Sharing Wi-Fi from a TV to a Computer: All the Working Methods

To find out for sure whether your TV supports sharing:

1. Open Settings → Network → Advanced settings.
2. Look for the following items: Access point, Mobile hotspot or Wi-Fi Direct (Access Point Mode).
3. If there are no such options, proceed to alternative methods.

⚠️ Attention: On some TVs Samsung The hotspot function is blocked if the TV is connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi (not a cable). In this case, use Ethernet or USB modem.

2. Method 1: Enabling the hotspot in the TV menu (the easiest)

If your TV supports the hotspot feature, follow these instructions. An example is shown in Samsung QLED QN90C (2023), but the steps are similar for other models.

Step 1: Activating the hotspot

1. Press on the remote control Home → Settings (gear).
2. Go to General → Network → Mobile Hotspot.
3. Turn on the switch Mobile hotspot.
4. Ask network name (SSID) And password (minimum 8 characters, with numbers).

Step 2: Connecting the computer

• 💻 On Windows: Open Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi, select the network with the name of your TV and enter the password.
• 🍎 On macOS: Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar → select a network → enter the password.

Once connected, check your internet access by opening your browser. If pages don't load, restart your TV and computer.

The network name (SSID) matches the one indicated on the TV|

The password was entered correctly (case sensitive)|

The active hotspot indicator on the TV is lit (usually blue/green)|

The connection status on the computer is "Internet available" -->

⚠️ Attention: On LG webOS The hotspot automatically switches off after 30 minutes of inactivity. To avoid this, set the following in the network settings: Timeout: Never.

3. Method 2: Using Wi-Fi Direct (for older models)

If there is no "Mobile Hotspot" option in the menu, try Wi-Fi DirectThis method works on most Smart TV, but has limitations:

• ✅ Suitable for file transfer and local access (e.g. to DLNA server on TV).
• ❌ Doesn't provide internet access from a computer (only TV ↔ PC connection).

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

1. On TV: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct → turn on the function.
2. Remember the network name (eg. DIRECT-xx-LGTV123) and PIN code (if required).
3. On PC: Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click Setting up a new connection → Connecting to a wireless network manually.
5. Enter the network name from the TV and the PIN code (if any). Select the security type. WPA2-Personal.

For macOS the procedure is the same, but instead of "Control Panel" use System Preferences → Network.

4. Method 3: Sharing via USB cable (for advanced users)

This method is suitable if the TV is connected to the Internet via Ethernet, do you have one? USB cable with OTG support (usually USB-A → USB-A or USB-A → USB-C). It allows you to "forward" the Internet from the TV to the PC via a wire.

Requirements:

• 🔌 TV with a port USB 3.0 (usually blue) and support USB OTG.
• 💻 A computer with a network card that supports RNDIS (all modern PCs on Windows 10+ (they are suitable).

Step-by-step setup:

1. Connect your TV to the Internet via Ethernet (Necessarily!).
2. Insert the USB cable into the TV and PC port.
3. On TV: Settings → General → USB Options → USB Mode → select Network Adapter (RNDIS).
4. On PC: Wait for the driver to install Remote NDIS (Internet connection may be required to download).
5. Open Network connections (Win + R → ncpa.cpl) and check the new connection Ethernet 2 or USB RNDIS.

If the Internet does not appear, manually assign IP addresses:

On PC:
1. Open Network connections → right click on USB RNDIS → Properties.
2. Select Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → specify:
- IP address: 192.168.42.2
- Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
- Main gateway: 192.168.42.1
- DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)

⚠️ Attention: On macOS USB sharing via RNDIS is unstable. For a stable connection, use an adapter. USB-Ethernet (For example, TP-Link UE300) and connect the TV to the PC via Ethernet port.

5. How to speed up Wi-Fi distribution from your TV

Internet speeds when sharing from a TV are usually slower than through a router. Here's how to increase them:

A critical detail: if the TV is connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi (and not cable), the distribution speed automatically drops by 40-60% due to chipset limitations. For maximum speed use Ethernet on TV.

6. Solving typical errors

When sharing Wi-Fi from your TV, you may encounter specific errors. Here's how to fix them:

• 🔴 "Unable to connect to the network":
  1. Check that the TV is in the "On" mode. Access point, and not Wi-Fi Direct.
  2. Restart your TV (unplug it from the power outlet for 30 seconds).
  3. On your PC, delete the network from your saved connections and reconnect.
• 🟡 "Connected, but no internet access":
  1. Make sure the TV itself has access to the network (open YouTube on TV).
  2. On your PC, run the following in the command line:

     ipconfig /release
     ipconfig /renew

  3. If you use USB distribution, check what's on TV USB parameters chosen Network adapter mode.

⚠️ Attention: On some TVs Sony Bravia (2021–2022) When distributing Wi-Fi, access to Netflix And Disney+ Due to DRM restrictions. Solution: Connect to a different streaming network.

7. Alternative methods if your TV can't distribute Wi-Fi

If your TV doesn't support sharing, there are workarounds:

• 📶 Use TV as a repeater:
  1. Buy Wi-Fi adapter with repeater mode (For example, TP-Link TL-WA850RE).
  2. Connect the adapter to the TV via Ethernet.
  3. Set up the repeater to distribute the signal from the main router.
• 🖥️ Distribution from PC via TV (reverse method):
  1. Connect your PC to the Internet via Ethernet or 4G modem.
  2. Turn on on PC Mobile hotspot (Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile Hotspot).
  3. Connect the TV to the created network.