Windows

Netsh wlan hostednetwork | The hosted network could not be started

Sometimes while trying to make the hotspot in windows 7 or windows 8 everything goes fine except the part when one tries to start the hosted network using the command “netsh wlan start hostednetwork“, I previously wrote a guide on how to make a hotspot for sharing your internet connection in windows 8 or windows 7; many people are having the problem for starting the hotspot using the start command in cmd and are getting errors like “The hostednetwork could not be started“. There is some other error reported as well, telling users that Wi-Fi authentication didn’t happen which has been covered here.

The hosted network could not be started

Error “Hosted Network Could not be Started” while trying to start hosted wlan network:

Following error can occur in CMD when one tries to start the wlan hostednetwork. If you got any one of those then the solution for such kind of errors has been posted below in the second heading.

The hosted network couldn’t be started The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the request operation.

The hosted network could not be started – Any error containing this line can be resolved with the following solution

The above errors can easily be resolved using the following solution.

Solving: “Hosted network could not be started” using “netsh wlan start hostednetwork”:

There is a pretty straight forward solution for this problem. This happens because of the adapter when it is in the sleep mode, also it can be an uninvited problem which can easily be resolved by uninstalling the adapter and then reinstalling it.

  • Right click the “My Computer” icon at the desktop and then open “properties“. In the left pane open “Device Manager“.
  • In device manager go to the “network adapters” and find your Wireless adapter there, I am supposing here that you want to make a wifi hotspot for the internet connection sharing to a wifi enabled device.
  • Right click on the wireless adapter (there must be wifi adapter word in the wireless adapter’s name) and open “properties“.
  • Go to the power management tab and make it sure that you have selected the option “Allow this device to wake up the computer” also tick “Allow the computer to turn of this device to save power” then hit ok. Save the settings and get out.

Power Management in Wifi Adapter

  • Try to start your hosted network in cmd by typing “netsh wlan start hostednetwork” if this time it starts then the solution worked but in other case if you still get the same error keep on reading.

Second solution to resolve “The hosted network could not be started”:

Again navigate to the wifi adapter in the device manager. Right click your wifi adapter under network adapters and this time click on “uninstall“. This is going to uninstall your wifi adapter driver. After you have uninstalled the driver click on the “Scan for new hardware changes” at the top pane below the file, look into the below screen shot if you can’t find the button for scanning for new hardware:

Scan for new devices in device manager

Click on the button “Scan for hardware changes” and it will reinstall your driver for the wifi adapter.

After the wifi adapter has been uninstalled and reinstalled now again start the wlan hosted network or the wifi hotspot using the command “netsh wlan start hostednetwork” this time it will start.

Update: Solve Wifi Authentication Problem on Your Device:

Some users reported us an issue of Wi-Fi authentication problem, this can be solved. Make sure you read this article.

Methods to solve Wi-Fi Authentication Problem

154 Comments

  • Hi. Sorry I’ve seem this error up here a million times but no solution has been given.

    It worked great the first time. But when I shut down my laptop I can’t seem to get it up again.
    I successfully created the network, shared it and my phone (S3) even connects to it great.
    BUT I have no internet access at all.

    The network says it has access to Internet from my Network And Sharing.
    PLEASE HELP.

  • I have created wifi hotspot using command prompt admin before.It worked for me perfectly..But for the last couple of days while entering “netsh wlan start hostednetwork ” it is giving me an error “the hosted network couldn’t be started.
    the wireless local area network interface is powered down and doesn’t support the requested operation”. The things that you have mentioned I have tried all of these.Everything is totally alright there. Still it giving the error message.. Please help me..I need help!!

  • Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you actually realize what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Please also consult with my website =). We will have a link change contract among us

  • Guys,

    I solved the problem for those who receive the error the hosted network couldn’t be started a device attached to the system is not functioning

    I am using windows 7

    1. right click the network icon in your taskbar (bottom right of the screen next to the time and date)
    2. click Troubleshoot problems
    3. click Apply fix

    An alternative way is to
    1. open Network and Sharing Center (from the task-bar or control panel)
    2 click Troubleshoot problems
    3. click Apply fix

    That’s it.

    Now go to command prompt and type the command netsh wlan start hostednetwork

    Problem should be solved.

    Reason for the error is that your wifi looks like it is turned on but actually it is NOT turned on. That’s because windows sucks.
    When you follow the above instructions your wifi will turn on for real and the problem will be solved.

    Peace.

  • i cant see the wifi adapter in the device manager. i have used it once but after that i closed it…after that its showing the group or resources………requested operation….i used to try the solution but it cant work i cant see the wifi adapter
    .