How to Connect to Wireless Networks
A growing number of people use laptops, notebooks and netbooks instead of desktop PCs. As a result of this trend, lots of wireless networks appear every day and more people use them on a regular basis. Windows 7 might not be very suited for netbooks but it works perfectly well on all other types of mobile PCs. Also, it offers all you need to connect to wireless networks effortlessly. In this tutorial I will show you how to detect wireless networks in Windows 7 and how to connect to them. As you will see, the procedure is very simple and requires very few steps.
On the right side of the taskbar, you will see a wireless network icon like the one below. Click on it.
A window with available network connections will open. As you can see from the screenshot below, the list is split by the type of available network connections. At the top you will have dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections, while at the bottom you will have a list with all the wireless network which Windows 7 has detected. To refresh the list of available networks, click on the button highlighted in the screenshot below.
You can scroll down through the list of available networks. If you leave your mouse cursor over a network for a second, you will see more details about it. Windows 7 will show the following: network name, signal strength, the type of wireless security used (if any) and its Service Set identifier (SSID).
Once you decided on which network to connect to, click on it. If you plan to use that network in the future, make sure you check the box that says 'Connect automatically'. This way, when you start your laptop next time, in the same area, it will automatically connect to this wireless network without requesting any manual intervention. Next, click on the Connect button.
NOTE: be cautious with wireless networks which have no security enabled. They can be used to steal personal data. If you connect to such networks make sure your security solutions are turned on.
After a few seconds, you will be asked to enter the security key. Ask the administrator of the network for the wireless security key or, if you are in your own home network, take it from the control panel of your router. If you are in a public place, it is best to check the 'Hide characters' box so that other people don't see what you are typing. Then type the security key and click on OK.
If you typed an incorrect password, Windows 7 will request you to type it again and again until it matches the password of the network you are connecting to. If everything is OK, Windows 7 will connect to the network you selected using the given security key. When the connection is successful, the wireless icon from your taskbar changes as shown below.
NOTE: this procedure works only if your wireless adapter is enabled. If it is not enabled, you won't see any wireless networks being available. The procedure of enabling the wireless adapter is different for each model of laptop. In one of our future articles we will publish a guide on how to troubleshoot problems with your network connections, so don't hesitate to come back.
Troubleshooting: If you cannot connect to a wireless network from your Windows 7 PC and all your other computers with older operating systems can connect, chances are you need to upgrade the firmware on your wireless router. Please consult the internet page of your router's model and see if there are any upgrades available. If there are, download and install the latest version of firmware.
Related articles:
How to Connect to Hidden Wireless Networks
How to Set Up an Ad Hoc Wireless Computer-to-Computer Network
What is the Network and Sharing Center?
Network Locations Explained
Transfer Files Between Devices & Your Windows 7 PC via Bluetooth
How to Troubleshoot Network & Internet Problems
How to Customize Network Sharing Settings in Windows 7
Share Libraries or Folders Using the Sharing Wizard
Share Libraries or Folders Using Advanced Sharing
How to Map Drives in Windows 7
Windows 7 Networking - What Do You Want to Know About it?
Recommended reading:
Easily Backup & Import Your Wireless Network Settings in Windows 7
Comments
mine is a wep key and it
mine is a wep key and it doesnt ask me to type in the key it just connects and then says it cant connect. how do i fix this
Most probably Windows 7 saved
Most probably Windows 7 saved a profile for your network with the wrong settings.
1st try to delete the current profile by going to: Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center. There click on the 'Manage wireless networks' link, select your network and click on Remove.
Once removed, connect again using the guide above and type your WEP key.
Yes, the possibility is that
Yes, the possibility is that the profile is saved. Remove your network through control panel /network and sharing center/manage wireless networks and scan for networks and try connecting. If it still doesnt prompt you for pwd, open your router interface with the router's IP address and make sure secuirity is enabled.
Windows 7 asks for my wep key
Windows 7 asks for my wep key everytime I reboot the computer then try to go on the internet. Why doesn't it save this information?
Mine does not have wireless
Mine does not have wireless section. It just has the first one with dialup. My drivers should all be up to date. I tried to do it like you guy instructed in the Connecting to a Hidden Network aswell but I did not have the manual option that you guys said to use. I do have a windows update for mynetwork card but for some reason I am unable to download it.
What model of laptop do you
What model of laptop do you have?
Wireless Rejects Network
Wireless Rejects Network Key
I'm adding a brand new notebook (Asus G72) to an existing home network (linksys router, desktop - Vista, laptop - Vista).
I use WPA Pre-Shared Key, TKIP
When I enter the key, I get a message that it is incorrect and the Asus does not connect with the network.
Mine everything look ok(able
Mine everything look ok(able to dected my wireless network with correct security key), but still cant connected to internet. It has indicate that no internet access. When click on troubleshoot problem, it stated that invalid IP address..
i have the opposite problem -
i have the opposite problem - i dont want it to sniff surrounding networks, just connect to home - i dont want to see the other signals. in addition, everytime i see these signals, each one is checked connect auto, and unchecking doesnt save changes. i really havent seen a better way to manage this yet - any ideas?
Hi All, I need some help
Hi All, I need some help here...i just brought a New HP netbook and done with the setup everything..but got into the windows...i tried connect to my connection...but its keep prompting me as windows was unable to connect to my connection..i had a laptop which can tap on the wireless router....and my netbook is using windows 7..and my connection and router is working perfectly alright...its just dont let me connect to my connection network...need some help here pls..thanks
I am able to connect to the
I am able to connect to the gateway but still cant get connected to internet. It has indicate that no internet access. When click on troubleshoot problem, it stated that invalid IP address
No Valid IP Address - I'm
No Valid IP Address - I'm having the same problem as a few others. My new Dell laptop with Windows 7 is able to detect my wireless network with correct security key), but still can't connect to internet. It has indicate that no internet access. When click on troubleshoot problem, it stated that invalid IP address. using 64-bit wep for security. have several xp machines that can get internet access without issues. how do i fix the "valid IP address" issue with my Win7 machine?
every time i try to connect
every time i try to connect to the network set up in my hm to my netbook, it shows the netboork, but dsnt prompt me for a password. i have windows 7, so i went to control panel /network and sharing center/manage wireless networks and removed the saved network i didnt need. however, it still isnt prompting me for a password so that i may connect. any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
I bought an Asus G72 at
I bought an Asus G72 at bestbuy just before Xmas and never had a problem connecting to the internet and/or finding networks. I was connected yesterday and I picked my laptop and put on my bed i lost connection. When I looked for available networks, I couldnt find mine or any of the neighbors' networks (usually i see a bunch). It just said "no available networks" or something like that. I went to another part of house and still same problem.
I asked my roommate and she had no problem with internet/network, so im really confused. I think it must be a problem with my laptop internal wireless card, but I dont know.
Anyone ever have this problem??
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