How to connect to an existing wifi network?

I'm trying to get a computer to connect to an existing private wifi network. In Network & Sharing Center I click on "Set up a new connection or network", then "Manually connect to a wireless network", then enter the network name, security type (WPA2-Personal), and password. With "Start this connection automatically" checked I click Next and get the message, "A network called {network name} already exists" (which is true). I then click "Use the existing network. Open the Connect to a network dialog so I can connect."

However rather than opening a network dialog I'm simply brought back to the Network and Sharing Center, i.e. right back to where I started.

How do I get to the "Connect to a network dialog" so I can connect?

(Windows 10 v. 1909)

coffent said:

I'm trying to get a computer to connect to an existing private wifi network. In Network & Sharing Center I click on "Set up a new connection or network", then "Manually connect to a wireless network", then enter the network name, security type (WPA2-Personal), and password. With "Start this connection automatically" checked I click Next and get the message, "A network called {network name} already exists" (which is true). I then click "Use the existing network. Open the Connect to a network dialog so I can connect."
However rather than opening a network dialog I'm simply brought back to the Network and Sharing Center, i.e. right back to where I started.
How do I get to the "Connect to a network dialog" so I can connect?

For this you're probably better off using the modern Settings app rather than the old Control Panel methods.

First, use Settings to Forget your existing WiFi connection profile for this network. This will mean you'll forget all previous connection details and be able to set it up as if you have never used it before.

Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10

Next, click the WiFi icon on the taskbar and select the network in the pop-up menu. Tick 'connect automatically' then click the Connect button. You will then be prompted for the connection key.

f14tomcat said:

ok...........

...our posts crossed....

Thanks f14tomcat and Bree for your suggestions. Unfortunately they didn't help, and I'm now thinking it's a hardware problem. I have a laptop that connects to the wi-fi network with no problem, but I'm now trying to connect a new desktop. It is supposed have wifi and indeed there's a connection from the motherboard to a wifi antenna. I tried "forgetting" the previous wifi network and re-setting it up as you suggested. I was able to do so, and under the Settings > Wi-Fi tab it shows Wi-Fi "On". However when I click "Show available networks" nothing happens.

If I click "Change adapter options" it shows Wi-Fi "Not connected" and "Qualcomm QCA9565 802.11b/g/n Wireless Adapter". When I clicked "Diagnose this connection" it reset the wireless adapter but the Troubleshooter wasn't able to fix the problem.

Is this a definitive indication that the wi-fi hardware is *not* working, or is there some other way of testing this?

A slightly related question: I'd like to change the name of the Ethernet connection to avoid confusion with wi-fi. If I click "Rename this connection" it allows me to change "Ethernet" to something else, but that's not what I want to do. I want to rename the network. Is there a way to do this or possibly "forget" and re-establish an ethernet network similar to what one can do with wi-fi?

Thanks again!

coffent said:

If I click "Change adapter options" it shows Wi-Fi "Not connected" and "Qualcomm QCA9565 802.11b/g/n Wireless Adapter". When I clicked "Diagnose this connection" it reset the wireless adapter but the Troubleshooter wasn't able to fix the problem.

Is this a definitive indication that the wi-fi hardware is *not* working, or is there some other way of testing this?

'Not connected' doesn't necessarily mean the WiFi adapter isn't working, just that you have not yet connected to an available network. If it is working then a list of available WiFi names should appear when you click on the WiFi icon on the taskbar which looks like this when not connected.


If the list is empty then either the antenna is not connected to the WiFi adapter or the adapter isn't working. This may be a driver problem rather than hardware, so look in Device Manager for any yellow warnings. Also check that the WiFi adapter is not disable in Device Manager.

...or try 192.168.1.254, which is the IP address my router uses. If neither of those work, then look at Network in File Explorer, the hub should appear as a device under Network Infrastructure. Double-click on it to open its web page.