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)
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
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)
3 Click/tap on Manually connect to a wireless network, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
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).
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)
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)
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.
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)
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)
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)
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.
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.
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)
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)
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.
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)
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.
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)
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)
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)
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.
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 thenetsh wlan show profilescommand 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.
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"
4 When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Connect to and Disconnect from a Cellular Data Network in Windows 10
- How to Add a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10
- How to Create a Show Available Networks shortcut in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Connect Automatically to Wireless Network in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off AutoSwitch for Wireless Network Connection in Windows 10
- How to Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 10
- How to See List of Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 10
- How to Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10
- How to Cleanup and Reset Network Adapters in Windows 10
- Set Wireless Network as Metered or Non-Metered Connection in Windows 10
- How to Backup and Restore Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 10
- How to See Your Wireless Network Security Key Password in Windows 10
- How to Set Network Location to be Public, Private, or Domain in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Wi-Fi Communication in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable W-Fi Sense and Paid Wi-Fi Services in Windows 10
- How to Change a Network Profile Name in Windows 10
- How to Create a Wi-Fi Settings shortcut in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Random Hardware MAC Addresses for Wi-Fi in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Mobile Hotspot on a Windows 10 PC
- How to Turn On or Off Hotspot 2.0 Networks in Windows 10
- How to Change Wireless Network Connection Priority Order in Windows 10
- How to Change Network Adapter Connection Priorities in Windows 10
- How to View Wireless Network Signal Strength in Windows 10
- How to Change When to Use Cellular Instead of Wi-Fi Network in Windows 10
- Enable or Disable Simultaneous Connections to Both Non-domain and Domain Networks in Windows 10
- How to Change Preferred Band for Wireless Network Adapter in Windows
Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10
-
New #1
Very good review.
Option 6 was just what I was looking for
-
-
New #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......
-
-
-
New #6
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
-
New #7
-
New #8
I'm glad you found a solution that did work but I think you are saying that
(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
-
-
New #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.
Connect To Wireless Network in Windows 10
How to Connect To a Wireless Network in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Network & Sharing
16 Aug 2021
Quote
Tutorial Categories
Related Discussions
