Refer to our guides for finding your router’s IP address and router password for more info. You can also change the router password if needed.
Cable: Cable uses the existing cable television infrastructure to provide cable internet. Connect the coaxial cable that your cable internet service provider installed to the coaxial input on the back of the cable modem or gateway. DSL: DSL uses existing phone lines to provide high-speed internet. A DSL modem connects to the internet using a standard phone line. Connect a phone line from a phone jack to the DSL line on the back of the modem. Fiber optic: Fiber optic internet is the newest and fastest form of high-speed internet. The infrastructure for fiber optic is not available in all areas. Depending on how the service is installed at your home or business, a fiber optic cable may be installed by your internet service provider which you can connect directly to the modem, or it may be connected to a media converter which then connects to your modem or gateway device using an ethernet cable. Connect the ethernet cable to the internet or WAN port on the back of your router or gateway device.
For more information, check out our guides on setting up Wi-Fi and extending a wireless network. If you are using a combination router and modem gateway device, you do not need to connect it to any other routers. Make sure both your modem and router are plugged in using the AC adapter that came with them.
Plug in the power source for the modem, then plug in the power source for the wireless router. Wait a few moments for the devices to boot up.
You can also typically find the router’s default admin username and password on Google by searching for the router model + “admin username” or “admin password. ”
This is the password that you and guests will use to log in to the network.
You can later come back to your router’s portal to see who is connected to your network.
Open the network settings menu or click or tap the wireless icon which usually resembles a dot with arching lines over it. Select your wireless SSID. Enter the wireless password. Click or tap Connect.
Right-click the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray. Select Network & Internet settings. Windows 10: Click Network and Sharing Center on the Status page. Click Change advanced sharing settings. Toggle on Network discovery and File and printer sharing. Windows 11: Click Advanced network settings, then Advanced sharing settings. Toggle on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
Press Windows Key + S to open Windows search. Search for “View network computers and devices”. Click “View network computers and devices”. Double-click the computer/device you’re going to access. Navigate to the shared item you’re looking for.
Go to Apple menu > System Settings in the menu bar. Select the General tab in the sidebar. Click Sharing in the right side menu. Toggle on “File Sharing”. Click the info button to the right to add specific items to share. Note: The Public folder for each user is shared automatically.
Open a new Finder window. Click Shared Folders in the sidebar list. Locate the shared item that you want to access.
You must be logged in to Windows with an account that has administrative privileges to run Command Prompt as an administrator. If asked if you want to allow Command Prompt to make changes to your system, click Yes.
If doesn’t accept your password, try deleting the equals (=) sign. [6] X Research source
Click the Windows Start icon. Type “Control Panel”. Click the Control Panel icon.
Click Network and internet. Click Network and Sharing Center.
On macOS Monterey and earlier: Click the Apple icon in the menu bar. Click System Preferences. Click the Sharing icon. Uncheck any checked checkboxes in the Sharing services menu on the left. On macOS Ventura and later:[8] X Research source Click the Apple icon in the menu bar. Click System Settings. Click General. This is in the sidebar. Click Sharing. Uncheck any checked checkboxes in the Sharing services menu.
On macOS Monterey and earlier: Click the Apple icon in the menu bar. Click System Preferences. Click Security & Privacy. Click the Firewall tab. Click the lock icon in the lower-left corner. Enter your Mac password. Click Turn On Firewall. On macOS Ventura and later:[9] X Research source Click the Apple icon in the menu bar. Click System Settings. Click Network. This option is in the sidebar. Click Firewall. Turn on the Firewall in the Firewall menu.
