Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Connecting via wireless broadband
• Method 2 of 3: Connect using an Ethernet cable
• Method 3 of 3: Connect a computer via dial-up
• Tips
• Warnings

While connecting to the internet may seem simple, it can be complicated for someone unfamiliar with the network or type of internet they are trying to connect to. However, given the influence of the internet, it is important to know how to connect these days. Whether you're using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or dial-up, connecting to the internet is a simple task that's important to learn.

To step

1. Make sure the Internet source is turned on. It may seem obvious, but a common mistake often made when trying to connect to the Internet is not to ensure that the source of the Internet is turned on. Especially if you have just set up a router and / or modem, make sure it is turned on and everything is properly connected and that there are no lights, if any, indicating that there are issues. Cords can also be unplugged or slightly pulled out of the wall, making the operation pointless. Make sure everything is properly connected and working before you start.
2. Understand that most mobile devices can only connect to wireless broadband. Devices such as smartphones, mobile tablets, iPods, portable gaming systems, etc. can usually only connect to Wi-Fi due to its wireless nature. Therefore, you cannot connect a mobile device to ethernet or a dial-up network. Ethernet and dial-up connections are limited to computers and non-portable gaming devices (not covered in this article).
3. Know which "path" to follow to get to your network settings. Regardless of the operating system or device you are using, you will likely need to access your network settings at some point in the process. The process is slightly different for each device, but the general path to take to access your network settings is usually the same depending on the operating system. Some common devices or operating systems and their paths to the settings are listed below.
   • Windows XP: Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet Connections
   • Windows Vista: Start -> Network -> Network and Sharing Center
   • Windows 7: Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet
   • Windows 8: Start -> Search for "View Network Connections" -> View Network Connections
   • Windows 10: Search for "View Network Connections" -> View Network Connections
   • Mac OS X Jaguar and later: System Preferences -> Network
   • Ubuntu and Fedora: Network manager
   • iOS (iPhone, iPad, etc.): Settings -> Wifi
   • Android: Settings -> Wifi (or Wireless and networks)
   • Windows phone: Settings -> Wifi

Method 1 of 3: Connecting via wireless broadband

1. Make sure the Wi-Fi connection for your device is turned on. Regardless of the device, it is possible to turn off Wi-Fi. Some devices have a physical switch that turns the Wi-Fi on or off, while others only have the option to turn Wi-Fi off in the software settings. Make sure the computer's Wi-Fi function is not turned off before proceeding.
2. Access the settings of your device. Navigate to and open your device settings, then navigate to network settings. You can also click the Wi-Fi icon on a computer toolbar to open a drop-down menu with the names of the connections in the area.
3. Find the name of your Wi-Fi network. The default name should be written on the router of your broadband network. The name of a hotspot network is usually displayed by default as the name of your mobile device (for example, "the iPhone of [your name]"). Find this name and select it.
   • Wi-Fi or hotspot names can be changed, but if you've changed the name of your network or hotspot, you probably know what it is. If you weren't the one who changed it, or you don't know what the name is, ask the person in charge of the network.
4. Enter the password for the network or hotspot. Some networks are public, but most are not. If the network you are trying to connect to has a password, you will be prompted for that password before you can connect to the network. The default password is usually displayed on the router, but if you don't know the password, ask the person responsible for the network.
   • Some protected public networks can have different passwords for each person. For example, a school can allow students to log in to the network with their student ID instead of a single set password.
5. Wait for the computer to connect. It often takes a few seconds for a computer to connect to a wireless source, but if the computer cannot connect to the router, the Wi-Fi connection will time out. In that case, move closer to the source or disconnect and then connect your computer to WiFi.
6. Test your internet connection. After connecting to the internet, open a page in your web browser and wait for it to load. Open a reputable website, google.com or isup.me to ensure that the website does not go down as some pages may crash.
7. Troubleshoot if your computer does not connect to the internet. For some people, Wi-Fi connects without a hitch. This is not the case for others.There are many reasons why a computer may not be able to connect to the wireless connection; most computers have built-in software that can tell what the problem is. Some common issues are listed below:
   • Some older computers cannot connect to the Internet wirelessly. You may need an ethernet cable to get online.
   • If the internet is slow or doesn't connect, you may be out of range of the router or hotspot. Try to get closer to the source.
   • If the network is not listed, you may be out of range or the network may be turned off. Try to get closer or restart your router.

