Get Connected

Connect to a WiFi Network

You can connect to a WiFi network with one of the following methods.

Automatic connection: If an existing profile on your computer matches an available network, you are automatically connected to that wireless network.

Configure a new profile: Select a wireless network from the list of WiFi networks in the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window. Click Connect. If you successfully connect, a profile is created in the Profiles list for future use.

Connect to a profile in the Profiles list: You can select a profile from the Profiles list. To activate it, click Connect. This lets you connect to a network that is lower in the list (if it is available).

Right-click the Taskbar icon located in the lower right corner of your Windows desktop. Click Connect to Profile. A list of previously configured profiles is listed. Select a profile.

First Time Connection

The WiFi connection utility automatically detects WiFi networks that are within range of your WiFi adapter. When a network is found, a desktop alert notification displays: WiFi networks found. See Taskbar Icons for more information.

Double-click the desktop alert to open the WiFi connection utility main window.

Select a network from the WiFi Networks list.

Click Connect. If the network does not require security authentication, a desktop alert notifies you that you are connected to the network. See Main Window and Taskbar for more information about the taskbar menu and icons.

If the network has security enabled, the Profile Wizard opens the Configure WiFi Settings window. This guides you through the process of creating a WiFi profile for this network. After a profile is created, connecting to this network in the future will be much easier.

You are requested to specify a Profile Name. The Profile Name is your name for this network. You can accept the existing profile name if present, or enter one. The profile name can be anything that helps you identify this network. For example, My Home Network, Coffee Shop on A Street.

You are requested to specify WiFi Network Name (SSID): This contains the network identifier name. This is a unique identifier that differentiates one WiFi network from another. If one is already entered, you can keep that.

Click Next. The Profile Wizard then detects the security settings of this network. The information you enter depends on those security settings. For information about security settings, see Security Settings. For more information about keys and passwords, see Network Keys. For more information about profiles, see Profiles. You may need to contact the network administrator for the information needed to log into this network.

After entering the required information, click OK to connect to the wireless network.

See Main Window for more information.

Other Wireless Managers

If the WiFi connection utility detects another software application trying to communicate with the wireless device, you are notified of this behavior.

Use Microsoft Windows* to Manage WiFi

You can use Windows* to manage your Wi-Fi* connections.

At the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window, under the Advanced menu, select Use Windows to Manage WiFi.
At the prompt window, you are queried: Do you want Windows to manage your WiFi network connections? Click Yes.
At the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window, click Open Network Properties.
Click the main window again and click Close to close the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility.
Use the Windows Network and Sharing Center to manage WiFi.

To let the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility manage your WiFi connections, right-click the utility icon in the task tray and select Enable WiFi Control.

Third-Party Wireless Software

If you use software provided by a hotspot location (coffee shop, airport terminal), the WiFi connection utility notifies you and then disables itself. It cannot manage the wireless device when another wireless manager communicates with the wireless device. To take advantage of the WiFi connection utility features, you want to disable or remove this software when you leave the hotspot.