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Connect to a Wireless Network on Windows
There's more than one way to connect to Wi-Fi
By Joli Ballew Joli Ballew Writer University of Texas Joli Ballew is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and Microsoft MVP, Lynda.com trainer, Microsoft Press author, and college professor.
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lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 20, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by
Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide
What to Know
Windows 10: Select the Globe icon in the lower-right corner, choose a network, select Connect, and enter the network key if prompted.Windows 8.1: Press Windows key+C, select Settings > Network > Available, choose the network, and select Connect.Windows 7: In the Taskbar, select Network, choose a network, select Connect, enter the security key, and select OK.
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Ella Rodriguez 7 minutes ago
All modern Windows devices support wireless network connections when equipped with the necessary har...
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Audrey Mueller Member
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All modern Windows devices support wireless network connections when equipped with the necessary hardware. Generally, that's a wireless network adapter. How you make the network connection depends on the operating system installed on the device, and there may be multiple ways to connect.
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Ethan Thomas 1 minutes ago
On older devices, purchase and configure a USB-to-wireless adapter as a workaround. Instructions app...
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Oliver Taylor Member
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On older devices, purchase and configure a USB-to-wireless adapter as a workaround. Instructions apply to Windows 10, 8.1, 7, XP, and the Command Prompt.
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Scarlett Brown 3 minutes ago
Use the Taskbar to Connect to a Network in Windows 10
All Windows 10 devices, including d...
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Madison Singh 2 minutes ago
If you connect using this method, you'll need to know the network name so that you can select it...
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Mason Rodriguez Member
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Use the Taskbar to Connect to a Network in Windows 10
All Windows 10 devices, including desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets, let you view and log in to available wireless networks from the Taskbar. At the Network list, click the desired network and then input credentials if prompted.
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Jack Thompson 8 minutes ago
If you connect using this method, you'll need to know the network name so that you can select it...
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Charlotte Lee 12 minutes ago
If you're in a public place like a coffee shop, you'll need to ask the proprietor. Some netw...
If you connect using this method, you'll need to know the network name so that you can select it from the list. You will also need to know the network key (password) assigned to the network if it's secured with one. If you're at home, that information is likely on your wireless router.
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Grace Liu 29 minutes ago
If you're in a public place like a coffee shop, you'll need to ask the proprietor. Some netw...
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If you're not connected to a network, this icon will be a Globe icon with a No symbol. In the li...
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Christopher Lee Member
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If you're in a public place like a coffee shop, you'll need to ask the proprietor. Some networks don't require credentials, though, and a network key isn't necessary. To connect to a network in Windows 10: Select the Network icon on the Taskbar (refer to the Note below if you don't see a Network icon).
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Sebastian Silva Member
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If you're not connected to a network, this icon will be a Globe icon with a No symbol. In the list of available networks, select the network to connect to it.
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Ryan Garcia Member
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To connect to this network automatically next time you're within range of it, click next to Connect Automatically. Click Connect. If prompted, type the network key and click Next.
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Lucas Martinez 25 minutes ago
If prompted, decide if the network is a public network or a private one. Select the applicable answe...
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Andrew Wilson 1 minutes ago
If you don't see a Network icon on the Taskbar, click Start > Settings > Network & Int...
If prompted, decide if the network is a public network or a private one. Select the applicable answer.
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Christopher Lee 10 minutes ago
If you don't see a Network icon on the Taskbar, click Start > Settings > Network & Int...
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Victoria Lopez Member
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If you don't see a Network icon on the Taskbar, click Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Show Available Networks. Rarely, the network you want to connect to is hidden from view, which means the network name won’t appear in the Network list.
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Thomas Anderson 8 minutes ago
If this is the case, you’ll have to work through the Network Connection wizard, available from the...
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If this is the case, you’ll have to work through the Network Connection wizard, available from the Network and Sharing Center.
Connect to a Network Using the Network and Sharing Center
For those more familiar with using Network and Sharing Center, accessing it may be slightly different from previous versions of Windows, but the basic functionality is nearly the same. To connect to a network using the Network and Sharing Center, do the following: Right-click the Network icon on the Taskbar and select Open Network & Internet settings.
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Dylan Patel Member
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From the left panel, select Status. Under Advanced network settings, select Network and Sharing Center.
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James Smith Moderator
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Under Change your networking settings, select Set up a new connection or network. Select Set up a new network and select Next.
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Mason Rodriguez 54 minutes ago
Enter the required information and select Next. (Check with your network administrator or the docume...
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Christopher Lee 52 minutes ago
For more information about the different types of Windows network connections, refer to our article ...
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Hannah Kim Member
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Enter the required information and select Next. (Check with your network administrator or the documentation included with your wireless router.) Complete the wizard as prompted.
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Joseph Kim 12 minutes ago
For more information about the different types of Windows network connections, refer to our article ...
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For more information about the different types of Windows network connections, refer to our article on types of network connections.
Connect to a Network in Windows 8 1
Windows 8.1 offers a Network icon on the Taskbar (which is on the Desktop) like Windows 10 does, and the steps for connecting to a network from there are almost identical. To connect from the Desktop, though, you must first access it.
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James Smith 48 minutes ago
You can do that from the Start screen by clicking the Desktop tile or by using the key combination W...
