8 Ways to Overcome The Hosted Network Couldn't Be Started in Windows 10

 The error message “The hosted network couldn't be started” can occur when Windows 10 users set up a WiFi hotspot via the command prompt. Usually the problem is caused by the WiFi network adapter. But don't worry! Because the admin has the answer to fix it. In this post, We will show you how to fix the hosted network couldn't be started on Windows 10.

What Is The Hosted Network Couldn't Be Started Error Message?

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is one way to turn a PC into a mobile hotspot. PC Tethering helps solve the problem of your router having only a limit of users that can connect at the same time. The process can be done through settings. However, using the Command Prompt is the most popular way to set up a hosted network.

The name itself implies that your computer serves as the "host" of your Wi-Fi network and other devices can connect to and through it. In the Command Prompt, the hosted network is started first by activating the mobile hotspot feature: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=”HotspotName” key=”password”.

Words in quotation marks will be replaced with whatever name you choose for the PC hotspot and the password you choose, respectively. After that, you are usually followed by starting the hosted network with the following command: netsh wlan start hostednetwork.

This is where the problem arises for most people. Usually, after executing the above command, users receive the “The hosted network started” error message. However, with this error, the feature does not start and the Command Prompt issues the following error notifications: “The hosted network couldn't be started” and “The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation“.

Sometimes, the error message is slightly different, but the underlying cause is still the same. Here are some other error messages from this nasty network error notification:

* The hosted network couldn't be started a device attached to the system is not functioning

* Missing Microsoft hosted network virtual adapter

* The hosted network couldn't be started the wireless local area network interface is powered down

* Can't find Microsoft hosted network virtual adapter

* Microsoft hosted network virtual adapter not found in Device Manager

* As they are all the same, the same solution applies to all of them.

Note that this error usually means that the Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter, which plays an important role in PC network sharing, is missing, corrupted, or not enabled. Out of date or outdated Wi-Fi drivers can also cause this annoying problem. Incorrect driver configuration also does not rule out. But you don't need to worry, because we will tell you how to fix the hosted network couldn't be started on Windows 10.

How to Overcome The Hosted Network Couldn't Be Started

If there is a bug in Windows, of course there will be a solution. The “The hosted network couldn't be started” error message in Windows 10 is no different in this respect. Admin has collected several solutions that you can use to solve this problem.

1. Check WiFi Connection

Obviously, you can't use the internet through the wireless router, let alone the hosting network, if your WiFi is turned off. Sometimes we subconsciously ignore the fact that there are times when we need to manually set up the WiFi connection on our computer by clicking on the network icon on the right of the taskbar. Also, check if you have activated airplane mode by mistake. It can also verify that the WiFi network is actually working.

2. Check PC Supports Sharing

You cannot set up a mobile hotspot if your PC does not support hosted network sharing. To check, follow the instructions below:

Check PC Supports Sharing

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type “cmd” in the dialog box then press CTRL + SHIFT + Enter to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.

3. Enter the “NETSH WLAN show driver” command in the Command Prompt window, and press the Enter key. It tells you whether your PC or laptop supports Hosted network supported.

3. Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

The Network Adapter Troubleshooter might be able to provide a fix to resolve the “The hosted network couldn't be started” problem. For that you can try to take advantage of the troubleshooter in Windows 10. Follow the steps below to do it:

Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

1. Type “troubleshoot” in the windows search bar and select the most suitable.

2. Then click the Additional troubleshooters section.

3. Go to the Find and fix other problems section then select Network Adapter and click Run the troubleshooter to open the troubleshooter window.

4. The troubleshooter then presents a selection of network adapters to be repaired. Select the option All network adapters or WiFi.

4. Check WiFi Network Sharing Settings

If you want to enable a hosted network on your computer, that means you want to use the machine as a "hub" for other devices to connect to the internet. Of course, that option has to be enabled first on your PC, otherwise it won't work.

Now, the feature, or rather the network sharing option, is enabled by default. However, if all your attempts to get network sharing up and running prove unsuccessful, it's possible the feature has been disabled somehow. Re-enabling the option might fix this problem once and for all:

Check WiFi Network Sharing Settings

1. Press Windows key + R then enter “ncpa.cpl” in the Run dialog box, and press the OK button.

2. Right-click the network you want to enable sharing on and select Properties from the context menu

3. Click the Sharing tab and check the Allow other users to connect through this computer's internet connection box.

4. Also check the option Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the internet which is included in the Windows 8 Sharing tab.

5. Press the OK button to confirm the setting.

5. Check Power Management Settings

Some users reported that they fixed “The hosted network couldn't be started” problem in Windows 10 by enabling the power management feature on the network adapter. So maybe this method can solve your problem. It can't hurt to try, at least. Follow the instructions below to try it:

Check Power Management Settings

* Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows Key + R and typing "devmgr.msc" (without the quotes). Press the Enter key or click OK.

* When the Device Manager window opens, navigate to the network adapters section and double click to expand it.

* Right-click the problematic WiFi network adapter and select Properties.

* In Properties, click the Power Management tab.

* Check if the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option is activated. If disabled, enable it.

* Click OK and exit all windows.

6. Enable Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter

To use your PC as a mobile hotspot in Windows 10, you need a Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter. It must be present and enabled for the hosted network feature to work properly. If disabled, it may give the error message “The hosted network couldn't be started“. You can check whether Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter is enabled or not and turn it on if needed. Follow the steps below:

Enable Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter

1. Press the Windows key + R. Type “devmgmt.msc” in the Run dialog box and click the OK button.

2. Now click on View in the Device Manager window.

3. Select the Show hidden devices option.

4. Double click Network adapters, which will now include the Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter.

5. Right-click Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter and select the Enable device option.

7. Reset Wi-Fi Network

Most problems with Windows can be fixed with a simple restart. For “The hosted network couldn't be started” problem in Windows 10, resetting the WiFi network may work fine. To reset a problematic network, you must first deactivate it, wait a few moments, then reactivate it. Hopefully, this action resolved the issue so you can continue using the sharing feature on your PC. Here's how to do it:

Reset Wi-Fi Networks

1. Press the Windows key + R then enter “ncpa.cpl” in the Run dialog box and click OK.

2. Right-click your WiFi connection and select Disable.

3. Wait a minute or two, then select the Enable option on the WiFi connection context menu.

8. Update Network Drivers

The “The hosted network couldn't be started” error message might also be caused by an incompatible or corrupt WiFi driver. So updating the WiFi network adapter driver is a way worth trying. You can update the driver with third-party software or use Device Manager's Search automatically. Here's how to do it:

Update Network Drivers

* Press the Windows key + X to open the Quick Access menu and select Device Manager.

* In the Device Manager window, search for Network Adapters and expand it. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter that is giving you problems and select Update Driver.

* In the next window, select the "Search automatically for updated driver software" option.

* Windows will start a search for the required driver and install it if one is available. If not, it will tell you that the current driver is the latest.

Conclusion

So those are some ways to overcome the hosted network couldn't be started on Windows 10. If all of the above methods still can't solve the problem, you can use a third-party application like Connectify or Free Wi-Fi Hotspot to create a mobile hotspot. But supposedly with the solutions provided in this guide, you can overcome that problem and successfully share your network via PC or laptop.

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That's all for the article 8 Ways to Overcome The Hosted Network Couldn't Be Started on Windows 10. Look forward to other interesting articles and don't forget to share this article with your friends. Thank you…

Resa Risyan

Just an ordinary person who wants to share a little knowledge, hopefully the knowledge I provide can be useful for all of us. Keep in mind! Useful knowledge is an investment in the afterlife.