Concurrent WiFi + Hotspot for Linux
Share your WiFi connection while staying connected
Installation • Usage • Screenshots • Compatibility • Contributing
Hotspot Manager is a native Linux GTK3 application that solves a common problem: how to share your WiFi connection with other devices while you're still using it.
Normally, when you create a hotspot on Linux, your WiFi disconnects. This app enables concurrent mode - you stay connected to WiFi for internet access while simultaneously broadcasting a hotspot that other devices can connect to.
- 📱 Sharing hotel WiFi with your phone, tablet, and laptop
- 🎮 Creating a local network for multiplayer gaming
- 🏢 Sharing a single WiFi connection at conferences or meetings
- 🏠 Extending WiFi range to devices that have weak reception
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 🔀 Concurrent Mode | WiFi + Hotspot at the same time |
| 🔌 Ethernet Sharing | Share wired connection via WiFi hotspot |
| 🖥️ GTK3 GUI | Clean, native Linux interface |
| 📍 System Tray | Quick toggle from notification area |
| 🔍 Hardware Detection | Auto-detects concurrent mode support |
| 📱 Device List | See who's connected to your hotspot |
| ⌨️ CLI Interface | Script and automate hotspot management |
| 🔄 Auto-Recovery | Restarts hotspot when WiFi reconnects |
| 💾 Config Save | Remember your hotspot settings |
| ⚡ Forced Mode | Virtual interfaces for incompatible hardware |
Download the latest .deb from Releases:
wget https://github.com/davytheprogrammer/hotspot-manager/releases/latest/download/hotspot-manager.deb
sudo dpkg -i hotspot-manager.deb
sudo apt install -fgit clone https://github.com/davytheprogrammer/hotspot-manager.git
cd hotspot-manager
sudo ./install.shThe packages are automatically installed with the .deb, but for source installation:
sudo apt install python3-gi gir1.2-gtk-3.0 gir1.2-appindicator3-0.1 \
network-manager iw hostapd dnsmasq libnotify4 arp-scan- Connect to WiFi first - Join a WiFi network normally
- Open Hotspot Manager from your application menu
- Enter hotspot name and password (min 8 characters)
- Click Start Hotspot
- Other devices can now find and connect to your hotspot
# Check status
hotspot-cli status
# Check hardware support
hotspot-cli interfaces
# Start hotspot
hotspot-cli start --ssid MyHotspot --password mypassword123
# Stop hotspot
hotspot-cli stop
# Advanced options
hotspot-cli start --ssid MyHotspot --password secret \
--channel 6 --band bg --interface wlan0The app runs in the system tray. Right-click to:
- Toggle hotspot on/off
- Show the main window
- Quit the application
- Ubuntu 20.04+ / Pop!_OS
- Debian 11+
- Linux Mint 20+
- Any Debian-based distribution with NetworkManager
Not all WiFi cards support concurrent mode. Check yours:
hotspot-cli interfacesOr manually:
iw phy | grep -A10 "Supported interface"Look for both * AP and * managed in the output. Cards with AP/VLAN typically support concurrent mode best.
- Intel AX200, AX201, AX210, AX211
- Realtek RTL8812AU, RTL8814AU (USB)
- Atheros AR9271, AR9485
- MediaTek MT7612U (USB)
- Some Realtek RTL8188CE/RTL8192CE (limited concurrent support)
- Older Broadcom cards (may need proprietary drivers)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ YOUR LAPTOP │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ WiFi │ │ Hotspot │ │
│ │ Client │ │ (AP Mode) │ │
│ │ (Managed) │ │ │ │
│ └──────┬──────┘ └───────────┬─────────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌──────────────────────┐ │ │
│ └──┤ NetworkManager ├──┘ │
│ │ (Concurrent Mode) │ │
│ └──────────┬───────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ┌──────────┴───────────┐ │
│ │ NAT / IP Forward │ │
│ └──────────┬───────────┘ │
└───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┘
│
┌─────────────┴─────────────┐
│ │
┌─────▼─────┐ ┌─────▼─────┐
│ Router │ │ Devices │
│ (Internet)│ │ (Phone, │
│ │ │ Tablet) │
└───────────┘ └───────────┘
- Connects to WiFi as a client (managed mode)
- Creates a hotspot access point (AP mode) on the same card
- NetworkManager handles the concurrent mode
- NAT/IP forwarding shares internet with hotspot clients
Your WiFi card may not support concurrent mode fully. Try:
- Different channel (1, 6, or 11 for 2.4GHz)
- Use a USB WiFi adapter with AP support
- Check
iw phyoutput
You must connect to WiFi before starting the hotspot. This app shares an existing connection.
# Check NetworkManager is running
systemctl status NetworkManager
# Check your WiFi hardware
iw phy
# Try a different interface
hotspot-cli interfaces- Check password is correct
- Try a different channel (avoid interference)
- Ensure DHCP is working (restart dnsmasq)
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
- Fork the repository
- Create your feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature) - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature') - Push to the branch (
git push origin feature/AmazingFeature) - Open a Pull Request
git clone https://github.com/davytheprogrammer/hotspot-manager.git
cd hotspot-manager
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -e .
python3 run.pyThis project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
- NetworkManager team for concurrent mode support
- GTK3/GObject developers
- The Linux wireless community
Made with ❤️ by Davis Ogega