Signing in to restricted wifi connection

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I have run into problems doing the final step when connecting to a new public WiFi network – say at a restaurant or doctor’s office.

I can connect and Window says it is connected but then I can’t access the screen to enter the password. Some WiFi sources require a password.

Sometimes I have seen a popup at the top of the screen saying this connection needs a sign in but it doesn’t always happen. Is there a way to force the popup or somewhere to enter these passwords?

I have tried to open Internet settings in Windows 10 but there is no where to enter the password.

 

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You may see other networks when your device scans for a connection, but that doesn’t mean the network is public or not secured.
Public networks also may have a password that you have to enter if they are secured.
Private networks, like a doctor’s office or a restaurant’s internal network, will most certainly have a password protected network. They don’t want just anyone accessing their private data.
Usually it is only if the establishment advertises “free public network” is there a possibility of non-password protected use. And if you connect to a non-secured network, your connection and device are at risk, because other undesirable users may be able to abuse the connection.

Just because your device “sees” the network doesn’t mean it is available for your use.

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I understand the concept of private and public networks.  At the locations I am talking about they give me verbally the password. What I am having trouble with is accessing where I need to input the password. I have signed in on my android phone to these networks with no problem. The sign in page pops up when I try to connect. What I can’t do consistently is access this sign in page with Firefox. Maybe this should happen through Windows not Firefox? Once in a while there is a message with a button at the top of the Firefox screen saying  login required and to click here to access but it is not consistent.

I seem to remember years ago, a trick to get that page to appear was to try to access the domain “purple.com”. This is an actual domain but it would trigger the sign in for the network you are trying to connect to. This does not work now and I would not advise to use it.

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OK, if you are signing in to their NETWORK (LAN), then use the WiFi button in the lower right of the taskbar on your computer, or in the WiFi section of the Settings on your phone. When you see their network name (they need to tell you what it is), you connect and it will ask you for the password to their network.

That is different than their WEBSITE.

If you are signing in to their website, you will use your browser (Firefox?), enter the url in the address bar, an hit enter. When the home page pops up, you will need to enter YOUR ID and password for your account in the proper boxes.

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1 – You use the Windows wifi connection box for secure wifi where you have been given a password.

2 –  You use your browser when you connect to an open wifi and then authenticate to use the internet / local network.

The difference is easy to see when you click on the Windows wifi icon in the tray. You get a padlock symbol for 1 and no padlock for 2.

cheers, Paul

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