Unless you are completely new to Windows and computers in general, connecting a PC to the Internet will likely be something you have done many times. It can, however, be frustrating trying to connect a new PC, and even more so in an operating system you have not used before. Here’s how to quickly and easily get online in Windows 11.
In This Lesson…
- Connecting Your PC to a Network
- How to Set a Random Hardware Address
- How to Use Your PC as a Mobile Hotspot
Connecting Your PC to a Network
We are assuming you already have a broadband account with your chosen Internet provider set up and ready to go. If not, you obviously need to do this first.
Open the main Settings app in Windows 11. In the left sidebar, click on “Network & Internet”, where you will see several separate options.
Set Up a Wired Connection (Ethernet)
If you have a working broadband line, connecting a wired Internet connection is usually as easy as plugging the cable into the ethernet port on your computer. Desktop computers will almost always have an ethernet port, but many modern laptops no longer have them.
Windows 11 (and indeed, Windows 10) should automatically detect the network and set up the connection. You may need to restart your computer after plugging the cable in to initiate this connection.
1 – If you find that the connection is not starting automatically, open the Network & Internet settings and then go to Advanced network settings.
2 – Here you will be able to check if the network adaptor (the part of your computer with the ethernet port) is enabled.
3 – If it is, and you are still having problems, try running the troubleshooter in Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters. Follow any instructions given to try to fix the issue.
Set Up Wireless Connection (WiFi)
Setting up a WiFi connection is also usually easy, as long as you have your Wi-Fi hub or router set up and working properly.
1 – Open the Settings > Network & Internet and click on the WiFi option. Click on “Show available networks” and look for the name of your wireless network. If you are unsure of the name, this is usually printed on the back or underside of your WiFi hub or router.
2 – Click on your network name in the list of networks, and then click the Connect button. You will be asked to enter your network password/key. Again, unless you have changed it, this will normally be printed on your wireless hardware.
3 – If this network is your normal (home) network, you can check the “Connect automatically” box. Your computer will now automatically try to connect to this network whenever it is in range.
4 – Once set up, you can switch your WiFi on and off using the slider switch on the main WiFi page in the settings, and also by using the WiFi button on the Quick Settings panel (Windows Key + A).
5 – If you have problems connecting to your wireless network, try using the troubleshooter in Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters > Internet connections.
How to Set a Random Hardware Address
Setting a random hardware address makes it more difficult for anyone to track your device location, and is a quick and easy way to immediately protect your privacy in Windows 11.
There are two controls for using random hardware addresses—one is for all Wi-Fi networks and the other is for the specific Wi-Fi network you choose. When you turn it on for all networks, random hardware addresses are used while your PC scans for networks and connects to any network. When it’s turned on for a specific network you choose, random hardware addresses are used the next time you connect to that network.
1 – To enable it for all networks, open Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi, and use the slider switch to enable the feature.
2 – To enable it for a single network, open Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > Manage known networks. Click on the name of your network, and then use the drop-down menu to enable the feature.
How to Use Your PC as a Mobile Hotspot
You can use your Windows 11 PC as an Internet connection point, called a Mobile Hotspot. If there is no WiFi available but your computer is connected to an Ethernet or cellular network, you can share this connection to devices that require WiFi, such as a phone or tablet.
1 – Open Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot. Use the slider to enable the feature.
2 – In the “Share Over” menu, choose how you want to share the network connection (WiFi or Bluetooth).
3 – In the “Properties” section, you will see the name of the hotspot network, along with the password. On your mobile device, enable WiFi and look for the hotspot name in the list of available networks. Select it and use the password created for the hotspot.