Connect to a Wi-Fi network

Tip

• Depending on how your device is set up by your device manufacturer or mobile operator, you'll be notified periodically when Wi-Fi networks are available in your area. You can tap these notifications when they appear at the top of the screen, and then choose a network to connect to. If you don't want these notifications to appear, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap Advanced, and then clear the Notify me when new networks are found check box. When notifications are turned off, you can still check for Wi-Fi networks in Settings > Wi-Fi.

• If there aren't any Wi-Fi networks listed when you're somewhere that you expect one or more to appear, turn Wi-Fi networking off, and then turn it back on.

• If you're out and looking for Wi-Fi hotspots, tap Find nearby Wi-Fi in Wi-Fi settings. The Data Sense Wi-Fi Guide shows you a map with Wi-Fi hotspots that are nearby. Data Sense is not currently available for all mobile operators.

• You can help other Windows Embedded 8 Handheld users discover nearby Wi-Fi hotspots by opting to automatically send public Wi-Fi connection data to Microsoft. When you participate, your device will send the network name, service quality, bandwidth, authentication type, and other details of public Wi-Fi networks you connect to. This info is used to identify and increase the visibility of Wi-Fi hotspots near you. If you don't want to participate and send this connection info, in Wi-Fi settings, tap Advanced, and then clear the Send information about Wi-Fi connections to help discover nearby Wi-Fi check box. For more info, see the Windows Embedded 8 Handheld Privacy Statement.

• If you want to connect to a secured network, you might have to enter a user name and a password. If so, tap Done when you're finished.

• Before connecting to an enterprise Wi-Fi network, you can have your device check to make sure the network is your company’s network, and not one that could be harmful that has the same name. Your device can do this by validating a certificate that's on your company’s server. After validating the certificate, your user name and password are sent to the authentication server, so your device can connect to the Wi-Fi network. (Before using this feature, you might need to contact your company's support person to find out how to get the right certificate on your device.) To use this feature, turn on Validate server certificate, tap Choose a certificate, choose the certificate authority that your company uses, and then tap Done.

• Some Wi-Fi networks, such as ones you might find in coffee shops, restaurants, hotels, or elsewhere, may require you to enter a password in your web browser before you can connect.

• If you want your Wi-Fi connection to stay on even when your screen times out, in Wi-Fi settings, tap Advanced, and then select the Keep Wi-Fi on when the screen times out check box. Your device can then use a Wi-Fi connection even when the screen is off. This uses battery power, though, so your battery life can be shorter compared to when Wi-Fi turns off when the screen times out. To keep Wi-Fi on when the screen times out, your device must be running the latest version of the Windows Embedded 8 Handheld software (OS version 8.0.10211.204). See How do I update my phone software? for more information about how to update your device.

• To disconnect from a network and delete the network settings associated with it on your device, in Wi-Fi settings, tap and hold the network name, and then tap Delete.

• Depending on your mobile operator and how your device is set up, your device might automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots that are provided by the mobile operator. If you don't want your device to automatically connect to these kinds of Wi-Fi hotspots, in Wi-Fi settings, tap Advanced, and then clear the Automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots check box. (This setting might have a different name depending on your mobile operator.) If you're connected to one of these hotspots and you want to disconnect from it, in Wi-Fi settings, tap and hold the network name, and then tap Disconnect. When you do this, the Automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots check box will be cleared, so your device won't automatically connect to these hotspots anymore.