How To Find Available Wifi Networks In Windows 10

How to find Wi-Fi settings in Windows 10

In Windows 10, the Wi-Fi -- and wired -- connectivity settings are in a new spot, only they're as piece of cake to access and configure as ever. Yous just accept to know where to look.

Stephen J. Bigelow

Past

Stephen J. Bigelow,

Published: 22 January 2019

The Wi-Fi settings in Windows ten are in a different location than in past versions of Windows, which tin confuse laptop and mobile device users who rely on connecting to and switching between wireless and net networks. Luckily, all users need to straighten things out are a few quick pointers.

Microsoft moved many systems options in Windows 10, including Organization, Devices, Accounts, Privacy and other option groups, into the Settings application. The Network & Internet configuration options are there, as well. To access the Wi-Fi settings in Windows 10, users can click the First push, and so Settings, and so Network & Net. A menu of options volition appear on the left.

For PCs that rely on wireless network connections, a Wi-Fi entry will be included on the left list. Wi-Fi is typically listed get-go in the list, and the card allows users to run across a list of all the Wi-Fi networks detected in the immediate vicinity. Users can click the wireless network they desire to work on and click Connect. Secured wireless networks volition ask for the network security key earlier establishing the connection.

The Settings app offers access to additional Wi-Fi settings in Windows 10. Click the Advanced options entry merely beneath the last wireless network in the listing. For example, users can determine whether to brand the system discoverable -- this should exist off in whatever public network venue -- or to lookout information usage -- which is handy for express information use plans. Users can also cull Manage Wi-Fi settings to control how the arrangement connects to networks.

Network & Internet settings — A await at a wireless network's properties

Mostly, both menus are well-nigh useful for highly mobile devices, such every bit laptops and tablets. Users working on PCs with wireless connections rarely demand to adjust these options once the system is initially configured.

If a PC relies on cabled Ethernet networks, in that location will be an Ethernet entry in the left list. Clicking on the Ethernet entry displays details most the current Ethernet network connectedness and allows users to make numerous changes to the system'southward network adapter and configuration. Network users can also manage virtual private networks, dial-upward networks and proxy network connections from the Network & Internet menu.

Find wireless connectedness details in Windows ten

It's better to just forget remote or rarely used networks, such every bit a distant airport concluding.

Both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections are denoted past a series of technical details that all work together to uniquely identify a detail system. Most everyday users don't need to know the connection details, simply they can become extremely important when troubleshooting connectivity problems or verifying the source or destination of network traffic.

For case, a company might investigate the source of unwanted or inappropriate corporate emails by checking the details of an employee'due south organisation against similar details included in network traffic packets.

Users can find these details in two steps:

Click Outset, Settings, Network & Cyberspace, and then select the Wi-Fi entry on the left list.
Click the Advanced options entry beneath the last wireless network in the list. The wireless network's Properties will be listed at the bottom of the Wireless Network Connexion page.

Properties include information about the wireless network settings, such every bit the network's name, its service set identifier (SSID), the wireless protocol used in the connection and the security applied to the connectedness. Properties also lists the system'due south IP address, likewise as the IP accost of the local domain name service server, which is normally the router in a home or small business organisation.

Network properties — A wait at a wireless network's properties

Next, the wireless adapter manufacturer and model are listed with the commuter version. Advice or Wi-Fi connectivity problems are often traced to incorrect IP address settings or troublesome driver versions, which It tin usually update or scroll dorsum to fix nearly commuter issues. Finally, the physical address -- the media access control or MAC address -- identifies the precise network adapter unique to the estimator. The MAC and IP address typically identify the organisation with absolute certainty.

Remove old networks

A estimator automatically recognizes new wireless connections past reading the SSID name the network broadcasts. When users access the Wi-Fi settings in Windows 10 past clicking First, Settings, Network & Internet, and then selecting the Wi-Fi entry, the SSID appears in the list of bachelor wireless network connections.

But previous SSIDs remain in the list even when they're out of range and the worker no longer uses those networks. Over fourth dimension, the list of SSIDs can get long and unwieldy to navigate, especially for mobile devices with modest displays.

The Wi-Fi settings in Windows 10 permit users to delete old or unused wireless network names in two steps.

When looking at the list of Wi-Fi networks, click the Manage Wi-Fi settings entry below the final wireless network name, and then locate the Manage known networks list.
Users should then click the network proper noun that they no longer need, and then click Forget. This should delete the entry from the wireless network list. If users are still in the vicinity of the deleted wireless network, it may reappear in the list of available local Wi-Fi networks. It's improve to just forget remote or rarely used networks, such as a distant airdrome terminal.

Every wireless network can circulate an SSID, but wireless network providers can turn off SSID broadcasts using a configuration option at a wireless admission betoken -- such equally a router. Turning off an SSID will effectively hide the wireless network then it won't show upward on the SSID list. But users can however connect to and utilize the wireless network if they know the SSID -- and the security key if the network is encrypted.