If you want to connect to a network quicker with your Windows 8.1 device, you should probably use the WPS feature, which is available in all wireless routers. Let’s find out how you can do this.
General Info about WPS
The WPS or Wi-Fi Protected Setup is a wireless network standard. It was firstly introduced in 2007, so that many home users could be able to connect their new wireless devices to their networks faster. This feature applies only to wireless networks, which have WPA Personal or WPA2 Personal security. In other words, it does not work in wireless networks with WEP security. In order to connect your wireless device to a network with WPS in a normal setup, you will have to know the network’s name ( SSID ) and password ( WPA-PSK key ) .
The WPS is available in all routers, since those types of devices are the most common supporters for this standard. You can also find it in various networking devices, such as wireless printers or wireless range extenders. In addition, many computers and other gadgets may support the use of WPS. However, they can provide support for this standard, if their operating systems were designed to work with it. Fortunately, the most popular operating systems ( Windows or Android ) support the WPS. Furthermore, Microsoft introduced the WPS feature back in 2007 with Windows Vista. Now Windows 7 and Windows 8 support that standard too. Android started providing support for WPS in 2011 with the launch of the version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. On top of that, every version after the Ice Cream Sandwich works with the WPS. Finally, Blackberry supports the WPS, since the introduction of Blackberry 6. All versions of Blackberry, which followed that specific one, can support it too. On the other hand, we cound find many operating systems that do not support WPS. For instance, Windows Phone, Linux Ubuntu and Mint, Apple OS X and iOS do not provide support for this standard.
The WPS was created by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Wi-Fi Alliance is an international non-profit association that supports the use of Wi-Fi technology and certifies Wi-Fi products, if they meet the prerequisites, required from the organization. The association consists of more than 600 members, between of which you will notice many popular companies, like Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, Nokia and etc.
Now that you have got a few information about the WPS, let’s begin with the process.
Open the Charms & View the List of NetworksÂ
- Open the Charms bar by using the Win + C combination and then select the Settings charm. Alternatively, swipe from the right or left side of the screen towards its centre.
- At the lower half of the Settings’ screen you will see the wireless network icon. Click or tap on it.
Connect your Windows 8.1 Device to the Network via WPS
- Click or tap on the desired wireless network, found in the networks list. Next, check the Connect automatically box, if you wish to connect automatically to that network, whenever it is in range. After this, press the Connect button.
- Once you do it, you will be asked to enter the password for the network that you want to connect to.
- At this point, go to your router and press and hold the WPS button for a while. When you do it, your Windows 8.1 device will automatically receive the settings of your router. As a result, you will connect to the selected network, without even entering its password.
- Then you will be asked, whether if you want to find PCs, devices and content on this network. In addition, Additionally, you can choose to connect automatically to devices, like printers or TVs. If you can trust this network, go ahead and select Yes. Otherwise, choose No. Note that the assigned location of this network connection will change, according to those decisions.
Finally, you are connect to the network that you chose. From now on, every time you try to connect to that network, you will not need to press the WPS button on your router, because all the required settings for the connection are available on your Windows 8.1 device.
That’s it! Connecting to a wireless network via WPS seems to be a rather easy process. Therefore, you could try it out the next time you try to connect to a new network.
