the Built-in "Mobile Hotspot" Feature (Windows 10 and Newer) ​

If you are running Windows 10 or later, you can use the built-in "Mobile hotspot" feature without resorting to command-line tools.

  1. Open Settings → Network & Internet.
  2. Select Mobile hotspot from the left-hand menu.
  3. Enable the "Share my Internet connection with other devices" toggle.
  4. Choose which network you want to share (this should be the one that is connected through your WireSock VPN, after setting up ICS in the previous step).
  5. Set a network name (SSID) and password if desired.
  6. Devices can now connect to your newly created hotspot using the displayed network name and password.

Windows WiFI Hotspot Settings

Method 2: Using Command-Line Tools (for Windows 7, 8, or Command Line Enthusiasts) ​

For older Windows versions (7, 8) or if you simply prefer the command line, you can create a hotspot using netsh commands:

  1. Open Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator:
  • Press Win, type PowerShell, right-click on Windows PowerShell, and select "Run as administrator".
  1. Check if your network adapter supports hosting:
    powershell
    netsh wlan show drivers
  • Look for "Hosted network supported: Yes".
  1. Set up the hosted network:
    powershell
    netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourHotspotName key=YourPassword
  • Replace YourHotspotName with your desired Wi-Fi name.
  • Replace YourPassword with a strong password.
  1. Start the hosted network:
    powershell
    netsh wlan start hostednetwork

Once the hosted network is running, other devices can connect to it using the SSID and password you specified. Make sure you have enabled Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on your WireSock VPN adapter as described in the previous steps.

Use either of the above methods depending on your Windows version and personal preference. Once the hotspot is active and ICS is configured, all connected devices will route their traffic through the VPN.

5. Connect Devices to the Hotspot ​

  • On your family's devices, search for Wi-Fi networks.
  • Connect to the hotspot using the SSID (YourHotspotName) and password (YourPassword) you set earlier.

6. Start the WireSock VPN Client ​

On the same Windows machine where you've configured the Wi-Fi hotspot and enabled Internet Connection Sharing, you now need to start the WireSock VPN Client. This ensures that all connected devices will be routed through the secure VPN tunnel.

  1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator.

  2. Run the following command, adjusting the path to your WireGuard configuration file if necessary:

    cmd
    wiresock-client.exe run -config "C:\WireGuard\wg0.conf"

    Example:Open Command Prompt in Windows

    Note

    Adjust the path to your configuration file if it's different.

Once the WireSock VPN Client is running, it will establish a secure VPN tunnel. Any devices connected to your Wi-Fi hotspot will now have their traffic securely routed through the VPN connection.

7. Verify the Connection ​

  • On a device connected to the hotspot, open a web browser.
  • Visit Check IP to verify that the public IP address matches the VPN server's location.
  • Try accessing a website that was previously restricted to ensure the VPN is working correctly.

Troubleshooting ​

  • Hotspot Not Starting: If you receive an error when starting the hosted network, ensure your Wi-Fi adapter drivers are up to date.

  • No Internet Access: Double-check the Internet Connection Sharing settings and ensure that the VPN adapter is shared with the Wi-Fi hotspot.

  • Devices Can't Connect: Make sure the hotspot is active and that you're using the correct SSID and password.

  • If you face any challenges with your VPN after installation or updates, a system reboot can often resolve these problems. Should the difficulties persist, reach out for support by posting a message in our dedicated

Security Considerations ​

  • Always use a strong, unique password for your hotspot to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Keep your VPN and system software updated to the latest versions for security patches.

Conclusion ​

By setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot on your Windows machine with the WireSock VPN Client, you can provide secure and unrestricted internet access to your family while abroad. This setup ensures that all connected devices benefit from the VPN's encryption and location spoofing, allowing you to bypass regional restrictions seamlessly.