The short answer: open your device’s Wi-Fi settings, tap your network’s name, type the password, and tap Join or Connect. On iPhone that’s Settings > Wi-Fi (Apple); on Android it’s Settings > Network & internet > Internet (Google). You only do this once per network. After that, the device reconnects on its own.
Before you start: find the name and password
- Home Wi-Fi: look for a sticker on the router or modem with the network name (sometimes called SSID) and password, or check your internet provider’s app.
- Someone else’s home or a business: ask for the exact network name and password. Passwords are case-sensitive.
iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.
- Tap the name of your network.
- Type the password and tap Join.
- A blue checkmark next to the name means you’re connected (Apple).
Your iPhone may use Connectivity Assist to fall back on cellular data when Wi-Fi is weak, which can use your data plan (Apple).
Android phone or tablet
- Open Settings, then Network & internet > Internet.
- Tap the network name.
- Enter the password and tap Connect (Google).
Menus vary a little by phone maker. If you don’t see Network & internet, look for Connections or search Settings for “Wi-Fi.”
Windows computer
- Select the Network icon on the taskbar to open quick settings.
- Select Manage Wi-Fi connections on the Wi-Fi quick setting.
- Choose your network and select Connect.
- Type the password and select Next (Microsoft).
Don’t see your network? Use the Refresh button to scan again (Microsoft).
Mac
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Choose your network. If it isn’t listed, look under Other Networks.
- Enter the password and click Join (Apple).
Share your Wi-Fi with family
- iPhone to iPhone, iPad or Mac: have your guest choose your network; on your unlocked iPhone, tap Share Password (Apple).
- QR code: iPhone can show a network QR code (Apple), and Android can share a network with a QR code from the network’s settings (Google).
- For frequent visitors, a separate guest network keeps your main devices private.
If it won’t connect
- Double-check the password, including capital letters.
- Turn Wi-Fi off and back on, and make sure Airplane Mode is off (Apple).
- Move closer to the router.
- Forget the network and join again (Google, Microsoft).
- Restart the modem and router (Microsoft).
Connected but nothing loads? Follow Wi-Fi says connected but no internet.
Questions people ask about connecting to Wi-Fi
Where do I find my Wi-Fi name and password?
For home Wi-Fi from your internet company, it’s usually on a sticker on the router or in the provider’s app. If an iPhone is already connected, open the Passwords app and tap Wi-Fi to see it (Apple).
Can my iPhone share the Wi-Fi password with a visitor’s iPhone?
Yes. With your iPhone unlocked and on the network, the visitor chooses the network on their device, and you tap Share Password when the message appears. Both devices need to be nearby and in each other’s contacts (Apple). You can also show a network QR code for them to scan (Apple).
Do I have to connect every time?
No. Phones and computers remember networks and reconnect automatically when you’re in range (Google, Apple).
Is public Wi-Fi safe?
Use it for browsing and maps, but avoid banking or entering passwords on free public Wi-Fi when you can. Use your phone’s mobile data for those. Join only the network the business names, not a look-alike. More tips: online safety and scam protection.
The password is right but it won’t connect. Why?
Passwords are case-sensitive. Check capital letters, then forget the network and join again, and restart the router (Microsoft, Apple).
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