Comments for

Turn Your Windows 7 Computer Into a WiFi Router In 5 Minutes, Free & No Hardware

2009-10-29T04:35:21Z

Connectify.me is a new service we just found out about. They've sussed out how to make any Windows 7 computer into a WiFi hotspot. Since we just installed Windows 7 on a spare laptop, we figured it was about time to make Windows do something cool, so we installed the app.

We were quite literally up and running with other devices connected in five minutes. In fact, this post is being published right now on a Connectify.me-powered connection. Windows 7 users have got to try this app. You never know when you'll get to save the day by letting other users share your Internet connection.

]]> Speaking of which, use cases we can think of right now run the gamut between Sticking It To The Man and Violating My ISP's TOS; nevertheless, it's an interesting, fun little hack that should've been done long ago.

Installation is simple. Go to the website, click the big, shiny button, run the .exe file, follow the prompt. You'll then see a Connectify logo in the notification tray. It's party time! Choose a name, set up a password, and click the big, shiny button. Congratulations. You're now a software-based wireless router. It took about five very obvious clicks and was truly so easy a caveman could do it.

This is almost as much fun as that MiFi we played with a while ago. The main difference is that the MiFi creates an Internet connection for 3-5 users using cellular networks, and Connectify allows multiple users to piggyback off a single connection. Oh, and the MiFi and similar devices cost a bit - or a lot - to buy and maintain, but Connectify is free to install and run.

Connectify runs on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 r2. Why no other Windows OSes, you ask? "Connectify depends on improvements made in Windows 7 to operate," reads the site's FAQ. "Frankly, Windows 7 is such a big improvement that we suggest you're better off upgrading than waiting for us to get all this working on an older version of Windows."

Three cheers for Windows for getting their act together on the OS front, and many thanks to Connectify for bringing us all n-for-the-price-of-1 WiFi!

Comment from Teja Cool Brave on 2011-03-08

2011-03-09T05:14:54Z

i dont have a wifi router but i have a broadband connection speeds upto 786kbps can i use it as wifi in my mobile with connectify

Comment from Nabeel on 2011-03-02

2011-03-02T15:32:51Z

This one is much better. without any problems... and very simple !
http://virtualrouter.codeplex..../

Comment from Dubai Computer on 2011-02-23

2011-02-24T07:54:33Z

you can use your computer (only for computer running Windows 7) to create or set up your very own Wi-FI hotspot, sharing your Internet connection with family members, friends and co-workers.

Comment from Vikas on 2011-01-08

2011-01-08T20:48:30Z

realy Wi-Fi in windows 7 can interest use very and more information visits
http://www.latesthub.in/set-su...

Comment from wlan_expert on 2010-12-02

2010-12-03T07:36:54Z

Try http://wlancontroller.com to turn windows 7 into hotspot

Comment from agus on 2010-11-22

2010-11-22T18:08:29Z

too easy to make a hoc wifi hotspot...thanks ya its work in may laptop

Comment from Rohit @techkol on 2010-11-18

2010-11-19T06:06:00Z

wow... its too easy to make a hoc wifi hotspot...thanks

Comment from Xantes on 2010-08-17

2010-08-17T21:23:15Z

Actually Connectify application is for no use not having the PPPoE feature implemented since sharing a connection where there is a router behind can be simple done in windows 7 WITHOUT Connectify application by all means. The real help of Connectify would have been when there is no router at all and your are bound to share an Internet connection over PPPoE protocol!
Not that wouldn't be possible but why would I want to share a connection that can be multiplied by a router when the actual needs are: when I don't have a router, when I don't have the financial possibilities to buy a router or any other objectives situation where a router is out of the question?! Can you argue with that?!

Comment from neo on 2010-08-09

2010-08-09T13:16:33Z

im goin to try it : )

Comment from Alerr on 2010-08-04

2010-08-04T15:04:32Z

Das sind sehr gut!

Comment from Indika on 2010-06-24

2010-06-24T10:49:35Z

I have installed this in my lap and I can see & connect to the hotspot via my iPhone. But connection loose evertime I goes to surf internet. Please help on this matter.

Comment from Heaven's on 2010-06-14

2010-06-15T04:47:49Z

This may seem like an assinine question, however,is connectify.me serve as the same function as Bzeek? Is Bzeek only free for a week? If so, can you acquire additional time via using multiple email accounts? Are there other free Wifi connecting services such as this that I may connect to the internet for free like I am doing at the present time without having to depend upon a weak connection from some unsecured wifi? Thank you for your time and patience. I look foward to the answers to the questions.

