Wi-Fi Direct Share for Windows

Direct Wi‑Fi for Home Setups

Windows 7 supports Wi‑Fi Direct, a peer‑to‑peer wireless option that simplifies device connections within a household. When both devices support Wi‑Fi Direct (for example, a compatible printer or digital camera), you can link them straight to a Windows PC without installing device drivers.

Key capabilities

• Establishes a short‑range ad hoc network that allows up to eight devices to communicate in the same group.
• Enables quick file transfers and responsive connections with minimal latency, useful for printing, photo sharing, or streaming between nearby devices.
• Works with Wi‑Fi Direct–enabled peripherals, letting them pair directly with Windows machines for plug‑and‑play convenience.

Typical scenarios

1. Printing photos from a Wi‑Fi Direct camera without adding drivers to your computer.
2. Sharing files between laptops in the same room using the ad hoc group feature.
3. Connecting a compatible mobile device to a printer for a fast, low‑lag print job.

Alternative connection tools

• mHotspot — lightweight software for creating a wireless hotspot on your PC.
• Wi‑Fi Hotspot Free — a simple utility to share a PC’s internet connection over Wi‑Fi.
• Connectify — a fuller‑featured hotspot and tethering solution with extra configuration options.