Connect devices to your WiFi network

There are hundreds of different devices that can be connected to your WiFi, from smartphones and tablets to entertainment equipment, home assistants, and many other smart devices.

There are two basic steps to connecting any device:

1. Find your network name and password

2. Select the network on the device and enter the password (also called the security key)

 

You can watch our video about connecting devices, or follow the detailed instructions below.

Video: How to connect devices

Connect a device, step by step

Before you begin connecting devices, make sure the internet light on your modem is green. If it's not, you will need to troubleshoot your modem lights
 

Learn how to check the settings for automatic connections.

Find your WiFi network name and password

Find the sticker label on the bottom or side of your modem. You will find the default network name (SSID) and password (key/passphrase) printed there. If you previously set a custom network name and password, you will use those to connect your devices, instead of the default settings.

CAUTION! Do not remove your modem sticker. It includes your default Admin Username and Admin Password, which cannot be retrieved if lost. Your modem could become unusable without them. 

tower-style modem with SSID sticker label
locate ssid and key

Lost your WiFi name and password? If you previously changed your WiFi name or password, then lost or forgot the credentials, you can look them up in the modem settings, as long as you have your admin username and password. If not, you'll need to contact tech support for more help.

Select your network and enter your WiFi password

Setup varies slightly by device, but most devices have a Wireless or WiFi Network menu, where you can see a list of all active WiFi networks in your area.

 

General steps:

  1. In your device's wireless settings menu, turn WiFi on (enable WiFi).

  2. Select your network (SSID) (see the previous step) in the list of networks. 

  3. Enter your network key/passphrase (WiFi password) and select Connect or Join

    1. Optional: You can usually check a box to "Connect automatically" or "Remember" the network if you want your device to connect to this network every time without entering your password. 

Once you've entered the correct password, the device will finish connecting in a moment. If it times out or you get a "can't connect" error, check out these tips to troubleshoot.

To connect another device to your WiFi network, you simply repeat the above steps for each device.

How to connect automatically

Most operating systems will automatically remember any networks you connect to. If that's not the case on your device, here's how to change the settings to auto-join a network. 

Additional instructions and troubleshooting for WiFi connections

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