God Bless

Comment from Faizan on 2010-06-04

2010-06-04T12:20:03Z

What about the users of WINDOWS XP... How they can make their XP laptops a wifi hotspot ?

Comment from free wifi on 2010-05-15

2010-05-15T08:55:12Z

If the 3G network with a wireless wifi would be better!

WiFi signals are available almost everywhere but most of them are useless to us as they are Secured connections that required a password to access. And most WiFi Adapters in the market and in Laptops have a range of only 20 to 30 meters, limiting the number of WiFi connections available to you.

website:http://www.wifirobin.com/

Comment from lina on 2010-05-04

2010-05-04T09:03:24Z

help me. i've already installed connectify, but when i want to start hotspot, klik and it failed.. the statement is

"failure to configure a private interface. make sure your wireless card is turned on, and the virtual wi-fi miniport is not disabled"

i've already checked my wi-fi, and it's on... enabled.. any possibilities?

Comment from Vinay on 2010-03-29

2010-03-30T05:43:25Z

Hi friends pls tell me how to troubleshoot my laptop's wifi connection? I'm using Windows 7 OS on a Acer laptop. it can detect wifi but I can't connect to any of it even if it doesn't have password. Please help me with this.

Comment from John on 2010-03-27

2010-03-28T04:59:25Z

Needs an option for WEP mode Access Point since some devices are incompatible with WPA security.

Comment from jeramy on 2010-02-14

2010-02-15T05:07:12Z

thanks so much.i can now connect my ps3/360 via wifi using connectify...awesome and its free

Comment from SB Global Infosoft on 2009-10-31

2009-10-31T13:41:26Z

This is cool and amazing!Should it be Windows 7 how about if I upgrade the Windows with an old hardware? How come this has never been published or maybe I missed it?

Comment from niceone on 2009-10-30

2009-10-30T12:59:47Z

Zonerider works on any computer, and any windows OS.
http://www.zonerider.com

Comment from Charlie Anzman on 2009-10-29

2009-10-30T03:55:25Z

Incredibly simple. Great stuff

Comment from Alan on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T17:16:16Z

Smart move, as Macs do this routinely. For example, I work in an XP gov't environment, and we got a Mac mini so we have our own WiFi on this floor of our tower, as well as to test our web page as seen by citizens who use Macs. Super handy! Then little Mac help, as it will take forever to get 7 into gov't with all the legacy apps.

Comment from CrowdLensResponse on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T15:52:15Z

@CrowdLens: You're in starbucks, as an AT&T customer, so you get free WiFi. Your friends brings a laptop, but isn't, and doesn't want to pay.

You log in, and begin broadcasting as a hub. Since his traffic goes through your computer, he surfs for free.

A bit of a 'nefarious' use case, but perhaps it will get your imagination going?

Comment from CrowdLens on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T15:21:16Z

What is the use case? I mean, if my laptop is connected to a wireless network, and my friends' laptops are connected to MY wireless network created by this application, then why couldn't my friends just directly connect to the same connection I am?

Comment from Jonathan on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T13:34:36Z

This is different from just setting up an ad-hoc network that you could already do with previous Windows OS's. Ad-hoc networks require a dedicated wireless card to broadcast from, meaning you needed a wired line to receive data, or a second wireless card. Now with this app, you're able to receive and broadcast on a single card.

And other devices that have issues with Ad-hoc networks like iPhones are running flawlessly for me with Connectify.

Comment from Ron Schott on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T13:05:59Z

So what sort of range does your laptop-based router have? Just a few feet or hundreds of feet?

Comment from Idan on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T10:39:07Z

Cool app!

Bzeek is doing it and more and works on XP,
Vista and Windows 7.
See http://www.Bzeek.com

Comment from Crazyhorse on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T09:27:05Z

This is cool and amazing!Should it be Windows 7 how about if I upgrade the Windows with an old hardware? How come this has never been published or maybe I missed it?

Aside from having a Windows software installed in my computer how about for Linux? Is there any magic as well?

Thanks!

Comment from Stefan on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T07:10:56Z

Wow, you're lucky. I thought this heaviliy depends on the device chip and available drivers. But very nice tool, i think i'll try it once my W7 is installed.

Comment from Israel on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T06:38:40Z

But WLAN drivers that support Vwifi are not available yet so Readwriteweb got a gem here.

I am excited about this.

Comment from dylan oliver on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T05:32:56Z

ummmm .. how is this fundamentally different from using internet connection sharing - a feature that's been in windows for ages?

Comment from Yong C. Lee on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T05:03:55Z

That's pretty sweet -- MS producing a little magic! Are there any other software solutions similar to this I wonder...