Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10  

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10

    How to Connect To a Wireless Network in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Network & Sharing
    16 Aug 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Connect To a Wireless Network in Windows 10


    When you connect to a new wireless network, Windows will automatically create and add a profile for the wireless network. A wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the SSID (network name), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.

    Windows will usually automatically connect to networks in this priority order:
    • Ethernet
    • Wi‑Fi (wireless)
    • Mobile broadband

    When you connect to a new Wi‑Fi network, it’s added to the list, and Windows will connect to that network while it’s in range. If you connect to another Wi‑Fi network while in range of the first network, Windows will prefer the second network over the first one.

    Mobile broadband networks are treated differently. If you manually connect to a mobile broadband network when there is a Wi‑Fi network in range, the mobile broadband network is preferred just for that session. The next time you’re in range of both networks, the Wi‑Fi network is preferred. This is because mobile broadband networks typically are metered.

    If you want to force your PC to prefer a mobile broadband network over Wi‑Fi, tap or click the Wi‑Fi network in the list of networks, and then click Disconnect. Windows won’t automatically connect to that Wi‑Fi network.

    This tutorial will show you how to manually set up and connect to a wireless network on your PC in Windows 10.

    Fix Wi-Fi problems in Windows 10 | Microsoft Support

    To be able to set up and add a wireless network connection on your PC, you will need to know the information listed below from your wireless router or access point.

    * SSID (network name)
    * Security type (ex: Open (none), WEP, WPA (TKIP), WPA-2 (AES))
    * Security Key (aka: password, passphrase)
    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-router_wireless_settings.jpg



    Contents

    • Option One: Connect to Wireless Network in Network and Sharing Center
    • Option Two: Connect to Available Wireless Network in Settings
    • Option Three: Connect to Hidden Wireless Network in Settings
    • Option Four: Connect to Available Wireless Network in Network Flyout
    • Option Five: Connect to Hidden Wireless Network in Network Flyout
    • Option Six: Connect to Existing Wireless Network Profile in Command Prompt






    OPTION ONE

    Connect to Wireless Network in Network and Sharing Center


    1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

    2 In the Network and Sharing Center, click/tap on Set up a new connection or network. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_and_sharing_center-2.jpg

    3 Click/tap on Manually connect to a wireless network, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_and_sharing_center-3.jpg

    4 Enter the information for the wireless network you want to add and connect to, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    This would be the information from the note box at the top of the tutorial from your router or access point.

    Start this connection automatically = You would check this box to place this wireless connection at the top of the connection priority order to automatically connect to when it's in range.

    Connect even if the network is not broadcasting = This is to be able to automatically connect to the wireless network when it's not broadcasting it's SSID (network name).

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_and_sharing_center-4.jpg

    5 If you are connecting to an existing wireless network profile on your PC, then click tap on Use the existing network, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_and_sharing_center-4b.jpg

    6 If you are connecting to a new wireless network that you do not have a profile for on the PC, then click/tap on Close, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_and_sharing_center-5.jpg

    7 You may also wish to set this wireless network connection to be a private or public location.

    8 When finished, you can close the Network and Sharing Center if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Connect to Available Wireless Network in Settings


    1 Open the Settings app, and click/tap on the Network & Internet icon.

    2 Click/tap on Wi-Fi in the left pane, click/tap on the Show available networks link under Wi-Fi on the right side, and go to Option Four below. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-wi-fi_settings.png






    OPTION THREE

    Connect to Hidden Wireless Network in Settings app


    1 Open the Settings app, and click/tap on the Network & Internet icon.

    2 Click/tap on Wi-Fi in the left pane, click/tap on the Show available networks link under Wi-Fi on the right side, and go to Option Five below. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-wi-fi_settings.png






    OPTION FOUR

    Connect to Available Wireless Network in Network Flyout


    1 Click/tap on the wireless network icon in the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on an available wireless network (ex: Brink-Router2) that you want to connect to. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_flyout-1.jpg

    2 Check Connect automatically if you like, then click/tap on Connect. (see screenshot below)

    You would check the Connect automatically box if you want Windows to place this wireless connection at the top of the connection priority order to automatically connect to this wireless network when it's in range.

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_flyout-2.jpg

    3 If you are connecting to an existing wireless network profile on your PC, then you will see this below. Go to step 6 below.

