Are you looking to enjoy the Wi-Fi from your internet box directly on your smartphone? But are you feeling a little lost in the sea of Android settings? Don’t worry, GoStart.Biz is here to help you. In this guide, we’ll review the various steps to configure and connect a mobile phone to your home Wi-Fi network.

Connecting Your Smartphone to the Wi-Fi Network in a Few Steps

A smartphone without internet access is of little use. Be it for watching videos, checking emails, surfing the web, listening to music, or chatting with friends, internet access is essential.

Of course, your 4G (or 5G) mobile plan can provide you with internet access, but using your home Wi-Fi box is much more convenient. First, you don’t have to worry about the mobile data quota of your plan, especially when watching high-definition video content.

Second, Wi-Fi connection provides a smoother, more stable, and faster browsing experience, especially if you have fiber. And unlike 4G or 5G waves, your internet box is not subject to the vagaries of your operator’s mobile coverage.

Checking Your Internet Box’s Connection Information

Before connecting your smartphone to your Wi-Fi box, you will need to retrieve some technical data about your wireless network. For example, we will need the SSID (the name of your Wi-Fi network) and the WPA password. As a reminder, this security key serves to encrypt the data that transits between your device and the box (or Wi-Fi router).

In the vast majority of cases, this information can be found on a sticker attached to the back of your box or router. Go and take a look and take the time to carefully note the network name (SSID) and the WPA key. These details are essential for connecting your mobile phone to your Wi-Fi network.

  • The SSID or network name appears in this form: livebox-XXX, SFR_XXX, Freebox-XXXX (the XXXX corresponds to a mix of numbers and letters)
  • The WPA or WPA2 key is composed of numbers, characters, and lowercase or uppercase letters. Note, the Wi-Fi key never contains a space.

If the sticker is not found beneath the box or if you have manually modified your login credentials, don’t panic, nothing is lost. You can retrieve all this information from your box’s administration interface.

Note that some boxes equipped with a screen can display the login credentials of your network. Usually, you will have to press a small button on the front of your internet gateway box multiple times. This avoids having to search for them on your customer space. Refer to the user guide provided by your operator to know the procedure to follow.

Enabling Wi-Fi Connection on Your Android Smartphone

To enjoy the internet connection at your home, you will need to enable the Wi-Fi feature on your smartphone. There are different ways to accomplish this task. Here are two of them:

  1. Unlock your phone
  2. Navigate to the home page of your device
  3. Slide your finger from the top to the bottom of the screen to display Android’s quick settings
  4. Click on the Wi-Fi icon
  5. The icon will change color

This procedure may vary (slightly) depending on the model of your phone (Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo) or the Android version installed on it. In case of a problem, here is a second technique to activate Wi-Fi on an Android phone:

  1. Open your mobile settings by clicking on the gear-shaped icon
  2. Click on the Network and Internet section
  3. Press the small switch placed to the right of the Wi-Fi mention

The operation is quick and simple. To disable Wi-Fi, once your usage is completed, you will simply need to repeat the steps described above. Remember to turn off your phone’s Wi-Fi connection when you are not using it to save battery and prevent your phone from inadvertently connecting to unsecured networks.

Configuring Your Wi-Fi Network on Your Phone

Once you have your box’s login credentials and your phone’s Wi-Fi receiver is now activated, we can proceed to configure and connect your smartphone to your Wi-Fi network.

  1. Open your Android phone settings
  2. Click on the Network and Internet section
  3. Press the Wi-Fi icon
  4. Your smartphone will search for Wi-Fi networks in your vicinity
  5. Select your home Wi-Fi network from the list by touching the name of your network
  6. Then enter the security key, making sure to respect uppercase and lowercase letters
  7. Press the connect button

If the operation was successful, you should see the Wi-Fi icon in the form of a radio signal in the status bar (top part of the screen) of your phone. This will result in the disappearance of the 4G or 5G indicator on your mobile screen.

Important detail, your login credentials are now stored in your phone. The next time you are within range of your box, your smartphone will automatically connect to your network without having to re-enter your login credentials.

Similarly, it’s important to know that the Wi-Fi icon in the upper part of your mobile screen will give you an indication of the strength of your wireless network signal. So, the more bars or the gauge are numerous and filled, the stronger your Wi-Fi signal will be.

Connecting Your Phone to a Public Wi-Fi Network

As you already know, your 4G/5G plan is limited in data volume. If you travel very often, the public Wi-Fi networks found in cafes, bars, airports, hotels, and many other places could be of great help to you.

These free public internet networks are generally signaled by posters with the Wi-Fi logo. Connecting to these hotspots is quite similar to the procedure described above. But unlike your Wi-Fi network, you will not have a password. This explains the absence of the lock logo next to the network name.

  1. Position yourself in an area offering free Wi-Fi connection
  2. Activate the wireless connection on your device
  3. Search the list of detected networks for the name of the free access. It’s usually the name of the establishment, the place, or the company offering this connection. If in doubt, ask a staff member to give you the network’s SSID
  4. Click on the network name
  5. A window will ask you to read and accept the terms of use

Although convenient, these services present several drawbacks. First, the speed of the connection varies greatly depending on the number of users or devices connected to this hotspot. The other problem concerns the security of data transmitted over these networks.

The absence of a security key makes it easier for a third party to intercept your personal data. If possible, avoid exchanging sensitive information (passwords, banking data) when you are connected to a public Wi-Fi.

For security reasons, I can only recommend using a VPN service. This security device will encrypt all data transmitted over this public network and prevent a potential hacker from getting your personal data.

FAQs

How can I retrieve the SSID and password of my Wi-Fi network?

Mostly, this information can be found on a sticker attached to your Wi-Fi router or internet box. If not, you can check your router’s administrative interface, or in some cases, the information is displayed on the router’s screen.

What should I do if I can’t connect my Android smartphone to my Wi-Fi network?

First, check if you have entered the correct SSID and password. Also, ensure the Wi-Fi function on your smartphone is turned on. If the problem persists, try moving closer to your router or rebooting your device and router.

How can I enhance the security of my data while using a public Wi-Fi network?

It’s advised to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service while using a public Wi-Fi network. It encrypts your data and prevents potential hackers from accessing your personal information. Also, avoid sharing sensitive information like passwords and banking details over public networks.