It’s very easy to connect your Android phone to a network, and you can do it in two ways: connecting to your own wi-fi connection or to a device’s hotspot. Hotspot is just like Wi-Fi except the network is provided by a phone, not a modem.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Your Wi-Fi

  1. 1
    Unlock and open your device. If you have a password input it now.
  2. 2
    Go to "Settings. Locate and tap on the icon that resembles a gear.
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  3. 3
    Tap on Wi-Fi. This will open up the Wi-Fi menu.
  4. 4
    Turn on Wi-Fi. A list of networks in the surrounding area will appear. If you have already connected to one of these networks your phone will automatically connect.
    • If haven't previously connected to a network you will need to add a new one. Go to the next step on how to add unrecognized networks.
  5. 5
    Enter your network’s SSID/name.
  6. 6
    Enter the networks security type. Usually this is set to WEP.
  7. 7
    Enter the networks password. Afterward, your phone should connect to the network.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Hotspot

  1. 1
    Go to the "Settings" menu of your phone. Tap on the icon that resembles a gear.
  2. 2
    Go to Wi-Fi. Access your Wi-Fi menu by tapping on this option in your settings menu.
  3. 3
    Turn on Wi-Fi. If the hotspot is recognized, your phone will connect automatically to the hotspot. This is only if the provider has turned it on.
    • If the hotspot is not recognized, you will have to add it. Proceed to the next step to add an unrecognized network.
  4. 4
    Enter the hotspot’s name.
  5. 5
    Enter WEP for the hotspot security type.
  6. 6
    Enter the hotspot provider's password. Your phone should connect automatically if the hotspot is turned on.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How will I know if my portable hotspot device is working with the prepaid sim card?
    WikiVY
    WikiVY
    Community Answer
    You can use the internet to check by opening any app that runs on the internet, like Whatsapp, Spotify, YouTube, the browser for any online search, etc. If it doesn't show results, you'll know that the internet doesn't work or isn't working at that moment. You have to either have balance on your sim card to be used for internet or have a package for data paid to use internet.
  • Question
    My phone is entirely new and I want it to connect to the internet using mobile data. It is not showing the network type icon, so how can I fix it?
    WikiVY
    WikiVY
    Community Answer
    You need to pay for an internet plan - either 4G, 5G, or any other based on your phone's capacity. To learn more, you can call the sim card/service provider's customer care number. They will let you know whether you need to recharge with a 4G plan for data, and whether there is data or balance available to be used etc. Or, you can search online for the data plans and ask the retailer to activate a plan. There is a number that you can dial to get a set of instructions. Each service provider has their own number, find yours to get started.
  • Question
    How can I find the network setting?
    WikiVY
    WikiVY
    Community Answer
    If you call the service provider's customer care number and ask for network settings, they will send it to you, mostly via SMS. They will also send a password if that is asked for the settings to be applied on your device.
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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 42,209 times.
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Co-authors: 9
Updated: January 31, 2023
Views: 42,209
Categories: Android
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