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_flyout-3.jpg

    4 If you didn't already have a profile for this wireless network, and this is a secured wireless network connection, then you will need to enter the security key (password) of the wireless router or access point, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_flyout-4.jpg

    5 Click/tap on Yes (private) or No (public) for this wireless network connection to be set as a private or public location. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_flyout-5.jpg

    6 You are now connected to the wireless network (ex: Brink-Router), and have added it as a wireless network profile on your PC if it's not already.






    OPTION FIVE

    Connect to Hidden Wireless Network in Network Flyout


    1 Click/tap on the wireless network icon in the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on Hidden network at the bottom. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_hidden_wireless_network_flyout-1.jpg

    2 Check Connect automatically if you like, then click/tap on Connect. (see screenshot below)

    You would check the Connect automatically box if you want Windows to place this wireless connection at the top of the connection priority order to automatically connect to this wireless network when it's in range.

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_hidden_wireless_network_flyout-2.jpg

    3 If this is a secured wireless network connection, then you will need to enter the SSID (ex: Brink-Router2) name of the wireless router or access point, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_hidden_wireless_network_flyout-3.jpg

    4 If this is a secured wireless network connection, then you will need to enter the security key (password) of the wireless router or access point, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_hidden_wireless_network_flyout-4.jpg

    5 Click/tap on Yes (private) or No (public) for this wireless network connection to be set as a private or public location. (see screenshot below)

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_hidden_wireless_network_flyout-5.jpg

    6 You are now connected to the hidden wireless network (ex: Brink-Router2), and have added it as a wireless network profile on your PC if it's not already.






    OPTION SIX

    Connect to Existing Wireless Network Profile in Command Prompt


    You will only be able to use this option to connect to an existing wireless network profile on your PC.


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the netsh wlan show profiles command into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    This command will give you a list of all wireless network profiles on each interface on your PC.

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_command_prompt-1.jpg

    3 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    netsh wlan connect name="Name of wireless network profile"

    For example, if I wanted to connect to my Brink-Router2 wireless network profile listed in step 2 above, I would type the command below exactly.

    netsh wlan connect name="Brink-Router2"

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect_to_wireless_network_command_prompt-2.jpg

    4 When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn


    Related Tutorials






  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Enterprise | Preview Fast Ring
       #1

    Very good review.
    Option 6 was just what I was looking for
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,665
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    I'm glad it could help refack. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #3

    Hi Brink. Do you know of any way for me to setup a connection to a non-broadcasting SSID, for future? In other words, I am not at the location yet, but I know the hidden SSID and password, and would like to get it into the computer, so it will auto connect when it gets there. Any idea how I can do that? TIA.

    EDIT: Never mind, I figured it out......
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,665
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

      My Computers


  5. Posts : 316
    Pro 20H2
       #5

    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connectautomatically.jpg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16,783
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #6

    thename said:
    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connectautomatically.jpg
    Settings,
    Network,
    WiFi,
    Manage known networks,
    {select network},
    Properties,
    Connect automatically when in range [I have a vague memory that this item only appears if you are logged in to an Admin account].

    Several methods of doing the job are described in
    Connect Automatically to Wireless Network - TenForumsTutorials

    Denis
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 316
    Pro 20H2
       #7

    Try3 said:
    only appears if you are logged in to an Admin account.
    Not even in that case, for me.

    Try3 said:
    Several methods of doing the job are described in
    Connect Automatically to Wireless Network - TenForumsTutorials
    Excellent. I went straight for
    netsh wlan set profileparameter name="name" connectionmode=auto
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,783
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #8

    thename said:
    Not even in that case, for me.
    I'm glad you found a solution that did work but I think you are saying that
    Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10-connect-automatically-when-range.jpg (taken from tutorial Option 3, Step 3)
    does not appear.

    Do you have the Public-Private choice just below that [this is also only for Admins I think]?
    (taken from Turn On or Off Network Discovery - TenForumsTutorials)

    I don't know what causes either condition [unless your username is Administrator, which has always been known to cause undocumented oddities]. Perhaps you could ask in the first tutorial in case Brink has seen it before.

    Best of luck,
    Denis
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 316
    Pro 20H2
       #9

    You did right by pressing the point. It sent me back to the office to give another look, I saw what you showed in the screen shots. Thank you again.
    Last edited by thename; 13 Nov 2021 at 21:46.
      My Computer


 

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