How to connect a wireless LAN Wi-Fi to the PC in Windows 10

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To connect to a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) from a PC, the basic condition is that the wireless LAN device and the PC’s wireless LAN adapter are installed.

After the hardware conditions are met, the LAN connection from the PC can be accessed wirelessly in addition to the wired LAN.

Basic structure of a wireless LAN

Basically, the following flow. 1Internet Line ⇒2Modem ⇒3Wireless LAN router be connected to the 4PC.

Here, we explain the connection method assuming that 3wireless LAN routers are installed and wireless LAN adapter driver is installed on the PC.

For the installation method of wireless LAN(WI-FI), please refer to the following post.

How to install the wireless LAN adapter driver on your PC

When connecting to the wireless LAN, you need the Network name(SSID) and password of the Network Security key.

How to check the PIN or the network security key(encryption key) of the wireless LAN (WI-FI) connected to the PC

Check your wireless LAN adapter

To use wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) on your PC, make sure that the network adapter (wireless LAN adapter) is properly registered in your PC.

You can check it from “Device Manager” below. Pressing Shortcuts Windows + X keys, and click 1“Device Manager“.

▼　As shown below, you can see that the wireless LAN 2“Dell Wireless 1703 802.11 …” is built in 1“Network adapter“.

Connecting the Wireless LAN in the “Notification Area”

Before connecting to a wireless LAN, If a wireless network (wireless LAN) adapter is invalid(disabled), you need to set it to be active(enabled) again.

▼　In the notification area (system tray) as shown below, if the network is not connected with icon as shown, click 1it and click 2Network and Internet Settings.

▼　In general, when LAN adapter is enabled(valid), theWi-Fi tab is displayed. But because the current LAN adapter is disabled(invalid), the Wi-Fi tab is disappeared.

So, click 2Network and Sharing Center on the 1“Status” tab or “VPN” tab.

▼　 For the easiest and quickest way to set up, right-clicking the unconnected network icon in the notification area (system tray), and 1Open Network and Sharing Center.

Connecting a Wireless LAN in “Control Panel”

▼　As below, press Windows + R key to open Run, and enter 1control or C:\Windows\System32\control.exe in the text box. Click 2OKbutton.

After Windows 10 Creators Update(version 1703), Control panel item disappeared from the right click menu of Start Button. You can check how to start the Control Panel from the following link.

How to start “Control panel” disappeared after Windows 10 Creators Update(version 1703)

▼　Click 1Network and Sharing Center.

▼　”Network and Sharing Center” window is displayed. Click 1Change adapter settings.

▼　 “Network Connection” window is displayed. Right-clicking on “Wi-Fi adapter” which is “disabled“, and click 1“Enable. Or, just double-click “Wi-Fi adapter”. The setting changes to “Enable”.

▼　Not yet connected to Wi-Fi and Internet, but the Network adapter has been changed to “ON“, so it is ready to connect to the Internet.

Setting up a wireless LAN connection in “Device Manager”

Alternatively, you can easily connect by right-clicking the wireless LAN adapter (“Network Adapter”) and clicking 1“Enable device“.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

▼　Clicking with 1* in the notification area as follows, a network name, SSID is displayed. Selecting the wireless LAN router from the list, check Connect automatically and then click 2Connect.

Enter PIN code

Enter “PIN“(approximately 8 digits), or instead of PIN, “Network security key” attached to the body of the wireless LAN router, and click Next.

How to check the PIN or the network security key(encryption key) of the wireless LAN (WI-FI) connected to the PC