And if you chose a tethered method, like USB or Ethernet, you’ll need to plug the device into your Mac.

If you choose to connect via Bluetooth, go to Bluetooth settings instead. All you have to do on the device you want to connect to is go to its Wi-Fi settings, choose the network name you created and type in the password. Now, go back to find the Internet Sharing pane and switch it on.Click on the information icon menu next to Internet Sharing and choose an option.In the right part of the window, locate Internet Sharing.Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General.For this example, we’ll assume that the Mac is connected to a router with an Ethernet cable and that the other device is going to connect to Mac’s hotspot over Wi-Fi. Remember, if your Mac is connected to the internet using Wi-Fi, it can’t connect to the device using it as a hotspot via Wi-Fi. How to create a hotspot on your Macįirst, you’ll need to decide how you want to share your Mac’s internet connection. But given how old Lion is now, that shouldn’t be too much of a restriction. The other main limitation is that the Mac you use as a hotspot must be running macOS Lion or later. If you use your Mac’s Wi-Fi to connect to a router and connect to another device, its bandwidth will be split between incoming and outgoing connections. So, if your Mac is connected to a Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to share that connection using Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, or Thunderbolt.Īpple doesn’t explain the reason for this limitation, but it’s likely to be related to bandwidth. The most important one is that if your Mac is connected to the internet using Wi-Fi, you can’t connect the other device to it via Wi-Fi.

In this case, your Mac is connected to the internet, and another device can connect to it and share its internet connection. What do we mean when we say Wi-Fi hotspot? Any device connected to the internet to which another device can connect via Wi-Fi and share its internet connection. In this article, we’ll show you how to share your Mac’s internet connection with other devices and turn your Mac into a Wi-Fi hotspot. It has a wealth of options for sharing files, printers, your Mac’s screen, and network connections. The Sharing pane in macOS System Settings is one of the most overlooked tools on the Mac. But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.įeatures described in this article refer to the MacPaw site version of CleanMyMac X. So here’s a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article.

Can you use mac as hotspot