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Connecting your Windows® 8, 8.1, or 10 operating system computers to the wireless network

Connecting your wireless Windows® 8, 8.1 and 10 computers to the network can be done in a few steps.  But before connecting them to a wireless network, check the following items first.

Wireless settings
 
Prepare the settings listed below:
  • Wireless network name (SSID) – the name of your wireless network
  • Wireless security type – the mode and encryption used by the router
  • Network security key or Passphrase – the password used to connect wirelessly 
Don’t have the wireless settings?  Click here to retrieve them.
 
Other things that you need to do:
  • Ensure that your laptop or computer has wireless capability.
  • Check the wireless switch and make sure it is turned ON.  If you don’t know how to turn it ON, contact your laptop or computer’s manufacturer for assistance in enabling the wireless capability.
  • Ensure that your laptop or computer is within three (3) to 10 feet from the router you are trying to wirelessly connect to.
Once the above items are checked, you can now start connecting your wireless computer to the network.  Select the operating system applicable to you:

Windows 10
Windows 8 and 8.1

Windows 10
 
Step 1:
Click the Wireless Windows 10 system tray wireless icon icon on the system tray of your Desktop screen.  The list of available wireless networks will be displayed.
 
QUICK TIP:  Press Windows Windows key key + D to reveal the Desktop.

NOTE:  In this example, the linksyssmartwifirouter_5Ghz network was used.
 
Windows 10 wireless site survey

Step 2:
Select your network from the list and click Connect.

QUICK TIP:  If you wish to connect to the network automatically upon startup, check Connect automatically.
 
User-added image
 
Step 3:
Enter your network security key or passphrase then click Next.
 
User-added image

You will be asked if you want to enable network discovery between the devices in your network. 

QUICK TIP:  If you are setting up a home or work network, select Yes.
 
User-added image
 
NOTE:  The wireless icon on the system tray will change to User-added image, indicating it is now connected to your network with Internet access.  If there is no Internet connection, the icon will be User-added image.

Windows 8 and 8.1
 
Step 1:
Press the Windows User-added image key + D on your keyboard to show the Desktop.
 
Step 2:
Click on the Wireless User-added image icon on the system tray.  The list of available wireless networks will be displayed.
 
User-added image
 
Step 3:
Select your network from the list and click Connect.

QUICK TIP:  If you wish to connect to the network automatically upon startup, check Connect automatically.
 
User-added image
 
Step 4:
Enter your network security key or passphrase and click Next.

Step 5:
You will be asked if you want to enable sharing between the devices in your network.

QUICK TIP:  If you are setting up a home network, select Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices.
 
User-added image
 
The status of the wireless connection will be displayed.
 
User-added image
 
The wireless icon on the system tray will change once the computer is successfully connected to the network.  Upon connection to the Internet, it will display User-added image.
 
NOTE:  For video instructions on how to connect your Windows computer to the wireless network, click here.
 
Troubleshooting issues while connecting to the router

If the above steps did not work successfully, try removing the old wireless profiles first and try connecting again following the same steps.  Click on the link below to know how.
 
Removing wireless network profiles or preferred networks


Related Articles:
 
Connecting a Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 operating system computers to a hidden network
Identifying Linksys dual-band routers and devices​
Differentiating the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands
Personalizing and connecting to the 5 GHz wireless band on a Linksys Wi-Fi Router
Checking if your Windows computer has the 5 GHz network band capability
Checking if your Mac computer has the 5 GHz network band capability

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