Just got a new Android phone and it’s the first time I’ve had Android. How do I join a public wifi network so I can go online?
Though there are a lot of differences between an Android and iOS / iPhone, there’s a lot that’s pretty similar too in terms of basic functions, so you should be able to just jump into the Android system and get going. Not only that, but since most people spend the majority of their mobile device time within apps, it’s probably going to see quite similar once you get going. Whether you’re a Gmail user, read USA Today obsessively, check Snapchat every 90 seconds or are addicted to Instagram, they’re all apps and are almost identical on iOS and Android.
Still, there are differences and they most come out when you go to Settings or go to configure your smartphone to your liking. Both systems also differ in how they manage status information versus preferences, and that’s where this whole wifi thing gets a bit tricky. Once you see how to do it once, however, you’ll be jumping on and off wi-fi networks on your Android phone like a pro!
On Android, notifications show up from the top of the screen, and the no-wifi error looks like this:
As you can see, the error is “Unable to establish a wireless data connection“. An entirely logical response to this would be to tap on the error message to access the wireless connection settings, right? Nope. Tap on it and here’s what you get:
In classic computer-ese, it’s not actually “OK” that it couldn’t establish the wireless data connection, but there’s no “fix” or “settings” button here to correct the problem. Lesson: Those status messages don’t take you anywhere useful in Android.
Instead, swipe down from the very top edge of your phone screen. A set of icons will show up:
Tip: If you only see a single line of icons and Wi-Fi isn’t one of ’em, swipe down a second time to produce the bigger view of the control screen!
You can see a variety of different settings are easily accessible from here, including brightness, bluetooth (which I have off), airplane mode, and silent mode. Airplane mode is a great one for movie theaters and public performances, btw. You don’t have to be on an airplane to use it!
In this case, however, we want to fix the wireless network – wi-fi – error, so tap on that icon. Now the phone will show you all the networks available, including whether they’re secured by a password or not:
My general rule of thumb: Always look for a secure network if you can. If not, then it might be time to learn about VPN options for your smartphone or mobile device to ensure you stay safe and secure on a public wifi network. In this instance, I’m at a coffee shop called Brewing Market, so I’m going to connect to its public wifi network.
To do that, simply tap on the desired network name on the list. You’ll get more information about the network and have the chance to “CONNECT“, as shown:
Looks reasonable, though Security = none is always a red flag that I need to manage my own security and privacy on the network. Tap on “CONNECT” to initiate a connection. PSafe DFNDR – a third party Android security package – then offers to scan the network for any known malware or risks:
I’ll skip it this time, because I’ve connected to this network many times in the past.
And… I’m connected!
As you can see, Android offers up quite a bit of information about a wireless wifi network you join, including link speed and your specific allocated IP address. Handy if you’re a geek, but more importantly, you’re connected, as the solid fan-shaped icon on the very top indicates (among the huge jumble of icons there, admittedly).
Hope that helps you out, and please do check out all of our Android help while you’re on the site too!