Method 2 of 3: Connect using an Ethernet cable

1. Buy an ethernet cable and all necessary adapters. Many recent devices can connect directly to the router via an Ethernet cable. However, some are not built to do that. Laptops, for example, often do not have components for the use of ethernet. Therefore, make sure you get any adapters you need for the ethernet cable to make sure you can use it.
   • Ethernet cables are all different; for example, a Cat-5 or Cat-5e cable runs slower than a Cat-6. However, it also largely depends on the router's connection and how many people will be connecting to the network at the same time. Unless you're doing very, very intensive upload work, you probably don't need a Cat-6 cable if you're the only one on the network.
   • You cannot connect a mobile device (eg a smartphone) to ethernet with an adapter.
2. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the broadband source. The broadband source is likely a router, but in some cases it could be a modem. In either case, you will need to connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the broadband source for the computer to connect.
3. Connect the other end of the cable to the computer. Find the ethernet connection on your computer and connect it. This connector is usually located on the back of the computer, where the other components are connected.
   • If your computer does not support Ethernet, make sure the computer is connected to the adapter and then connect the cord through the adapter.
4. Access to your computer's settings. You need to make sure the computer is set to recognize the ethernet instead of wireless. Most likely, you will need to turn off your wireless connection for the computer to recognize the ethernet connection instead.
5. Test your internet connection. Open a page in a web browser and see if it loads. Some web pages may take longer to load than others, and others sometimes crash, so try loading a reliable website (eg google.com or isup.me) to make sure the connection is active.
6. Troubleshoot when you can't connect. Ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi, but that doesn't mean nothing can still go wrong. If you are having problems with the ethernet, it could stem from many problems, but make sure that the basics (eg The connected router) are established and that your computer is not having any problems.
   • Make sure there is no problem with the Ethernet cable (this can range from "the cord was not fully connected" to "the cable is faulty / broken and needs to be replaced").
   • Check if the router is experiencing problems and restart it. If resetting the router doesn't work, but the ethernet connection from the cord and the computer is working fine, contact your ISP.
   • Rarely, your computer's ethernet card can be defective. In that case, contact the seller of your computer or the manufacturer of the computer.

Method 3 of 3: Connect a computer via dial-up

1. Understand that dial-up internet is no longer widely supported and it will be very difficult to perform certain activities on the internet with this type of connection. With dial-up internet, you can only be limited to browsing websites that usually contain text and / or images without many add-ons and features. Because dial-up internet has fallen out of use in favor of broadband internet, it is not common to see instructions for connecting to dial-up internet anymore. If you're serious about browsing the web, it's best to find a Wi-Fi hotspot in a public location. However, in some rural areas, dial-up is still common, which may mean you may need to connect to it.
2. Make sure you can connect to dial-up. Dial-up Internet requires the use of a phone line and can only connect one person per phone at a time. If someone else is already connected and / or the phone line is being used to make a call, you will not be able to connect until the other person hangs up or hangs up. In addition, most new computers do not have the components to connect to dial-up; you may need to purchase an external USB modem for your computer to connect.
3. Connect the modem to the telephone jack. Often places with dial-up internet have two telephone lines - one for the telephone and one for the modem. However, if the modem is not used often, it may be unplugged or there may be only one phone line. Make sure the telephone cable is plugged into both the telephone wall jack and the plug on the modem.
4. Connect the modem to the computer. Using a different telephone line, plug one end of the second telephone cable into the modem and the other end into the modem jack on the computer (or converter).
   • Make sure that you do not accidentally connect the telephone cable to the Ethernet plug. The telephone connection to the computer should be noted by a small telephone next to it.
5. Access to your computer's network settings. You have to manually set up the dial-up connection on the computer. From there you configure the modem settings. If this is your first time connecting to the dial-up source, you probably need to configure the modem's network settings. While the process is slightly different for each operating system, you must enter the same information: the dial-in number, a username, and a password. The settings paths to follow to configure the network are:
   • On Windows XP: Network and internet connections -> Set or change your internet connection -> Setup
   • On Windows Vista: Network and Sharing Center -> Set up a connection or network -> Create a dial-up connection
   • On Windows 7 and 8: Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center -> Set up a new connection or network -> Connect to the Internet -> Dial-up
   • On Windows 10: Network -> Dial-up connection
   • On Mac OS X: Network -> Internal / external modem -> Configuration
   • On Ubuntu or Fedora: Network Manager -> Connections -> Modem Connections -> Properties
6. Connect the connection from your computer to the modem. If the dial-up settings are already configured, it might be as simple as opening the network settings and connecting to the modem, instead of searching for wireless connections. However, you must enter the number, username and password.
7. Test your internet connection. To make sure your internet connection is working, open a web page and wait for it to load. Dial-up internet is much slower than typical broadband speeds, so don't be surprised if it takes a while. You may want to try loading an exclusively text-based web page to increase the loading speed and see if your internet is working.
8. Troubleshoot when you can't connect. Although dial-up is no longer widely supported, it is still possible to have problems with it. Make sure that the telephone line is properly connected and that your system can connect to the dial-up internet.
   • Windows 10 is known to have issues with dial-up connections at times. You may need to use a computer with an older operating system, if available.
   • Make sure that you have not accidentally connected the telephone cable to the Ethernet connection. The telephone cable connection is smaller and is often indicated with a telephone symbol.

Tips

• There are more guides on wikiHow about Wi-Fi connections specific to operating systems, including those for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac.
• If you're using a mobile phone hotspot, you can connect your phone directly to your computer via a USB cable. It's a bit like an ethernet cable for a hotspot, except for a USB cable and a phone.

Warnings

• Make sure you have the correct antivirus software before going online. A virus can cause computer problems.