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To connect a non-wireless computer to a wireless network, plug a USB Wi-Fi adapter into a free USB port, let Windows install its driver, then select the network icon on the taskbar, choose Manage Wi-Fi connections, pick your network, select Connect, and type the Wi-Fi password.
A Wi-Fi adapter is a small radio that lets a computer talk to a wireless router. Many desktop computers were built with only an Ethernet port (the socket for a network cable), so they need an adapter added before they can see any wireless networks. This guide covers Windows 11 and Windows 10. The connection screens look a little different between the two, but the steps are the same.
What You Need Before You Start
- A Wi-Fi adapter. A USB model is the simplest choice. You can browse USB Wi-Fi adapters on Amazon or pick one up at an electronics store.
- A free USB port on the computer.
- Your network name and password. The network name is also called the SSID. On many routers supplied by an internet provider, the default name and password are printed on a label on the router.
- A working wireless router within range of the computer.
Before you buy, check the adapter’s box or product page to confirm it lists your version of Windows. It also helps to choose a dual-band adapter, which can use both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands that many home routers broadcast.
Check Whether the Computer Already Has Wi-Fi
Some desktops have Wi-Fi that is simply turned off or was never set up. Check first so you do not buy hardware you do not need.
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- Select the arrow next to Network adapters to expand the list.
- Look for an entry with Wi-Fi, Wireless, WLAN or 802.11 in its name.
If you only see an Ethernet adapter, the computer has no Wi-Fi hardware and you need an adapter. If a wireless entry is there but Wi-Fi is missing from Windows, right-click it and select Enable device. Our guide on how to open Device Manager in Windows 11 shows other ways to reach this screen.
How to Connect With a USB Wi-Fi Adapter
Read the instructions that came with the adapter before you plug it in. Some adapters ask you to install their software first and connect the adapter only when the installer tells you to. If your computer has no disc drive and the software comes on a CD, download it from the adapter maker’s website instead.
- Plug the adapter into a USB port. If it came with an antenna or a cradle, attach that first.
- Wait for the driver to install. A driver is the software that lets Windows use a piece of hardware. Microsoft says drivers for most hardware, including network adapters, are downloaded and installed automatically through Windows Update. That only works if the computer is already online, for example through an Ethernet cable. If it is not, install the driver that came with the adapter.
- Open quick settings. Select the network, sound or battery icons on the right side of the taskbar.
- Select Manage Wi-Fi connections on the Wi-Fi quick setting. A list of nearby networks opens. If yours is missing, select the Refresh network list button to scan again.
- Choose your network, then select Connect. If you see a Connect automatically checkbox, leave it checked so the computer rejoins the network each time it starts.
- Type the network password, then select Next. Passwords are case-sensitive.
Microsoft lists the same connection steps in its guide to connecting to a Wi-Fi network in Windows.
How to Confirm It Worked
Open quick settings again. Your network name should show Connected below it, and the taskbar should show the Wi-Fi signal icon instead of the disconnected icon. Then open a web browser and load a page. If the taskbar says No Internet, the computer has reached the router but the router is not online, so the adapter is working and the issue is with the modem or your internet provider.
To undo the change, select the network in the Wi-Fi list and choose Disconnect, or unplug the adapter. To make Windows discard the saved password as well, follow our steps to forget a Wi-Fi network in Windows 11.
Alternative: Install an Internal Wi-Fi Card
A desktop tower with a free PCIe slot (an expansion slot on the motherboard) can take an internal Wi-Fi card instead. These cards usually have antennas that screw on at the back of the case. The trade-off is that you have to open the computer.
Warning: shut the computer down and unplug the power cable before you open the case, and follow the safety steps in the manual for the card and for your PC. If the computer is under warranty, check the manufacturer’s terms first.
The card maker’s instructions cover the physical install. Once the card is in and the PC is back on, Windows needs a driver for it just like a USB adapter, and you join your network with the same six steps above.
If you need the computer online right now and have no adapter, a phone can share its internet connection through a USB cable. This is called tethering.
Warning: tethering normally uses your phone’s mobile data. Google notes that some carriers limit tethering or charge extra for it, so check your plan first.
- Android: connect the phone to the computer with a USB cable, swipe down from the top of the screen, touch and hold Hotspot, then turn on USB tethering. Google says some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up, and menu names vary by phone maker. See Google’s hotspot and tethering instructions for Android.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join. Connect the iPhone to the PC with a USB cable and tap Trust when asked. Apple says a Windows PC needs the latest Apple Devices app or iTunes for Windows for this to work. See Apple’s Personal Hotspot setup guide.
Turn tethering off when you finish. Apple warns that a computer may reconnect to Personal Hotspot whenever the phone is plugged in, which can use data without you noticing.
Troubleshooting
No Wi-Fi option appears after plugging in the adapter
The driver is probably not installed. Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, and look for the adapter. If it is missing or shows a warning icon, right-click it, select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If that finds nothing, download the driver from the adapter maker’s website on another device, copy it over on a USB flash drive, and use Browse my computer for drivers. Microsoft documents both methods in Update drivers manually in Windows, and we have a longer walkthrough on updating a Wi-Fi driver in Windows 11. Also try a different USB port.
Your network is not in the list
Select Refresh network list, and check that Wi-Fi is turned on in quick settings and that Airplane mode is off under Settings > Network & internet. Move the computer or the adapter closer to the router if you can. If your router shows separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks and you only see one of them, the adapter may support only that band.
The password is rejected
Retype it carefully, watching capital letters. If the router’s password was changed from the one on its label, use the new one. A phone or another computer that is already connected can confirm you have the right password.
The connection keeps dropping
Windows may be powering the adapter down to save energy. In Device Manager, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter, choose Properties, open the Power Management tab, and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. If the adapter came with a USB extension cable or cradle, use it to move the adapter away from the back of the case and into a clearer position.
Nothing has helped
Restart the modem and router: unplug both, wait at least 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, then the router. Microsoft’s Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows page lists more checks. Its last resort is a network reset, which removes and reinstalls every network adapter and returns their settings to the defaults. Read our guide to resetting network settings in Windows 11 before you try that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a desktop computer connect to Wi-Fi without an Ethernet cable?
Yes, as long as it has a Wi-Fi adapter. If the desktop has none built in, a USB Wi-Fi adapter or an internal PCIe Wi-Fi card adds one. After the driver is installed, you join the network from the taskbar like on any laptop.
Do USB Wi-Fi adapters need software to work?
Every adapter needs a driver. Windows installs drivers for much hardware automatically through Windows Update, but some adapters need the driver from the box or from the maker’s website. The adapter’s instructions tell you which applies.
Is a USB adapter or an internal card better?
A USB adapter is easier because nothing has to be opened and it can move between computers. An internal card frees up a USB port and usually has larger external antennas. Actual speed and range depend on the specific product, your router and where the computer sits, so compare the specifications of the models you are considering.
Will the computer be slower on Wi-Fi than on a cable?
It can be. Wi-Fi speed depends on distance from the router, walls and other obstacles, and the standards that both the adapter and the router support. If the computer sits close enough to the router to run a cable, Ethernet remains a simple option.
Can the same adapter be used on another computer?
A USB adapter can be unplugged and moved to another computer that it supports. The second computer needs the driver too, and you will have to enter the Wi-Fi password there, since saved networks are stored on each computer.
Next Step
Once the computer is online, run Windows Update from Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates so the adapter driver and Windows itself are current. If you are also adding a printer to the same network, see How to Connect the Officejet 6700 to a Wireless Network.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.