How to connect an iPad to a Wireless or Wi-Fi Network

This section will explain how to connect to a Wi-Fi or Wireless network that is broadcasting its name or SSID. For most public, and many private, Wi-Fi networks the name, or SSID, of the network is broadcast so that anyone who tries to connect to it will be able to do so. This guide will walk you through the steps of connecting to a Wi-Fi network that is broadcasting its name.

  • Start the iPad
  • Tap on the Settings app. The Settings icon looks like the following:

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Once in the settings application, you will be at the General Settings screen as shown below.

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  • Tap on the Wi-Fi category to get to the screen where you will connect to a wireless network as shown below.

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When you reach this screen, the iPad will start searching for Wi-Fi networks that are in range and that are broadcasting their names. As it discovers available networks it will list them under the Choose a Network… label. Please note that it may take some time for the iPad to see all of the available networks, so please be patient while it searches. You can tell that it is searching as there will be an animated symbol next to the Choose a Network… label while it is searching. If it does not find anything, it will pause for about a minute and then attempt to search again.

When you see the Wi-Fi network that you would like to connect to, simply tap on it to attempt to join it. If it has a lock next to the name, then it will require you to enter a wireless encryption password in order to connect to it as discussed in the next step.

  • Once you Tap on a network name, it will try to connect to it. If the network is not using encryption, then you can just skip to this step. If the network is using wireless encryption, though, you will be presented with a screen asking you to enter the wireless encryption password as shown below.

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In the password field, enter the wireless encryption password that is required to join this network. This password was originally set on your wireless router, and if you do not remember this password anymore, you can logon to the router and change the password to a new one. Please note that if you change the password on the router, then any other devices that connect to this device wirelessly will also need to have their settings changed to use the new password.

  • The iPad will now attempt to connect to the network, and when finished, will display the Wi-Fi settings screen again, but this time with the joined network listed and with a checkmark next to it as shown below.

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This checkmark designates that your iPad is connected to the network. You can also see that your iPad is connected to a wireless network as in the upper left-hand corner you will see the word iPad with the Wi-Fi symbol ()next to it. You can now go back to your home screen and use any apps that require Wi-Fi connectivity.

Source: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com