How to Connect to Wireless on a Windows Laptop or Desktop

Note: PAWS-Secure or eduroam wireless networks are only available to UGA students, faculty, staff and others with a valid MyID. If you do not have a MyID and password, please follow the instructions for connecting to the UGA_Visitors_Wifi. 

Screenshot of connecting to wifi on Windows

A new window will appear asking you to enter your username and password. The credentials you will enter will depends on the network you choose. 

  • PAWS-Secure: In the username field, enter your MyID. In the password field, enter your MyID password.
  • eduroam: In the username field enter your MyID with "@uga.edu" behind it. (Ex: MyID@uga.edu). In the password field, enter your MyID password. 

If your credentials are accurate, you should be connected.

Troubleshooting with a manual configuration

If you cannot connect to WiFi by just typing in your MyID and password, you can try manually configuring your connection to PAWS-Secure or eduroam.

To begin, you must forget the network. Click on the WiFi icon in the bottom right of the screen. 

Click Network and Internet Settings.

screenshot of wifi on windows machine

Click Wi-Fi in the left hand side of the screenThen click Manage Known Networks

Wifi screenshot of Manage Known Networks

Select the UGA network you are trying to connect to — either PAWS-Secure or eduroam — and then click Forget

Manual configuration screenshot step one - forget network

You can now use a manual configuration to connect to Wi-Fi. 

Go back to Wi-Fi Settings and scroll down. Click on Network and Sharing Center.

Network and Sharing settings on Windows

Click Set up a new connection or network.

Screenshot of set up new connection or network

Click Manually connect to a wireless network, then click Next.

Enter the following information:

  • Network Name: PAWS-Secure
  • Security Type: WPA2 Enterprise
  • Encryption Type: AES
  • Check Start this connection automatically

Click Next.

Screenshot of manual configuration of wireless network

Click Change connection settings.

Change connection settings window screenshot

After the Wireless Network Properties window opens, click on the Security tab.

Ensure that the encryption type is set to AES.

Ensure that the authentication method is Protected EAP (PEAP). Then click Settings next to the authentication method.

Security tab in wifi settings

The Protected EAP Properties window will open. Uncheck Verify the server’s identity by validating the certificate.

Next to Secured password, click Configure.

Windows screenshot secured password

Uncheck the box next to Automatically use my Windows logon name and password. Click OK.

Windows login screenshot

Close out the EAP window. On the Wireless Network Properties window, click Advanced Settings.

Advanced setting network properties

An Advanced Settings window will open. Check the box for Specify authentication mode and then select User authentication. Next to the User authentication selection, click Save Credentials.

user authentication screenshot

Enter your username and password into the window that pops up. The username and password you enter will depend on the network to which you are trying to connect.

  • PAWS-Secure: In the username field, enter your MyID. In the password field, enter your MyID password.
  • eduroam: In the username field enter your MyID with "@uga.edu" behind it. (Ex: MyID@uga.edu). In the password field, enter your MyID password. 

Click OK.

save credentials window screenshot

Select 802.11 settings tab of the Advanced Settings window.

Ensure Enable Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliance for this network is checked. Do not touch the other settings. Click OK on the Advanced Settings window to close it.

Screenshot of Fips setting

Click OK on the Wireless Network Properties window. Click Close on the Manually connect to a wireless network window. Close the Network and Sharing Center window.

Click on the wireless icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen and attempt to connect again.