How to Connect to a Wi-Fi Network on Windows 10

ByUmar Ali – September 8, 2020

Let’s teach you how to connect to a Wi-Fi network on Windows 10? In this post you will learn about to connect to a wireless network in more than one way, and if you are interested then read the below listed four methods to complete this goal on Windows 10.

If you use a tablet, laptop or even a desktop PC, it likely has Wi-Fi connection as it’s the most suitable medium to access a network and the internet without messing around with cables.

However, it is only suitable as long as you know the process to connect. If you are using Windows 10, there are different processes fastly connect to the internet while using a Wi-Fi connection, whether you are setting up a wireless device for the first time, connecting in a new location, or if you are simply looking for an efficient method to connect several devices to the same or one network.

In this Windows 10 guide, you will walk on the steps to connect to a Wi-Fi network using the network flyout in Settings, Taskbar, and Command Prompt with using command lines.

Read: How to Disable & Re-enable the Windows Key on Windows 10

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Taskbar

Table of Contents

You can Connect to a Wi-Fi network in Windows 10 via the network flyout in the taskbar. Here are these steps to follow:

Press the Network icon from the Taskbar at the bottom right corner. (If you unable to see the network icon, click the up arrow button on the left.)
Alternatively, you can open Action Center or press the Windows+A keys, and then select the Network button in the Quick actions section to access the network flyout.
Click the Wireless network you wish to connect
Check the box beside Connect automatically option
Select the Connect button (If you do not view any network listed, click on the Wi-Fi option to enable or turn on the adapter from the flyout.
Enter and Confirm the network password (Security key)
Click the Next option
When you have done the steps above, the device will connect to the network with the wireless connection.

Read: How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 10

How to Reconnect Automatically

Windows 10 also provide you an option to reconnect and re-enable the device automatically after disconnecting the adapter manually. Here are the following step to schedule automatic reconnect to the Wi-Fi networks:

Go to the taskbar at the bottom-right corner side click on the Network icon
Click the Wi-Fi button to disable or turn off wireless connectivity
Click the drop-down menu and select when to re-connect and re-enable options:ManuallyIn 1 hourIn 4 hoursIn 1 day

After the completion of these steps, Windows 10 will not try to re-establish a wireless connection until the schedule you designated

Once you use this function, the PC will only auto-connect to those networks that you have to configure previously to connect automatically.

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How to Connect to Wi-Fi Network using Control Panel

The second way to connect to a wireless network with using the Control Panel. Here are these steps to follow:

Click on the Start option or type Control Panel in the search bar
Then select the Control Panel app to open
Select the Network & Internet option
Select the Network & Sharing Center option
Click on the Setting up a new Network or connection under the “Set up a new network or connection” section
Click on the Manually connect to a wireless network option
Press the Next option
Ensure the network SSID name
Click on the drop-down menu to choose the Security type. (Usually, the security type is WPA2-Personal.)
Confirm the network password or security key
Select the checkbox of the Start this connection automatically option
Check the Connect even if the network is not broadcasting option (Optional)
Press the Next button
Then click on the Close button

When you complete these steps, the computer will connect to the Wi-Fi network automatically.

Read: How to Create a Shutdown Icon in Windows 8 or 8.1

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Settings

In this method you can connect the Wi-Fi from the settings page use the “Network & Security” to pre-configure Wi-Fi connections manually, and then once the network is in range, it will automatically connect to your computer/pc. Here these steps to use to setting up a Wi-Fi connection with the Settings app.

Click on the Start button and select the Settings option to open (Type the “Settings” in the search bar and tap to open)
Select the Network & Security option
Click on the Wi-Fi option
Select the Manage known networks options
Press the Add a new Network option
Now confirm the Name of the new Network
Select the drop-down menu to press the Security type. (Usually, the security type is WPA2-Personal AES.)
Make sure or Confirm the network password or security key as necessary
Check the box of Connect automatically option
(optional) Check the Connect even if this network is not a broadcasting option
Press the Save button

At the end of the above steps, the device or computer or PC will automatically connect to the specified Wi-Fi network when it is in range.

