How to connect to Wifi in Windows 10

Wi-Fi has been around for a while now and so have the settings that help us connect. However, with the release of Windows 10, there is a whole new set of different Wi-Fi settings to get used to. Fortunately, these settings are simple to understand and use unlike past iterations of Windows might have been. In fact, it may be easier now to adjust settings, and connect to Wi-Fi than it ever has been.

Step 1: Open the new Settings menu.

Windows 10 features a new, simplified Settings menu. You can access it from Start >> Settings. You should now see a series of nine different categories.

Step 2: Click the “Network & Internet” option from the list given. You should see a new page with a series of five or six different menu options down the left-hand side of the window.

Step 3: Click the Wi-Fi option at the top of the list on the left-hand side to continue. If you do not see “Wi-Fi” as an option, you either don't have a Wi-Fi adapter on your device or the adapter is currently turned off. Please check the troubleshooting section below for help.

Step 4: Select a network to connect to. There should now be a series of blue squares running down the page. Inside these squares is a standard Wi-Fi icon depicting the connection strength you have to that network. Select the network you are looking for by single-clicking it.

• You should see a box appear under the selected network. Inside this should be a checkbox that says “Connect automatically” to the right of it. Check this box if you would like to automatically connect to this network from now on, when you are in range of it. Then click “Connect.”

Step 5: Enter the network security key in the box provided. If you don’t know the key, you will need to obtain from the network administrator.

• Below this should be a box that says “Share network with my contacts” to the right of it. If you would like to do this, go ahead and check it. Please note that this will only work with contacts associated with your Microsoft account. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 6: Make your device discoverable, or not. You will then need to decide whether you would like to have your current device be discoverable by other PCs and devices on the network you're connecting to. This would allow users to have a certain amount of access to your PC. If you are connecting to a private network at home or work, you should be able to do this safely. However, with public networks, this option may be unsafe. Click either the “Yes” or “No” buttons to continue.

Step 7: Check your connection. Whenever you connect to a new network, you want to make sure that everything is working the way that it is supposed to. On your Start bar, you should see a series of icons listed to the left of the time. You are looking for a standard Wi-Fi icon like you saw earlier, but in this new area. Click once, and you should see that the top listed Wi-Fi network is the one you have connected to.