How To Set Up Second Router As Bridge

Network Bridge is a feature that has been role of Windows for a long time. A bridge allows you to connect two or more than network segments together allowing devices to join the network when it'southward non possible to connect them directly to a router or switch.

For example, on an Xbox 360 without a wireless adapter, an Xbox 1 that no longer connects to Wi-Fi, or when a computer is far abroad from the router, yous tin employ Network Bridge to share your estimator's connection (e.g., Ethernet or Wireless) with these devices to allow access the network. In one case devices connect using a bridge, they will appear as if they were physically connected to the router.

In this Windows 10 guide, nosotros'll walk you through the steps to properly set a bridge connectedness on your desktop or laptop to allow other devices to join your local network and to access the internet.

Before you begin

Before you start setting upwards a span connection on Windows 10, you will need at to the lowest degree two network adapters. One that is connected to the internet and a 2nd adapter that will be used to connect some other computer.

Additionally, as a result of setting upward a bridge on Windows 10 (or on previous versions of the operating system), the primary network adapter on the host computer will lose internet connectivity.

To regain access to the internet, you will need to set a static IP address to your computer manually. The offset thing you lot desire to do is to relieve to a text file the current IP address information assigned by the DHCP server on your local network.

To get the IP address data from your computer follow these steps:

Use the Windows fundamental + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu and select Command Prompt.
Type the following command and press Enter:

ipconfig /all
Make notation of the IP address configuration of the network adapter connected to the internet. You need to record the post-obit data: IPV4, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers addresses.

Note: You lot tin use an IP address dynamically assigned by the DHCP server every bit static only as a temporary solution. On best do you should assign an IP accost in the range that doesn't belong to the DHCP address pool on your router. For more than information on how to find the DHCP server configuration make sure to check your router's manufacturer support website.

How to create a Network Span on Windows 10

Use the Windows cardinal + X to open the Power User bill of fare and select Network Connections.
Select both, the network adapter that connects to the net and the adapter yous want to employ in the bridge connection.
Correct-click the selection and click Bridge Connections.

At this betoken, the device continued to the bridge port should accept access to the network and internet with the IP address information coming from the router, but the computer hosting the bridge won't be able to admission the internet unless y'all have a third network adapter that is also connected to the network or a static IP address .

How to regain cyberspace access after setting up a span connection

To regain access to the net from the host computer do the following:

Use the Windows key + Ten to open the Power User menu and select Network Connections.
Right-click the bridge adapter and select Properties.
Select the network adapter that connects to the net.
Select Internet Protocol Version four (TCP/IPv4).
Click Properties.
Select the Use the following IP address option.
Use the IP address data yous collected at the start of this guide to assign a static IP address similar is shown in the screenshot below.
Click OK.
Click Close to complete the job.

How to add more than network adapters to a bridge connexion

You're not express only to offer bridge connectivity to a single network adapter. At any time, you can add multiple adapters.

Right-click the network adapter and select Add together to Span.
Connect a game panel or another computer and the device will automatically acquire the network settings from the local router.

How to remove a span connection from your estimator

When you no longer need a bridge connection, select one or all the participating network adapters, and select Remove from Bridge.

At this point, the bridge adapter should disappear from Network Connections, merely if it doesn't, only reboot your reckoner.

The last thing left to exercise is to remove the IP accost static settings and let your PC once again get this information automatically from the router.

Correct-click the network adapter and select Properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
Click Properties.
Select the Obtain an IP address automatically pick.
Select the Obtain DNS server address automatically option.
Click OK.
Click Close to complete the task.

Network Bridge or Internet Connection Sharing?

It'due south important to note that Network Bridge is very similar to the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) feature, simply they're not the same.

When you utilise Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), y'all will convert your computer into a router, which uses a built-in DHCP server to assign IP addresses to computers participating in ICS. It also offers Network Address Translation (NAT) that allows multiple devices to connect to the network using the ICS host as the middle human.

On the other hand, Network Bridge doesn't turn the host reckoner into a router and you won't get Network Address Translation. It only provides a medium (bridge) in which other devices can connect directly to the network and obtain the same IP address scheme every other estimator connected to the network is using.

Which feature you should use? The respond to the question is: "depends". Both features offer like benefits. If your local network already includes a router connected to the internet and you want a seamless network integration where all devices share the same network addressing scheme, then you should consider using Network Bridge.

If you demand a router-similar feature, and yous desire to proceed the network segments separated while taking advantage of the security benefits of Network Address Translation, then you'll exist better suited using Net Connection Sharing.

In theory, a bridge connection is more efficient, because the host is simply a laissez passer-through, and all the routing procedure will occur in the local router and not on the host computer.

Remember that Network Bridge and Net Connection Sharing have been designed only for home and small office networks, and for scenarios, where a wireless connection can't exist established, or a cable run to the main router or switch is non possible. These features are non recommended as networking solutions for businesses. In addition, there tin only exist 1 Network Bridge or one Internet Connection Sharing per-computer.

Windows 10 resources

For more tips, coverage, and answers on Windows 10, you can visit the following resources:

Windows ten on Windows Key – All you demand to know
Windows 10 aid, tips, and tricks
Windows x forums on Windows Fundamental

On this week's podcast ... We recap the Windows 11 event, and more!

Rolling out of the Garage

On this week's podcast ... We recap the Windows 11 consequence, and more!

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this calendar week, we report on Microsoft's hybrid piece of work event, new builds of Windows 11, and the possibility of putting Android on Surface Neo. At that place'due south as well a new proper noun and look for Microsoft'southward Journal app, an interesting mini PC coming from Apcsilmic, and more.

Microsoft's Surface Duo 2 is now just $999 — its lowest price ever

More reasonable

Microsoft's Surface Duo two is now simply $999 — its lowest toll ever

We take some good news if you're on the contend about Microsoft's Surface Duo two due to the loftier toll. Microsoft, Amazon, and All-time Buy are at present offering the dual-screen Android phone for $999 — a savings of $500 off the original price. Toss in a trade-in, and you lot can have it even cheaper.