Setup wifi connection desktop computer

So there's something a little counterintuitive about only being able to use the Internet when you sit down at a desktop computer. What if you could use the Internet from anywhere in your home or office? If you already have high-speed broadband Internet service at your house, it's pretty easy to create your own home wireless network.

Commonly known as Wi-Fi , a wireless network allows you to connect laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices to your home Internet service without an Ethernet cable. To create your own Wi-Fi network, you'll need a wireless router. This is the device that will broadcast the Wi-Fi signal from your Internet modem throughout your house.

Your Internet service provider ISP may offer you a wireless router for a small monthly fee. If you've never set up a Wi-Fi network before, this may be the easiest option. If you want to buy your own router, we'd recommend spending a little more time researching different options. Some Internet modems may already have a built-in wireless router, which means you won't need to purchase a separate one.

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Browse All News Articles. Baby Shark YouTube. Venmo Gifts. Fortnite iPhone. Quest Headset SteamVR. M1 Mac Dropbox. A broadband Internet connection is a high-speed Internet connection. You can get a broadband connection by contacting an Internet service provider ISP. ISPs frequently offer broadband modems. You can also find these at computer or electronics stores, and online. Wireless router. A router sends info between your network and the Internet. With a wireless router, you can connect PCs to your network using radio signals instead of wires.

Wireless network adapter. A wireless network adapter is a device that connects your PC to a wireless network. To connect your portable or desktop PC to your wireless network, the PC must have a wireless network adapter.

Most laptops and tablets—and some desktop PCs—come with a wireless network adapter already installed. Select Start , type device manager in the search box, and then select Device Manager. After you have all the equipment, you'll need to set up your modem and Internet connection. If your modem wasn't set up for you by your Internet service provider ISP , follow the instructions that came with your modem to connect it to your PC and the Internet. If you're using cable, connect your modem to a cable jack.

Put your wireless router somewhere where it will receive the strongest signal with the least amount of interference. For better results, follow these tips:. Place your wireless router in a central location. Place the router as close to the center of your home as possible to increase the strength of the wireless signal throughout your home.

Position the wireless router off the floor and away from walls and metal objects , such as metal file cabinets. The fewer physical obstructions between your PC and the router's signal, the more likely that you'll be using the router's full signal strength.

Reduce interference. Some networking equipment uses a 2. This is the same frequency as most microwaves and many cordless phones. If you turn on the microwave or get a call on a cordless phone, your wireless signal might be temporarily interrupted. You can avoid most of these issues by using a cordless phone with a higher frequency, such as 5.