This post is all about the new feature that is coming along with Windows 11. Instant hotspot allows users to create a virtual access point from their device wirelessly and share the internet connection with other devices which are connected to that access point. On the other hand, if you have a smartphone and you want to share your mobile data connection with other devices connected to your PC, then this feature is for you. With Windows 10, Microsoft added Edge as the default browser in its operating system.
Now, it seems like Microsoft might be looking beyond Edge as there’s a new feature called Windows 11 that seems to be taking center stage now. The name of the upcoming operating system has been confirmed by Microsoft on several occasions but what was not revealed was what specific features will be available once we upgrade our current computers to Windows 11. Well, today we learn about Windows 11 and that’s for sure; it appears as if we will get instant hotspot when upgrading to Windows 11.
Let’s take a look at everything that is happening around this feature.
What is Windows 11?
Windows 11 is the upcoming major Windows release and will be released as a service. This means, you will receive new features and improvements regularly via Windows Update or via the Windows Store, in case you’re a paid subscriber. On the other hand, if you own a device that is eligible to receive Windows 10, you can upgrade to Windows 10 using Windows Update, Media Creation Tool, or Windows Store.
Once you upgrade, you’ll receive Windows 10 as an installed operating system on the computer you upgraded to. Windows 10 is the newly released operating system by Microsoft and is being released as a service. Windows 10 will be supported for at least 10 years, during which Microsoft will release major updates as well as minor updates. Windows 10 is also designed for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets and is expected to be a single operating system that works on both PCs and smartphones.
Windows 11 Is Coming! Here’s When You Can Upgrade
Microsoft has revealed that it is working on the next version of Windows that is codenamed “Windows 11”. The company announced Windows 10 as the next version of Windows during its Build 2017 event. Windows 10 was released to the public on July 29, 2017 and it was available as a free upgrade for the users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
Now, it seems like Microsoft is gearing up to release Windows 11 at some point in the future as we have seen several leaks related to this release. There are many sources that have suggested that Windows 11 will be released in the first half of 2018 but nothing has been confirmed so far. According to the company, the development of Windows 11 is still in the early stages of development and it has not revealed any specific timeline for its release.
The only thing that has been mentioned by the company is that Windows 11 will be a successor to Windows 10 and it will be available as an upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
Windows 11 Instant Hotspot Feature Found in Build 9217
A new feature called Windows 11 Instant Hotspot has been found in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview builds. This feature will allow the users to create a virtual access point from their device wirelessly to share the internet connection with other devices which are connected to that access point. The interesting fact is that if you have a smartphone and you want to share your mobile data connection with other devices connected to your PC, then this feature is for you. The instant hotspot feature will allow you to create a virtual wireless network from your PC.
Now, you’ll need to connect the devices that you want to share the internet connection to the virtual wireless network you have created on your PC. Once you have connected the device to the virtual network, you can then share the internet connection with that device as if it was directly connected to your PC.
What’s New in Build 9499?
Microsoft has released Windows 10 Insider Build 9499 and it comes with a new feature that is expected to make its way to Windows 11.
The company has added support for Instant Hotspot in this build. The instant hotspot feature allows the users to create a virtual access point from their device wirelessly to share the internet connection with other devices which are connected to that access point. Now, it’s worth noting that the instant hotspot feature is only available to Windows 10 PCs running Insider Preview builds. Now, you might be wondering what’s new in build 9499 and if you’ve been using Windows 10 for a while, then you must have noticed that the Start menu has now been redesigned. Yes, the Start menu has been redesigned and Microsoft has added the ability for users to customize the Start menu.
You can now customize the Start menu by pinning the most-used apps and tiles.
Instant Hotspot and VPN Coming to Windows 11
According to a report by Windows Central, Microsoft is planning to bring the Instant Hotspot feature to Windows 11 along with the VPN feature.
The report suggests that the Windows 11 team is planning to add support for VPN protocol in the upcoming operating system. This means, users will be able to create a VPN connection using the built-in VPN gateway in Windows 10.
The advantage of using the VPN feature over Instant Hotspot is that it allows users to create a VPN connection even when the device doesn’t have an active internet connection.
Conclusion
We have seen a lot happening around the new feature, Windows 11 Instant Hotspot. From the name of the feature to the new feature found in the latest Windows 10 Preview build, it appears as if Microsoft is gearing up to release the next version of Windows that will be a successor of Windows 10. The instant hotspot feature will allow the users to create a virtual wireless network from their PC. Now, all you need to do is to connect your mobile devices to the virtual wireless network that was created by your PC. With Windows 11, Microsoft might also be planning to bring the instant hotspot feature along with the VPN feature to the operating system.