This post discusses several ways to connect your Windows 11 PC to a Wi-Fi device that includes both the Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the Command Line Interface (CLI). You can also use the given guide below to connect to a hidden wi-fi network, export a network profile, and then import the generated XML file on another computer.
How to Connect to Wi-Fi from the Taskbar
This is perhaps the most convenient method to connect to a wi-fi network; from the taskbar on your Windows PC. Here is how:
How to Connect to Wi-Fi from the Taskbar How to connect to Wi-Fi From the Settings App How to connect to Wi-Fi From the Control Panel Connect to Wi-Fi Using Command Prompt How to Connect to a Hidden Wi-Fi Network on Windows 11 How to Export Wi-Fi Network Profile How to Import Wi-Fi Network Profile Closing Words
Your computer should now be connected to the Wi-Fi network, and you should now see the status below the Wi-Fi SSID, as in the image below.
How to connect to Wi-Fi From the Settings App
If you are already using the Settings app, you can connect to a wi-fi network from there too. You should now be connected to the Wi-Fi network, and the app should now show the “Connected” status below the Wi-Fi SSID, as in the image below.
How to connect to Wi-Fi From the Control Panel
If you’d prefer the Legacy Control Panel over the modern Settings app, here is how you can connect to a Wi-Fi network from the Control Panel: Once the wizard closes, your device should now automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network. Note: The security type of a wireless router is usually WPA2 – Personal, unless altered otherwise. If it does not, this means that one or more details in step 4 above were incorrect. In that case, repeat the steps above and provide the correct information.
Connect to Wi-Fi Using Command Prompt
If you prefer to use Windows CLI, you can use the Command Prompt to connect to a Wi-Fi network: Your PC should now be connected to the Wi-Fi network as entered in the cmdlet above. Note: If your PC has more than one Wi-Fi adapter, you must also specify the adapter to be used, as in the following cmdlet:
How to Connect to a Hidden Wi-Fi Network on Windows 11
Networks are often hidden as an additional security measure so not everyone can attempt to connect to them. If you are asked to connect to a hidden network, then there are 2 methods to do so. One of these has already been mentioned above where we used the Control Panel to connect to a network. The same method can be applied in the case of a hidden network. The other method is through the Settings app. Follow these steps to connect to a hidden network: Your PC will now connect to a hidden network when it is in range. You can also export this network profile into an XML file and share it with your friends and colleagues so that they can import it, and wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of adding the hidden network manually.
How to Export Wi-Fi Network Profile
You can export a network profile into an XML file so that it can be used by other computers to connect to a network using the Command Prompt. Here is how: The network profile is now successfully exported. You can now share the generated XML file and import it to another computer to add the network details.
How to Import Wi-Fi Network Profile
Perform the following steps to import a network profile using the XML file: That’s it! Your PC has now imported the network profile, to which you can easily connect using the taskbar method discussed at the beginning of this post. Alternatively, you can use the following cmdlet to connect to it right from the Command Prompt:
Closing Words
With the aging wireless technology, people are trying to make their networks as secure as possible, for which hiding their networks is one of the approaches. That said, exporting and importing network profiles can come in handy, especially when you have to connect a bulk of Windows computers to the same hidden network. This helps the netadmins secure their network whilst only the PCs with whom the XML file has been shared can connect to the network.
