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lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot

A Linux tool with GUI and CLI for turning a WiFi adapter into an access point, including sharing a connection while staying connected to WiFi.

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What is it?

Linux Wifi Hotspot is a tool for creating a WiFi hotspot on Linux, with both a graphical interface and a command-line interface. It lets you share an internet connection from any network interface over WiFi, and on supported adapters it can share a connection while the same card stays connected to another access point, similar to the hotspot behavior in Windows 10.

Beyond basic sharing, it can route the hotspot's traffic through a VPN, which is useful for devices that cannot run VPN apps such as TVs or game consoles. It also offers a QR code for joining the network, MAC address filtering, a list of connected devices, hidden SSID, custom gateway IP, channel selection, and support for 802.11n, ac and ax modes on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, subject to adapter capabilities.

The core logic relies on the create_ap script and hostapd, and the project can be installed from a PPA, AUR, Fedora COPR or built from source with make. A systemd service can start a saved hotspot configuration at boot.

Key features

  • 01Shares a connection from any network interface over WiFi.
  • 02Can run a hotspot on the same adapter while it stays connected to a WiFi network.
  • 03Routes hotspot traffic through a VPN tunnel.
  • 04Provides both a GUI and a command-line interface.
  • 05Offers QR code sharing, MAC filtering and a connected-devices list.
  • 06Supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands with 802.11n, ac and ax modes, depending on the adapter.

Use cases

  • Sharing a laptop's internet connection with phones or tablets on Linux.
  • Giving a TV or game console internet access through a VPN without installing VPN software on it.
  • Setting up a temporary hotspot from a headless or command-line-only machine.
  • Starting a saved hotspot automatically at boot on a Linux server or desktop.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot
  2. 2

    Enter the project directory

    cd linux-wifi-hotspot
  3. 3

    Build the binaries

    make
  4. 4

    Install the project

    sudo make install

Things to know

  • Install and build steps need a Linux system with GTK 3 and build tools for the GUI.
  • Some adapters, such as Intel 5GHz and Realtek, need extra workarounds to run a hotspot.
  • The README says the project maintainer is inactive and is looking for new maintainers.

In collections

Desktop GUI apps & toolkits

Topics

#wifi#networking#linux#hotspot#vpn#access-point#gtk3#shell#archlinux#gui

FAQ

What is linux-wifi-hotspot?
A Linux tool with GUI and CLI for turning a WiFi adapter into an access point, including sharing a connection while staying connected to WiFi. Linux Wifi Hotspot is a tool for creating a WiFi hotspot on Linux, with both a graphical interface and a command-line interface. It lets you share an internet connection from any network interface over WiFi, and on supported adapters it can share a connection while the same card stays connected to another access point, similar to the hotspot behavior in Windows 10.
Is linux-wifi-hotspot free to use? What license does it have?
linux-wifi-hotspot is open source under the BSD-2-Clause license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is linux-wifi-hotspot still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to linux-wifi-hotspot was on Nov 2, 2026.
What can I use linux-wifi-hotspot for?
Sharing a laptop's internet connection with phones or tablets on Linux. Giving a TV or game console internet access through a VPN without installing VPN software on it. Setting up a temporary hotspot from a headless or command-line-only machine. Starting a saved hotspot automatically at boot on a Linux server or desktop.
How do I install linux-wifi-hotspot?
Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot Enter the project directory: cd linux-wifi-hotspot Build the binaries: make Install the project: sudo make install
Where can I get linux-wifi-hotspot?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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