For years, Windows has allowed users to share an internet connection using a wireless network adapter. On Linux, however, setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot hasn’t always been straightforward. In the past, users were required to manually use the terminal, bridge network interfaces, configure IPtables, and more. Fortunately, in recent Ubuntu versions, creating a shareable Wi-Fi hotspot is now simple and can be done directly from the graphical user interface (GUI). This guide will walk you through how to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot on Ubuntu using both the GUI and the command line.

Table of Contents

• Setting Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Creating a Wi-Fi Hotspot via Bluetooth Tethering
• Establishing a Wi-Fi Hotspot Using the Terminal

Setting Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot

To turn your Ubuntu machine into a Wi-Fi hotspot, you must first connect it to an internet source. Note that enabling a hotspot disables your Wi-Fi adapter’s ability to connect to other wireless networks simultaneously.

The easiest method is connecting via an Ethernet cable. Start by disabling your Wi-Fi through the Quick Settings panel located in the top-right corner of your desktop.

On the lower-left side of the menu, click the Wi-Fi toggle to turn it off.

Now plug in your Ethernet cable and verify that your system recognizes the wired connection.

Ensure your internet connection is active by opening a terminal and running:

<code>ping -c 5 maketecheasier.com</code>

Once confirmed, you can share this connection over Wi-Fi. Click the Quick Settings menu again, then select the Gear icon to access System Settings.

In the left-hand sidebar, choose the Wi-Fi section and toggle Wi-Fi back on.

Then, click the Turn On Wi-Fi Hotspot… option.

A pop-up window will appear, prompting you to configure your hotspot. You can set a custom password or leave it blank to generate a random one.

Click Turn On to activate the hotspot.

To verify it's working, try connecting a device to the new network and browse the web.

FYI: discover how to troubleshoot a malfunctioning Wi-Fi setup on Linux.

Creating a Wi-Fi Hotspot via Bluetooth Tethering

Besides Ethernet, you can also use Bluetooth tethering to share your internet connection. This is ideal when you're mobile and your phone can't create its own hotspot.

Begin by opening System Settings and selecting the Bluetooth option from the left panel.

Enable Bluetooth by toggling the switch in the window’s title bar.

On your phone, go to Settings > Connected devices (on Android 13), and turn on Bluetooth.

Tap Pair new device.

Your phone will now be discoverable. On your Ubuntu system, click your phone’s name in the Bluetooth window.

Next, open the Quick Settings menu on Ubuntu and select Tether. This establishes a Bluetooth tethering connection between your phone and computer.

Test the connection by pinging a website:

<code>ping -c 5 maketecheasier.com</code>

Return to System Settings, go to the Wi-Fi section, and ensure Wi-Fi is enabled.

Click Turn On Wi-Fi Hotspot…, review the settings, and click Turn On to launch the hotspot.

Confirm functionality by connecting a device and accessing the internet.

Good to know: learn how Traceroute can help diagnose common Linux network problems.

Establishing a Wi-Fi Hotspot Using the Terminal

Ubuntu also supports creating Wi-Fi hotspots via the command line, which is especially useful on systems without a GUI.

First, ensure your computer has internet access via another interface—Ethernet or Bluetooth tethering.

Open a terminal and list all available network devices:

<code>nmcli d</code>

Identify your wireless interface from the output. For example, mine is labeled “wlp0s20f3.”

Run the following command to create the hotspot connection:

<code>nmcli con add type wifi \<br>ifname wlan0 \<br>con-name my-hotspot \<br>autoconnect yes \<br>ssid MyHotspot \<br>mode ap</code>

Next, configure the security and sharing settings:

<code>nmcli con modify my-hotspot \<br>802-11-wireless.mode ap \<br>802-11-wireless-security.key-mgmt wpa-psk \<br>ipv4.method shared \<br>802-11-wireless-security.psk 'YOUR-WIFI-PASSWORD'</code>

Note: your password must be at least 8 characters long.

Finally, activate the hotspot:

<code>nmcli con up my-hotspot</code>

Test the connection by linking a device to the new network.

This built-in hotspot feature is a practical solution when a router isn’t available. However, dedicated routers offer more advanced features and better performance. Consider exploring the best custom router firmware options to enhance your networking setup.

Image credit: Praveen kumar Mathivanan via Unsplash and Wikimedia Commons. All edits and screenshots by Ramces Red.

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