I'd like to play my original Nintendo DS or DS Lite online when my home router isn't available. Windows 11's built-in mobile hotspot appears to require a password, while older DS models generally support only open Wi‑Fi or outdated WEP security. Is there any practical way to create a compatible open hotspot in Windows 11 without switching to Linux?
2 Answers
A small travel router is probably the easiest workaround. It can connect to an existing internet connection and broadcast a separate network. Look for a model that explicitly supports either an open network or WEP, since the original DS hardware usually can’t connect to WPA/WPA2.
Windows 11’s built-in hotspot feature requires a password of at least eight characters, so it doesn’t provide a normal way to create an unsecured hotspot. Also, open Wi‑Fi and WEP are insecure and generally unsupported by modern routers and devices.
I’m using an original DS and sometimes a DS Lite, so newer WPA2-compatible hardware isn’t an option for the older games.
Make sure the router’s specifications mention those legacy security modes specifically—many newer travel routers support only WPA2 or WPA3.