Read: How to Create a Shutdown Icon in Windows 10

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Command Prompt

Let’s show you another way to connect to a Wi-Fi network using the netsh command-lin tool using Command Prompt. Here are these steps to wireless access point with command lines.

Click on the Start to open or type cmd in the search bar
Click on the Command Prompt option or righ-click the top result, and click on the Run as administrator option
Type the following command to see the available network profile and hit the Enter key: netsh wlan show profile
Make sure the wireless network profile with the settings you wish to use:
Type the following command to connect the Wi-Fi network and hit Enter key: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR_WIFI_SSID name=PROFILE_NAME
In this command, keep in mind the particular SSID of the Profile and Network name with the network settings you are going to connect.
For instance, this command connects to the DHL network using the DHL profile: netsh wlan connect ssid=tsunami name=tsunami

Quick Tip: In case you have more than one wireless adapter, you must also indentify in the command which adapter you wish to use. Here is an example of the command: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR_WIFI_SSID name=PROFILE_NAME interface=Wi-Fi.

At the end of the above steps, your device will automatically connect to the wireless network.

Read: Open Google Chrome Using Command Prompt on Windows 10

How to Connect a New network connection

Using Windows 10, you can enter the netsh command tool to manage wireless adapters and networks. However, it only lets the connections to before known networks due to you must identify a network profile, which you cannot create with the tool.

In case you must use Command Prompt to connect one or more devices to the same Wi-Fi network, there is a workaround you can use. You can export the network profile that wans make automatically during the first connection and then import it using netsh to connect to the wireless network.

Read: How to Take Screenshots in Windows 10 on Computer

Export Wi-Fi Profile

Let’s teach you how to export a Wi-Fi profile on Windows 10. Here are these steps to follow:

Click on the Start or Type cmd in the Search bar
Click on the Command Prompt app or right-click on the top result, and select the Run as administrator option
Type the given command to see the available Wi-Fi network profile and hit Enter key: netsh wlan show profile
To export a profile type the following command and press Enter key: netsh wlan export profile PROFILE-NAME key=clear folder=PATHTOEXPORTFOLDER
For instance, this command exports the tsunami profile to the Documents folder: netsh wlan export profile tsunami key=clear folder=C:UsersmDocuments

When you finished the above steps, you can import the same XML file to connect other PCs to the same network or reconnect you computer device if the profile in no longer available.

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Import Wi-Fi profile

Here are these to import a Wi-Fi profile on Windows 10:

Click on the Start or Type cmd in the Search bar
Click on the Command Prompt or Right-click on the top result, and select the Run as administrator option
Type the given command to determine the name of the network adapter and hit Enter key: netsh wlan show interfaces
Make sure the adapter name that will connect to the network. (On Windows 10 with single adapter, usually, the name is Wi-Fi)
Type the given command to import the network profile and hit the Enter key: netsh wlan add profile filename=”PATHTOPROFILE.XML” Interface=”YOUR_WIFI_ADAPTER_NAME” user=current
In the command, confirm to specify the path to the XML file and interface name.
For instance, this command imports the xml profile place in the Documents folder to the Wi-Fi adapter: netsh wlan add profile filename=”C:UsersmDocumentswi-fi-tsunami.xml” Interface=”WI-FI” user=current
Type the given command to connect to the wireless network and hit the Enter key: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR_WIFI_SSID name=PROFILE_NAME
Confirm in the command to identify the SSID and Profile name
For instance, this command connects to an access point using the tsunami profile name and SSID: netsh wlan connect ssid=tsunami name=tsunami

Quick Tip: In case you have several wireless adapters, you must also identify in the command which adapter you wish to use. For instance, netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR_WIFI_SSID name=PROFILE_NAME interface=Wi-Fi

Once you complete the above process, the device should automatically connect to the network.

FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsAppUmar Alihttps://www.dowpie.comUmar Ali is a passionate content writer. He feeds many blogs with his unique content. He loves creating contents tutorial content. And contribute many guest articles on different websites.