How to Set-up your Ad Hoc Network

1. Click the Start button and then type Network and Sharing Center in the Search box.

2. In the left pane, click Set up a connection or network.

   Network and Sharing Center

3. Click Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network, and then clickNext.

   Choose "Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network"

4. On the Give your network a name and choose security options page:

   • Network name. Make up something short, sweet, and memorable (for example, “MyTempNet”).

   • Security type. For your computer’s security, choose WPA2 Personal. (We don't recommend using WEP. WPA2 is more secure. If you try WPA2 and it doesn’t work, we recommend that you upgrade your network adapter to one that works with WPA2.)

   • Security key/Passphrase. Ignore the fancy names; security keys and passphrases are basically just passwords.

     Now here are some crazy rules (you knew there had to be some, right?):

     • The passphrase should be 8 to 63 characters long. For example: jAmn5xlw!

     • Make up something that contains numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and symbols. For the best security, the security key or passphrase should not contain words that are in the dictionary. Make sure you either select the Display characters check box or remember the password, because you have to give it to the other people you want to join your network. (Right. Like I’m gonna remember a 63-character password.)

   • You can select the Save this network check box so that you can use the network over and over. Otherwise, ad hoc networks just disappear into the ether when you’re done using them.

     Give your network an easy-to-remember name

5. When you’re all done, click Next. The network name and security key or passphrase are listed on the next page. Pay attention to these because people will need them to connect to your network. If you want to share your Internet connection, click Turn on Internet connection sharing.

   Remember your wireless network name and security key

A few last steps…

If you want to share files with others on your ad hoc network, first open Network and Sharing Center. Under Sharing and Discovery, make sure file sharing and network discovery are on. If not, click the arrow beside each one to expand that section, click the option to turn it on, and then click Apply. If you want to share files by using the Public folder on your computer, turn on public folder sharing as well. And, if you want to require other people to have a user account on your computer in order to share files with you, turn on password protected sharing (this option is only available for workgroups, not for domains).

Turn on the sharing options you want to use

Note

If you use password protected sharing, or if your computer is joined to a domain, other people will need to have a user account on your computer to see or access your shared files.