Hosted Network Common Problems and Solutions
Are you having trouble connecting your devices to your hosted network? If yes, then you have come to the right place. A hosted network can be very useful for sharing internet around your home or office. It allows you to connect all your devices, including phones, tablets and other computers, to the internet via one access point. However, occasionally, you may encounter problems. A lot of people encounter the hosted network can’t connect issue on a daily basis. In this article, we discuss some of the most common Microsoft Hosted Network problems and how to resolve them. The article is divided into the following sections;
Common Hosted Network Problems
A hosted network can be a wonderful thing. It allows you to save on data by sharing internet across your home or office. If you have an unlimited wired plan on your computer, as an example, you can create a hosted network to share this internet connection with other devices. But you may encounter a few problems along the way. The following are the most common hosted network problems;
1. Microsoft hosted network could not be started
That’s the first hosted network problem that you may encounter. Perhaps you have created your hosted network and everything has been working properly all along. But all of a sudden, you get the message; Microsoft hosted network could not be started. The entire thing can be frustrating. So, what can you do? Read the solution to this issue.
2. Can’t connect to my hosted network
The can’t connect to my hosted network issue also tends to be common. What happens is that you will have started the Microsoft hosted network just fine. However, you will encounter problems when trying to connect your devices. No matter what you do, you will not be able to connect to your hosted network. So, how do you proceed from there? Here is the solution to the cant connect to my hosted network issue.
3. Hosted network connected but no internet access
That’s the second type of problem that you are likely to encounter with regard to your hosted network. In this instance, starting your hosted network is no problem. You get the message that your hosted network has successfully been started. However, when you connect your devices, you discover that the network has no internet access.
Again, this can be frustrating. The problem usually appears the first time that you set up your hosted network. After going through all the recommended steps on how to set up a hosted network, you discover that the network does not have internet connectivity. So, what can you do in this case? Read the solution to the hosted network no internet access issue.
4. Hosted network working on some devices but not on others
This is another problem that I have encountered why using a Microsoft hosted network. There are instances where a hosted network will be working just fine on some devices. However, you will not be able to connect other devices.
At one point I created a hosted network to share internet with everyone else in the office. However, I soon discovered that though others were getting connected on their devices, the hosted network was not working on MY own tablet. Never mind that it was my laptop that was acting as a hot spot! Should you encounter this issue, here are the solutions.
5. Missing hosted network driver Windows 10
You may also encounter problems if the hosted network driver is missing from your Windows 10 computer. The driver usually comes installed on all Windows 10 computers. However, if you have deleted it accidentally or deliberately, then you will not be able to start the hosted network on your PC. You will have the can’t find Microsoft hosted network virtual adapter issue.
Solutions to the Common Hosted Network Problems
Those are the most common issues that you are likely to encounter when operating a Microsoft hosted network. But what are the solutions. What can you do to ensure that you continue sharing internet around your home or office. Each of the problems mentioned about has it’s solutions. Find them below;
Solution if you cannot start hosted network on Windows 10
The first problem that we described involved failing to get the hosted network started on your computer. That’s an issue that we have encountered quite a number of times over the years. There are several things that you can do to resolve the issue;
Restart your computer
Restarting your computer is the vaunted panacea to almost all problems. And guess what? It usually works. In this case, you may wish to restart your computer if you have been encountering the Microsoft hosted network could not be started problem. Once your computer has been switched off and on, try one more time to start your hosted network.
Stop and restart the hosted network
You may also wish to try and stop the hosted network before restarting it. That sometimes solves this issue. To stop your hosted network in command prompt, type in the code; netsh wlan stop hostednetwork and press enter. You will get a message that the hosted network has been stopped. From there, you can restart the network.
Disable and re-enable your Ethernet connection
The hosted network works off a wired network. One thing that you can do to resolve the Microsoft hosted network could not be started issue is to disable and re-enable your Ethernet adapter. To do this you need to take the following steps;
- Click on the start icon to the bottom left of your screen.
- Next, click on the Settings gear.
- In Settings, click on Network and Internet.
- Next, click on Ethernet.
- From there, click on Change Adapter Settings.
- Right click on the Ethernet icon and click on Disable.
- Try once again to start your hostednetwork.
Uninstall the Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter
That’s another possible solution if you have been failing to start your hosted network. You may wish to uninstall the Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter. Don’t worry, uninstalling does not remove it from your computer. The adapter will be reinstalled when you restart your computer. To uninstall the driver, you need to take the following steps;
- Right click on the Windows icon to the bottom left of your screen.
