Setting up a wireless network in Windows
Applies To
Windows 10 Windows 11A wireless network at home lets you get online from more places in your house. This article describes the basic steps for setting up a wireless network and starting to use it.
Get the right equipment
Before you can set up your wireless network, here’s what you’ll need:
Broadband Internet connection and modem. A broadband Internet connection is a high-speed Internet connection. Optical fiber and cable are the most common broadband connections. You can get a broadband connection by contacting an Internet service provider (ISP). ISPs frequently offer broadband modems. Some ISPs also offer combination modem/wireless routers. You can also find these at computer or electronics stores, and online.
Wireless router. A router sends info between your network and the Internet. With a wireless router, you can connect PCs to your network using radio signals instead of wires. There are several different kinds of wireless network technologies, which include 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax.
Wireless network adapter. A wireless network adapter is a hardware equipment that connects your device to a wireless network. To connect your portable or desktop device to your wireless network, it must have a wireless network adapter. Most laptops and tablets—and some desktops—come with a wireless network adapter already installed.
To check whether your Windows device has a wireless network adapter:
-
Select Start , type device manager in the search box, and then select Device Manager.
-
Expand Network adapters.
-
Look for a network adapter that might have wireless in the name.
Setting up the modem and Internet connection
After you have all the equipment, you'll need to set up your modem and Internet connection. If your modem wasn't set up for you by your Internet service provider (ISP), follow the instructions that came with your modem to connect it to your device and the Internet.
-
For fiber-optic connections: Connect your modem to the fiber-optic outlet, typically using an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) connector.
-
For cable connections: Connect your modem to the cable jack using a coaxial cable.
-
For Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections: Connect your modem to the phone jack using a DSL filter and a phone cable.
Positioning the wireless router
Put your wireless router somewhere where it will receive the strongest signal with the least amount of interference. For better results, follow these tips:
Place your wireless router in a central location. Place the router as close to the center of your home as possible to increase the strength of the wireless signal throughout your home.
Position the wireless router off the floor and away from walls and metal objects, such as metal file cabinets. The fewer physical obstructions between your PC and the router's signal, the more likely that you'll be using the router's full signal strength.
Reduce interference. Some networking equipment uses a 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency. This is the same frequency as most microwaves and many cordless phones. If you turn on the microwave or get a call on a cordless phone, your wireless signal might be temporarily interrupted. You can avoid most of these issues by using a cordless phone with a higher frequency, such as 5.8 GHz.
Tip: To learn more about Wi-Fi bands, channels, and signal strength, see Wi-Fi and your home layout.
Securing your wireless network
Security is always important; with a wireless network, it's even more important because your network's signal could be broadcast outside your home. If you don't help secure your network, people with PCs nearby could access info stored on your network PCs and use your Internet connection.
To help make your network more secure:
Change the default username and password. This helps protect your router. Most router manufacturers have a default username and password on the router and a default network name (also known as the SSID). Someone could use this info to access your router without you knowing it. To help avoid that, change the default username and password for your router. See the documentation for your network device for instructions.
Set up a security key (password) for your network. Wireless networks have a network security key to help protect them from unauthorized access. We recommend using Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) security if your router and PC support it. See the documentation for your router for more detailed info, including what type of security is supported and how to set it up.
Use WPS
Some routers support Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). If your router supports WPS and it’s connected to the network, follow these steps to set up a network security key:
-
Do one of the following, depending on which version of Windows is running on your PC:
-
In Windows 10, select Start , then select Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center.
-
In Windows 11, select Start, type control panel, then select Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
-
-
Select Set up a new connection or network.
-
Select Set up a new network, then choose Next.
The wizard will walk you through creating a network name and a security key. If your router supports it, the wizard will default to Wi‑Fi Protected Access (WPA2 or WPA3) security. We recommend that you use WPA3 if you can, because it offers better security than WPA2, WPA, or Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security. With WPA3, WPA2 or WPA you can also use a passphrase, so you don’t have to remember a cryptic sequence of letters and numbers.
-
Write down your security key and keep it in a safe place.
-
Use a firewall. A firewall is hardware or software that can help protect your PC from unauthorized users or malicious software (malware). Running a firewall on each PC on your network can help control the spread of malicious software on your network and help protect your PCs when you're accessing the Internet. Windows Firewall is included with Windows.