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Mia Anderson 16 minutes ago
If you'd rather connect to a network from the Windows 8.1 Charms bar, or if there's no Netwo...
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Thomas Anderson Member
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You can do that from the Start screen by clicking the Desktop tile or by using the key combination Windows key+D. Once at the Desktop, follow the steps shown above in the Windows 10 section of this article.
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Dylan Patel 1 minutes ago
If you'd rather connect to a network from the Windows 8.1 Charms bar, or if there's no Netwo...
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Lucas Martinez 11 minutes ago
Select the network. To connect to this network automatically next time you're in range, place a ...
If you'd rather connect to a network from the Windows 8.1 Charms bar, or if there's no Network icon on the Taskbar: Swipe in from the right side of your touchscreen device, or move your mouse cursor to the lower-right corner of the screen. (You can also use the keyboard combination Windows key+C.) Click Settings > Network.
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Mia Anderson Member
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Select the network. To connect to this network automatically next time you're in range, place a check next to Connect Automatically.
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Natalie Lopez 9 minutes ago
Click Connect. If prompted, type the network key and click Next....
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Mason Rodriguez 73 minutes ago
If prompted, decide if the network is a public network or a private one. Click the applicable answer...
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Madison Singh Member
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Click Connect. If prompted, type the network key and click Next.
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Isaac Schmidt 11 minutes ago
If prompted, decide if the network is a public network or a private one. Click the applicable answer...
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Isabella Johnson 59 minutes ago
Connect to a Network in Windows 7
Windows 7 also offers various ways to connect to networ...
If prompted, decide if the network is a public network or a private one. Click the applicable answer. If the network you want to connect to is hidden and doesn't appear in the Network list, use the Network and Sharing Center as detailed in the Windows 10 section above.
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Emma Wilson Admin
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Connect to a Network in Windows 7
Windows 7 also offers various ways to connect to networks. The easiest way is to connect using the Network icon on the Taskbar: Select the Network icon on the Taskbar. If you're not connected to a network, this icon looks like a Wi-Fi icon with no bars and has an asterisk on it.
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Natalie Lopez 9 minutes ago
In the Network list, select the network to connect to. To connect to this network automatically next...
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Ryan Garcia 20 minutes ago
If prompted, type the security key and click OK. As with other consumer Windows systems, Windows 7 o...
In the Network list, select the network to connect to. To connect to this network automatically next time you're in range, place a check next to Connect Automatically. Click Connect.
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Harper Kim 5 minutes ago
If prompted, type the security key and click OK. As with other consumer Windows systems, Windows 7 o...
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William Brown 26 minutes ago
Here you'll find the option Manage Wireless Networks. If you experience wireless network connect...
If prompted, type the security key and click OK. As with other consumer Windows systems, Windows 7 offers the Network and Sharing Center, available from Control Panel.
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Brandon Kumar Member
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Here you'll find the option Manage Wireless Networks. If you experience wireless network connection problems or if you don't see the network you want to connect to in the network list when working through the steps above, go here and click Manually Create a Network Profile. Work through the wizard to add the connection.
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Andrew Wilson 47 minutes ago
Connect to a Network in Windows XP
To connect a Windows XP computer to a wireless network...
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Connect to a Network in Windows XP
To connect a Windows XP computer to a wireless network, refer to the article Set Up Network Connections in Windows XP.
Use Command Prompt to Connect to a Network
The Windows Command Prompt, or Windows CP, lets you connect to networks from a command line. If you experienced wireless connection problems or can't figure out another way to connect, try this method.
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Sebastian Silva 11 minutes ago
You'll need to know the following information before you begin: SSID: The Sevice Set Identifier....
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Julia Zhang Member
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You'll need to know the following information before you begin: SSID: The Sevice Set Identifier. You'll likely find this on your broadband router and might also be the name of the network. Key: The network identifier (password).
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Sebastian Silva 18 minutes ago
To make a network connection using the command prompt: Search for Command Prompt using any method yo...
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Chloe Santos 112 minutes ago
Under Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator. If prompted, under User Account Control, select Y...
To make a network connection using the command prompt: Search for Command Prompt using any method you prefer. You can search from the Taskbar on a Windows 10 device.
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Sophia Chen 85 minutes ago
Under Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator. If prompted, under User Account Control, select Y...
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Jack Thompson Member
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Under Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator. If prompted, under User Account Control, select Yes to run. To locate the name of the network to connect to, type netsh wlan show profiles and press Enter on the keyboard.
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Elijah Patel 13 minutes ago
Write down the name of the network you want to connect to. To locate the name of the interface, type...
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Thomas Anderson 26 minutes ago
This is the name of your network adapter. Type netsh wlan connect name="nameofnetwork" i...
Write down the name of the network you want to connect to. To locate the name of the interface, type netsh wlan show interface and press Enter on the keyboard. Write down what you find in the first entry, next to the name.
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Henry Schmidt 29 minutes ago
This is the name of your network adapter. Type netsh wlan connect name="nameofnetwork" i...
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Jack Thompson Member
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This is the name of your network adapter. Type netsh wlan connect name="nameofnetwork" interface="nameofnetworkadapter" and press Enter on the keyboard. If you see errors or are asked for additional information, read what's offered and add parameters as required.
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Connect to a Wireless Network on Windows GA
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lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 20, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by
Ryan ...