How do i connect wifi to my laptop

The Internet is a really powerful tool. It gives us access to all kinds of information at a moment's notice—think email, Google search, and Wikipedia. So there's something a little counterintuitive about only being able to use the Internet when you sit down at a desktop computer. What if you could use the Internet from anywhere in your home or office?

If you already have high-speed (broadband) Internet service at your house, it's pretty easy to create your own home wireless network. Commonly known as Wi-Fi, a wireless network allows you to connect laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices to your home Internet service without an Ethernet cable.

Purchase a wireless router

To create your own Wi-Fi network, you'll need a wireless router. This is the device that will broadcast the Wi-Fi signal from your Internet modem throughout your house. Your Internet service provider (ISP) may offer you a wireless router for a small monthly fee. If you've never set up a Wi-Fi network before, this may be the easiest option.

If you want to buy your own router, we'd recommend spending a little more time researching different options. CNET offers a comprehensive guide on How to Buy a Router.

Some Internet modems may already have a built-in wireless router, which means you won't need to purchase a separate one.

Connect the cables

1. Once you've acquired a wireless router, you'll need to connect it to your existing Internet modem.

2. Connect an Ethernet cable from your modem to the wireless router (there is usually a short Ethernet cable included with your wireless router for this purpose).

3. Plug in the power cable for the wireless router.

4. Wait at least 30 to 60 seconds, and make sure the lights on your router are working correctly.

Configure your router

Next, you'll need to use your computer to configure your router's default settings. This includes setting a unique name and password for your wireless network.

1. Using your web browser, enter the router's default IP address into the address bar, then press Enter. Your router's instructions should include this information, but some of the most common addresses include 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, and 192.168.2.1.

2. The router's sign-in page will appear. Again, the exact sign-in details should be included with your router's instructions, but most routers use a standard user name and password combination, such as admin and password.

3. Your router's settings page will appear. Locate and select the Network Name setting, then enter a unique network name.

4. Locate and select the Network Password setting, and choose an Encryption option. There are several types of encryption you can use, but we recommend WPA2, which is generally considered to be the most secure.

5. Enter your desired password. Make sure to use a strong password to help ensure no one else can access your network.

6. Locate and select the Save button to save your settings.

Connect!

That's it! Now you're ready to connect to your Wi-Fi network and make sure it's working. The process for connecting to a Wi-Fi network will vary slightly depending on what type of computer or device you're using, but any system will require these basic steps.

1. Locate your computer's network settings, and search for nearby Wi-Fi networks.

2. Select your network, and enter your password.

3. If the connection is successful, open your web browser and try navigating to a webpage like www.google.com. If the page loads, it means your Wi-Fi connection is working correctly.

   To set up a Mac or Windows laptop as a wireless router, you can use an app that does it all for you or set it up manually within the operating system. Using your Mac as a hotspot tends to cut Wi-Fi off because it needs to use the component as the Wireless Local Area Connection (WLAN). Mobile phones do the same thing. However, Windows 10/11 offers a Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter that allows the Wi-Fi to continue working on the desktop or laptop. This setting is an excellent feature that many people use, some more than others.

   For Macs, you need an external USB Wi-Fi adapter or an ethernet connection to create a hotspot. For Windows, all you need to do is turn the hotspot on for everything to work. Regardless, ethernet is the best option, mainly because it’s faster and more reliable as a source. You also use ethernet on Windows 10/11 if you want.

   This article explains how to create a hotspot using an ethernet connection or Wi-Fi on Windows 8, 10, 11, or macOS. Let’s get started!

   Using A Laptop as a Wireless Router in Windows 10 and 11

   

   If you use Windows 10 or 11, you can turn your laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot with ease, thanks to the pre-included virtual device and settings. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update added the ability to share your network connection while maintaining the one on the laptop or desktop. Windows 11 includes it out of the box. Here’s what you do.

   1. Open the “Settings” menu in Windows 10 or 11.
      
      
   2. Select “Network & Internet” from the grouped menu options if not already present, then click on “Mobile hotspot” from the left menu.
      
      
   3. Toggle “Share my Internet connection with other devices” to on.
      
      
   4. Turn on the Wi-Fi on the other device (if not already active) and search for network.
      
      
   5. Join the network created by your laptop. The network name is listed in the “Share my internet connection” window.
      
      
   6. Type the network password on the other device, which is also listed on the “Share my internet connection” window, then tap on “Connect.”
      
      

   You should now be able to access the internet using your laptop as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

   Using A Laptop as a Wireless Router in Windows 8

   If you use Windows 8, you can still create a Wi-Fi hotspot, but it takes a little more configuring than it does on Windows 10 or 11.

