Connect to a Wireless Internet Connection

To connect to a wireless network (Wi-Fi), find the Network button or option on your computer or device. In Windows, you'll find the Network icon in the System Tray. On a Mac, you'll find it on the menu bar. On Android and iOS, you'll find the Wi-Fi option in the Settings app. After selecting your network, enter the password to connect to it. Read on for detailed instructions for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Steps

Windows 8

  1. Open the Charms menu. You can access this by swiping from the right of the screen on a touchscreen, or by moving your cursor to the bottom-right corner of the display.
  2. Open the Settings menu. Click or tap Settings in the Charms menu.
  3. Tap or click the Wireless Network icon. It looks like signal bars.
  4. Select the network that you want to join. If there is more than one network that you can connect to, select the network that you want from the list.
    • If you can’t find your network, check that you Set-up-a-Wireless-Network-(WiFi)-Connection.
  5. Enter your wireless password. When you select your network, you will be asked to enter the password if the network is secured. Once you enter the password you will be connected to the network.[1]
    • You can also connect to your wireless network through the Desktop mode. Follow the steps for Windows 7.

Windows 7

  1. Click the Network icon in the System Tray. This is located in the bottom-right corner of the desktop. The icon will look like either a monitor with an Ethernet cable or signal bars. You may need to click the arrow next to the System Tray in order to see the icon.
  2. Select your network from the list. When you click the Network icon, you will see a list of all of the available networks in your range. Select the network that you want to connect to from the list.
    • If you can’t find your network, check that you Set-up-a-Wireless-Network-(WiFi)-Connection.
  3. Click Connect. Your computer will attempt to connect to the network. If the network is secured, you will need to enter the password in order to connect.[2]

Windows Vista

  1. Click the Start menu. In the Start menu, click the “Connect To” button, which can be found on the right side of the menu.
  2. Click on your wireless network. Once you’ve clicked the network, click the Connect button. You will be asked to enter a password if the network is secured.
    • Make sure that the dropdown menu at the top is set to Wireless.
  3. Click the Refresh button to check for networks again. If you are on the edge of the network range, or the network just came back online, click the Refresh button to scan for networks again.[3]

Windows XP

  1. Right-click on the Network icon. This is located in the System Tray in the lower-right corner of the desktop. You may need to click the arrow next to the Tray in order to show hidden icons.
  2. Select “View Available Wireless Networks”. This will open a list of networks that are in range of your computer. Click on the one you want to connect to.
  3. Enter the password. In the “Network key” field, enter in the password for the network you are connecting to. Click the Connect button.[4]

Mac OS X

  1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the Menu bar. This can be found in the upper-right corner of the desktop. If the icon is not present, click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Open the Network section, click Wi-Fi, and then check the box labeled “Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar”.
  2. Select your network. When you click the Wi-Fi icon, you will be shown a list of available networks. Networks that require a password will have a lock icon next to the network name.
  3. Enter your password. Once you’ve entered the correct password, you will be connected to the network.

iOS

  1. Open the Settings app. Tap the Wi-Fi menu option at the top of the list.
  2. Make sure that Wi-Fi is toggled on. If it is not, toggle the slider so that it turns green (iOS 7) or blue (iOS 6).
  3. Select your network. All of the available networks will be displayed when the Wi-Fi option is toggled on. Networks that require a password will have a lock icon next to the name.
  4. Enter your password. Once you’ve selected the network, you will be asked for any password required. Once you enter the password, your iOS device will connect to the network. It may take a moment for the device to connect.

Android

  1. Open your device’s Settings. You can access this from the app drawer, or by pressing your phone’s menu button.
  2. Make sure that Wi-Fi is turned on. In the Settings menu, toggle the slider next to the Wi-Fi menu so that it displays “ON”.
  3. Tap the Wi-Fi menu. All of the available networks will be displayed. Any networks that require a password will have a lock icon over the signal strength.
  4. Select your network. Choose the network you want to connect to. If it requires a password, you will be asked for it before you can connect. Once you enter the password, it may take a moment for the device to connect to the network.

Linux

  1. Ensure that your wireless network adapter is compatible with Linux. Follow Set-up-a-Wireless-Network-in-Linux to make sure that your card will work.
  2. Open Network Manager. Most of the popular Linux distributions come with Network Manager installed. The icon can be found near the clock on your taskbar. If your distribution doesn’t use network manager, look up the specific instructions in your distribution’s documentation.
  3. Choose your network. In the Network Manager, select your network and enter the password if required. Once you enter the password, you will be connected to the network.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.geeksquad.com/do-it-yourself/2mm/connecting-to-wireless-networks-in-windows-8.aspx
  2. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/view-and-connect-to-available-wireless-networks
  3. ↑ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928429
  4. ↑ http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/wlan_client_connect.mspx?mfr=true
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