How to configure wireless settings on your Xbox 360 console for a wireless network

This article describes how to configure wireless settings on your Xbox 360 console for a wireless network that uses infrastructure mode. Infrastructure mode is used when your wireless devices connect to a central wireless access point, or more generally, a wireless router. For example, a desktop computer, the Xbox 360 console, and a portable computer can share the same Internet connection by connecting through a wireless router.

To configure wireless settings on your Xbox 360 console to use infrastructure mode, follow these steps:

1. Turn on your wireless access point or wireless router.
2. Plug the wireless network adapter into a USB port on the back of the console. Wait several moments, and then check the indicator light on the back of the wireless adapter.
   • Steady green light: The adapter is turned on and is connected to a wireless access point or to another wireless device. No additional configuration is needed.
   • Flashing red light: The adapter is experiencing a hardware failure. Discontinue using this article to troubleshoot and contact Xbox Customer Support for more help.
   • Steady red light: The adapter is ready to be connected to a wireless network. Continue with the following steps to connect to your wireless network.
3. Follow the steps for the version of the dashboard that you are using to configure your console wireless settings.
   
   New Xbox Experience dashboard:
   1. From the Xbox 360 dashboard, select System Settings in the My Xbox area.
   2. Select Network Settings.
   3. Select Configure Network.
   Legacy Xbox 360 dashboard:
   1. From the Xbox 360 Dashboard, go to the System blade.
   2. Select Network Settings.
   3. Select Edit Settings.
   If you have Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or a later version of Windows installed on the computer, you can use the Windows Connect Now feature to configure your connection. For more information about how to use Windows Connect Now to configure the wireless connection for your Xbox 360 console, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   962966  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962966/ ) How to use Windows Connect Now to configure the wireless connection for your Xbox 360 console
   If you do not have Windows XP SP2 or a later version or if you do not want to use the Windows Connect Now feature, go to the next step.
4. On the Basic Settings tab, select Wireless Mode.
5. From the list that is displayed, select the name of the wireless network to which you want to connect. (This is the name of your wireless network that you set up on your wireless router or wireless access point.)
   
   If you are connecting to a wireless network for which the network name is not being broadcast, follow these steps:
   1. Select the Specify Unlisted Network option.
   2. Select the security type for the non-broadcast network.
   3. Enter the wireless security settings by using the on-screen keyboard.
6. Select Apply, and then select Test at the prompt.

Important

• Make sure that the security settings that you enter match the security settings on your wireless router.
• If your wireless router only uses WPA 2 authentication, you must make sure that it can also accept WEP and WPA authentication. Currently, the Xbox 360 wireless adapter only supports WEP and WPA authentication.
• If you are using a 802.11n router, make sure that it broadcasts in "Mixed Mode," because the Xbox 360 wireless adapter does not support the 802.11n standard. Many 802.11n routers can be configured to use an 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a "mixed" mode. The Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter should be able to connect to a router that is configured in this manner. See your router's documentation for more information about how to configure the router in this manner. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  967990  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967990/ ) Your Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter is incompatible with 802.11n-only routers
• If you experience problems when you connect to an 802.11n router, see the following Knowledge Base article:
  907602  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907602/ ) Troubleshooting your Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter

Additional support

For information about how to contact Xbox Customer Support directly, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: