I just got a new Nexus 9 and I’m loving it, but the only problem is I can’t figure out how to connect to a secure wireless wifi network. Where do I enter the network password?
If you’re coming to the world of Android after having used an Apple iPad, I can understand your confusion. There are some things in the iOS world that don’t map particularly gracefully to the Android world (and vice versa, before anyone jumps on me for being an Apple fanboy!). In particular, on the iPad when you connect to a wifi network that has a required password, it’ll try the stored password if you’ve connected before, then it’ll pop up a window that’ll prompt you to enter the network password. Easy, straightforward.
On the Android system, however, you’ll need to do it the old fashioned way. You know, if you really want to connect, you’ll need to work for it! Fortunately, it’s not too bad, just a matter of popping open your Web browser.
Let me show you all the steps.
First off, I trust you know how to get to your Settings icon, but in case you don’t, the circle with the six tiny squares on the bottom of your screen is your friend:
Here you can see it in the center of the bottom row of icons on my own HTC Nexus 9 home screen.
A tap and it reveals every single app installed on the tablet. If you don’t see “Settings” simply swipe right-to-left until you do. Here’s what it looks like on my screen:
Tap on “Settings” to bring up all your options:
If you’re guessing you should tap on “Wi-Fi” on the top left, well, good job!
Tap on “Wi-Fi” on the top left. 🙂
I’m going to connect to the network Amante-Guest.
Look closely. It thinks it’s already connected but since they change their password every day, it’s a fail. Android just doesn’t probe far enough down the network connection to realize it yet.
Indeed, tapping on the network name shows that everything’s just fine, even though it’s not:
Well, let’s be clear. The network connection is fine. The tablet is successfully connected to the router. The problem is that the router requires additional credentials to proceed. This is an increasingly common configuration for public wifi in my experience, which is why I document it here.
Now I could “FORGET” this network, but that won’t mean it’ll prompt me for the access password next time I connect. Instead, I need to simply launch a Web browser and hit up any non-secure Web page (SSL tends to mess these things up).
Once I do request a connection to, say, yahoo.com, I instead get rerouted here:
But how do I enter the code when there’s no keyboard on the HTC Nexus 9 tablet?
As with many things tablet, the solution is to simply tap on the relevant area. In this case, a finger tap on the entry field for the “promo code” is all that’s required to bring up the on-screen keyboard:
Once I type in the correct access code (today it’s 4Ff9uxq93) and tap the big “Go” button on the screen, it verifies I entered it correctly and I’m good go to, online and ready to rumble. Or at least visit my favorite Web sites!
We have our own WiFi through Virgin. Through MANY MANY FRUSTRATING attempts I FINALLY GOT CONNECTED! Yay! Only to discover, on returning from my Daughter who have sky. It got added to my WLAN list no problem. But Now my tablet won’t show up Our WiFi so I added it again… and again AND AGAIN! It’s on my saved list so what do I do to get it to come up on the WLAN list? It’s driving me CRAZY
I don’t think you really answered the question asked. Basically he asked “how do you insert passwords onto a secure wifi network on an android device?” The answer is simple and the same for Android and iOS devices . To join a network for the first time: You go to settings , tap on Wi-Fi section and pick the network from the list of available and when you tap on it a password prompt will pop up. To join an old connection with a new password: Do the same but instead of the password prompt a connection prompt comes up and let’s you “forget” the network, tap forget and the network goes into the available networks list for you to tap on and enter the password .
Hi Dave my name is rolando, I have a question, I live close to a hotel that has WIFI service, I live across street from. I have a tablet WIFI only, do you think is possible to use there service my tablet shows there name, but when I try ask me for the access code and of course I do not have it, because I do not stay there, do you think is possible to get access without asking them, I just want to check my emails, and read articles about fixing cars, can you show me how to do that?
Rolando, no, I don’t think it’s possible, and what you’re asking is exactly why they do have passwords. 🙂