   1. Navigate to “Control Panel > Network Connections.”
      
      
   2. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select “Properties.”
      
      
   3. Select the “Sharing” tab, check the box next to “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection,” then click on “OK.”
      
      
   4. Open the Command Prompt as administrator.
      
   5. Type the following: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=”<YOURSSID>” key=”<PASSWORD>” and press “Enter.” <YOURSSID> is the network name and <PASSWORD> is the network password.
      
   6. Now, type: netsh wlan start hostednetwork and press “Enter.”
      
   7. Then, type: netsh wlan show hostednetwork to check that everything is functioning correctly.
      

   You should now be able to join that Windows 8 network on your other device. Search and connect, as usual, entering the SSID and password when prompted.

   Windows 8, 10, or 11 Hotspot Not Working?

   If you try to use your Windows 8 or Windows 10 laptop as a wireless router and it fails to work, there could be several reasons why. Here are the most common windows hotspot problems.

   Problem #1: Bad Network Cable Connection

   A cable can look good on the outside but be damaged on the inside, especially since the wires are fragile and thin, and the ends can come loose or wear out.

   Problem #2: Old Router

   An old router that is barely compatible with your laptop’s Wi-Fi hardware and drivers can disconnect or not connect at all whenever you use a second Wi-Fi adapter for your internet source.

   Problem #3: Tethering from Your Smartphone

   

   When using your Android phone or iPhone as a tethering device in windows 8 or 10, it does not get identified as an internet source under some applications or drivers. Yeah, it works, but some aspects of Windows do not recognize the USB ethernet as being a valid internet connection, even though it is to some degree. This scenario occurs because tethering apps like pdaNet and EasyTether do not offer automatic IP addressing or managing multiple IPs compared to the PC’s Wi-Fi features and your phone’s built-in hotspot functions. So, Windows gets confused due to communication and data exchange restrictions. After all, tethering was designed to connect to one device only.

   

   It is important to note that you CAN share your ethernet connection when using third-party app options. For instance, pdaNet offers Wi-Fi direct (a hotspot using your phone’s data signal), Wi-Fi Share that automatically sets up a hotspot in your connected laptop using the existing tether connection, and Bluetooth internet functions.

   

   For Wi-Fi sharing with Samsung smartphones, see the article about using Wifi-Hotspot on Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus.

   Use an Apple Laptop as a Wireless Router

   If you want to use a MacBook or MacBook Pro as a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can. The limitations found in Windows 8 and 10 also apply to MacBooks. It requires an ethernet connection to supply the internet and the Wi-Fi adapter for the hotspot. Here’s how to do it.

   1. Select the “Apple logo” and then “System Preferences.”
      
   2. Select “Sharing” and then the words “Internet Sharing“ from the list on the left. DO NOT click the box yet. Click the words instead.
      
   3. Select “Ethernet” as the source and “Wi-Fi” in the “To computers using” box.
   4. Select how other devices will connect to your Mac on the next line.
   5. Return to the “Sharing > Internet Sharing” and check the box.
   6. Click “Start” in the popup window that appears.
   7. Click “OK” within all prompts if applicable.
   8. Scan for available networks on your other device and use the network name and password from Step 4.

   Use DD-WRT x86 to Turn Your PC into a Wireless Router

   Admittedly, this one requires a little more know-how, but it can be well worth the effort and possible frustration involved in setup and troubleshooting. DD-WRT is open-source Linux-based firmware designed for routers and embedded systems, but it has an x86 version that runs on PCs.

   Check out the detailed dd-wrt wiki page for a complete set of instructions.

   The Power of the PC

   Both Windows and Mac operating systems support multiple Wi-Fi adapters, but Mac PCs may experience problems when using this method. You would need to manually configure both Wi-Fi adapters with different IP addresses and only use one for local access. This setup tells the Mac to select one for internet traffic and one for local IP traffic. Furthermore, you need to place the internet-enabled Wi-Fi adapter topmost, so Mac prioritizes it. Aside from using an app or third-party program to enable wireless hotspot routing, these are the only ways to get the job done.

   Why my laptop is not connecting to Wi

   Here are some of the most common issues: Your device is in airplane mode or has Wi-Fi turned off. Your router is down. You're entering an incorrect Wi-Fi password.

   How can I connect my laptop to Wi

   Connecting in Windows:.

   Click on the Windows button in the lower-left corner of your desktop..

   Type “Settings.”.

   Look for “Network and Internet” and then click it..

   Click “Wi-Fi.”.

   On the Wi-Fi screen, click the on/off button to turn the Wi-Fi on..

   You can then connect to your network using your network name and password..