Connect Your Android Tablet to Your Wireless Home Network
Without an internet connection, your Android tablet will not be able to perform all of the tasks it was designed to. Unlike Android phones, many Android tablets do not have a cellular plan, which means they need a wireless network connection in order to access the internet.
Contents
Steps
Connecting to Your Network
- Open the Settings menu. This can be found on your tablet's home screen, in the app drawer, or by pressing the Menu button and select Settings.
- Tap the "Wi-Fi" slider. This should be located towards the top of the Settings menu.
- Tap "Wi-Fi" to open the wireless menu.
- Note: Some devices may have shortcuts to this menu in the Notification bar or on the home screen.
- Tap the network you want to connect to. If the network you want isn't listed, make sure that you are close enough to the access point, and that the Set-up-a-Wireless-Network-(WiFi)-Connection.
- Enter the network password. If the network is secured, you will be asked for the password. Make sure that you enter the password exactly. Passwords are case-sensitive.
- If you've forgotten your own wireless password, click here.
- If you didn't change your router's default settings, the password may be printed on a sticker on the router itself.
- Tap "Connect". Your tablet will attempt to the network. If the password was correct, you will be connected.
- Test your connection. You can see the signal strength by looking at the Wi-Fi icon in your Notification bar. Open a website on your tablet's browser and check your connection.
- If you are connecting to a public hotspot, you may need to agree to the terms on the page that opens automatically when you start your browser.
Checking Your Router's Settings
- Find your router's IP address.
- Windows - Press ⊞ Win+R and type cmd to start the Command Prompt. Type ipconfig in the Command Prompt and press ↵ Enter. Look for your active network adapter, and note the Default Gateway address.
- OS X - Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Click Network and then select your active adapter in the list on the left. Note the "Router" IP address. If you are using an AirPort router, Configure Your Apple Airport Router.
- Open a browser on a computer connected to the network.
- Enter the router's IP address into the browser's address bar.
- Log into the router using the administrator account. Check your router's documentation if you need to see the default information.
- If you can't remember your administrator account, you can reset it by holding the reset button on the back for about 30 seconds.
- Open the "Wireless" section. The location of this will vary from router to router.
- Ensure that the wireless signal is enabled.
- Double-check the wireless password.
