HOW TO: Connect your Xbox One to Live with a Windows PC instead of a router

So you have found your self away from home but managed to smuggle your Xbox One with you.  You want to connect to live but do not have a router or access to one.  Well you can use your Windows PC as a router in a pinch see how:


There are two ways you can connect to Xbox Live without using a router:

Use Windows Internet Connection Sharing 

Create a network bridge connection
Use Windows Internet Connection Sharing

You can use Windows Internet Connection Sharing to share your Internet connection between your computer and your Xbox One console. If you do this, both the console and the computer can access the Internet at the same time.

To use Windows Internet Connection Sharing, you must have the following:

• A computer that has two network adapters 
• Note Most laptop computers have two network adapters, one for a wired connection and one for a wireless connection. 
• A USB modem that has at least one Ethernet connection 
• Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 
• Note The Windows 7 Starter edition does not support this feature. 
• High-speed Internet access 
• A standard Ethernet cable 

Set up Windows Internet Connection Sharing

Note The following steps show Windows 7 and Windows 8 screen images. However, the steps are the same for earlier versions of Windows unless otherwise indicated.

1.  Click the Start button.
2.  In the Search programs and files box, type ncpa.cpl, and then press Enter.

For Windows XP: Click the Start button, click Run, type ncpa.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.

Windows 7

Windows 8

3.  Right-click the network connection that you want to share, and then click Properties. The appropriate network connection to share is the one between your computer and your modem, not the one between your computer and your Xbox One console.

4.  Click the Sharing tab. If you are using Windows XP, select the Advanced tab.

5.  Select Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection, and then click OK.

6.  Wait for the network connection status to change to Shared.

7.  Start your web browser and try to connect to the Internet. If you can’t connect, make sure that you’re sharing the primary Internet connection in step 3.

8.  Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the network port on your computer. Plug the other end into the back of your console.

9.  On your console, make sure that all network settings are set to Automatic.
Here's how:

Note If you’re connecting to a wireless network, or if you have PPPoE settings entered, note the settings because you might have to enter them later. 

1. Press the Menu button on your Xbox One controller, and then select Settings. 
2. Select Network. 
3. Select Advanced settings. 
4. Select IP settings, then select Automatic. 
5. Select DNS settings, then select Automatic. 
6. Select Alternate MAC address, then select Clear. 
7. Select Restart.

10.  Test your Xbox Live connection. To do this, follow these steps: 

1. Press the Menu button on your Xbox One controller, and then select Settings. 
2. Select Network. 
3. Select Test network connection.

Troubleshooting Internet Connection Sharing issues

Solution 1: Make sure Windows Internet Connection Sharing is set up correctly

If the Sharing tab isn’t displayed or, in Windows XP, you don’t see the option “Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection,” one of the following might be true:

Your computer doesn’t have two network adapters. To resolve this problem, install a second network adapter in your computer or check to see if your existing network adapters are functioning correctly. 

You might be trying to share the wrong network connection. To resolve this problem, repeat step 3 above, and select a different network connection. 

Solution 2: Set your console's IP settings manually

If you receive either of the following error messages, try the steps below:

Can't obtain an IP address from your router or modem 

1. Your DNS server can't resolve Xbox Live server names 
2. Press the Menu button on your Xbox One controller, then select Settings. 
3. Select Network. 
4. Select Advanced settings, then select IP settings. 
5. Select Manual. You’ll be prompted for the IP address. Enter 192.168.0.2, and then select Enter. 
6. You‘ll then be prompted for the Subnet mask. Enter 255.255.255.0, and then select Enter. 
7. Next, you’ll be prompted for the Gateway. Enter 192.168.0.1, and then select Enter. 
8. Select DNS settings. 
9. Select Manual. You’ll be prompted for the Primary DNS and then the Secondary DNS server. Enter 192.168.0.1 for both servers. 
10. Press B on your controller, and then select Test network connection.

Create a network bridge connection

If you have a laptop computer with both wired and wireless network adapters, you can use your laptop to connect your Xbox One console to Xbox Live. This type of connection is called a network bridge connection. This connection is quick and easy, but you can’t access the Internet on the laptop when it’s connected to your console.

To use a network bridge connection, you must have the following:

• A computer with two network adapters 
• Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 
• Note The Windows 7 Starter edition does not support this feature. 
• High-speed Internet access 
• A standard Ethernet cable 

Set up a network bridge connection

1.  In the Search programs and files box, type ncpa.cpl, and then press Enter. 

2.  For Windows XP: Click the Start button, click Run, type ncpa.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.

Windows 7

Windows 8

3.  Select the two network connections that you want to bridge. To do this, click the first network connection, press and hold CTRL, and then click the second network connection.

4.  Right-click either of the selected network connections, and then click Bridge Connections.

5.  Wait for the new connection icon to be displayed. 

Note The new icon will be labeled Network Bridge. When the icon appears, the new connection is ready to use.

6.  Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the network port on your portable computer. Plug the other end into the back of your console.

7.  On your console, make sure that all network settings are set to Automatic. 

Here’s how:

Note If you’re connecting to a wireless network, or if you have PPPoE settings entered, note the settings because you might have to enter them later. 

1. Press the Menu button on your Xbox One controller, and then select Settings.
2. Select Network.
3. Select Advanced settings.
4. Select IP settings, then select Automatic.
5. Select DNS settings, then select Automatic.
6. Select Alternate MAC address, then select Clear.
7. Select Restart.

This resets the network settings to their default setting. This does not affect any other console settings.

8.  Test your Xbox Live connection. Here's how:

1. Press the Menu button on your Xbox One controller, and then select Settings.
2. Select Network.
3. Select Test network connection.