- Next, click on Device Manager.
- In Device Manager, click on Network Adapters.
- Right click on Microsoft Hosted Virtual Adapter and click on Uninstall Device.
- Click on Uninstall.
- Restart your computer.
- You will now need to recreate the hosted network on your computer.
Solution if you can’t connect to your Hosted Network on Windows 10
In this scenario, the hosted network can be started just fine on your Windows 10 computer. However, you will be having no success connecting any of your devices. So, what do you do? The following solutions should be helpful;
Share your Ethernet internet with the hosted network
Most people struggle here. They create their hosted networks just fine. However, they forget to share their Ethernet internet with their hosted networks. If you don’t do this, you will be unable to connect your devices. And even if you get connected, you will have no internet. To Share your internet with the hosted network, you need to take the following steps;
- Write click on the Windows icon on the bottom left part of your screen.
- Open Settings.
- Click on Network & Internet.
- Next, click on Ethernet.
- Now click on Change adapter options.
- Right click on the Ethernet icon and click on Properties.
- Click on Sharing.
- Click on Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
- Choose the correct connection under Home networking connection. In my case, my hosted network is named Local Area Connection* 22. Yours will have a different name.
- Click on OK when done.
- Now you should be able to connect your devices.
Uninstall Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter
You may also want to uninstall Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter drivers as part of the solution to this particular issue. Check the instructions above on how to do it. Once you have uninstalled the drivers, you will need to restart your computer. Then you will need to set up your hosted network one more time.
Solution if you are getting connected but you have no internet access
The solutions described here apply if your devices are getting connected to your Microsoft hosted network, but you are getting no internet access. In this case, all your devices will be having no internet access. The following are the solutions;
Share your Ethernet internet with your hosted network
This is a solution what we have already discussed above. The reason why people usually do not have internet on their hosted networks is because they have not shared the internet from their Ethernet connections. To do that, you need to take the steps described here. Form there, switch your WiFi on and off and get connected.
Stop and restart your hosted network
In this case, you should also try stopping and restarting your hosted network. The command for stopping your hosted network is netsh wlan stop hosted network. The command for starting your hosted network is netsh wlan start hostednetwork.
Solution if you some of your devices are getting connected but not others
One of the most annoying things regarding a hosted network occurs when some devices get connected but not others. It’s another of those quacks that you are likely to encounter along the way. I have experienced this problem several times. And it can be rather difficult to resolve because hey; some devices will be working just fine. So, what can you do in this instance?
Turn the WiFi on and off on the device that’s failing to connect
This is the first thing that you should do if you discover that the hosted network is working on some devices but not on others. Turning WiFi on and off on the troublesome gadget can sometimes resolve the issue.
Forget the network and re-log into the WiFi connection
That’s another possible solution in this case. Try forgetting the network and then re-logging in anew. On Android, you can forget a WiFi connection by hard pressing on the network and then clicking on “Forget network.”
Use a Static IP
Should the above solutions fail to work, you can try using a static IP on the troublesome device. In fact, that’s what I have done on a tablet of mine. I was getting connected but with minimal internet. Only WhatsApp messages were getting through the hosted network. I resolved the issue by using a static IP. The following is how to do it for Android;
- Click on Settings on your Android device.
- Next, click on WiFi.
- Now click and hold onto the network that has no internet access.
- Click Modify network.
- Type in the WiFi password for your hosted network.
- Click to expand Advanced options.
- Click on IP settings and choose Static.
- Type in the IP address that you wish to use. Here is how to get the correct static IP address for your hosted network.
Where do I find the correct IP?
When using a static IP on your hosted network, where do you get the correct IP? Well, you can get an idea of the IP that you need to use by doing the following;
- Search for View network connections on your computer.
- Now right click on the icon for your hosted network. It’s the one with Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter written underneath it.
- After right clicking, click on Status.
- Next, click on Details.
- You will see your network’s IP Address under IPv4 Address.
- Copy this IP.
- Now, when using a Static IP on your device, use this address as a guide. Don’t use the exact same IP. As an example, if your hosted Network’s IP is 192.168.139.1, you should give your gadget an IP like 192.168.139.44. Change only the number(s) after the last comma.
Summary
Those are some of the most common Microsoft Hosted Network can’t connect problems and how to fix them. Hope this article has been of help to you. In it I showed you some of the most common issues that you are likely to encounter when operating a hosted network. I also showed you how to resolve these issues. Please leave a comment below if you have something to say.