Connecting to a Wireless Network with OS X

To connect to an available wireless network from a Mac OS X laptop, take the following steps:

1. Click on the Apple icon at the top left-hand corner of your screen.
2. Select System Preferences.

   

3. Under Internet & Wireless, click on Network.
4. Click on AirPort to access the wireless settings. The AirPort setting should be listed as "On"; if not, click on the Turn AirPort On button.

   

5. From the drop-down list next to Network Name, select the appropriate wireless network SSID. Depending on your location, you could see many available from neighboring businesses or homes.

   E.g., suppose the network SSID for the wireless network to which you wish to connect is "linksys". With it selected, you should see the AirPort status change to "Connected", once the Mac has established a connection to that wireless network, if that wireless network isn't protected by a security key, which is akin to a password..

   

   If the network is a secured network, indicated by a padlock icon next to it, you will be prompted to provide the key/password to access the network.

   

   Type that key/password in the password field and click on OK. If you expect to connect to that network again in the future and want your system to remember the key/password, leave "Remember this network" checked. Within a few moments, you should see the AirPort status change to "Connected".

6. Click on the Apply button. If you are asked to provide a password for the changes to be made, provide the appropriate userid and password and click on OK..
7. You can close the Network window by clicking on the red "X" at the top left-hand corner of the window.

Created: February 7, 2012