Top 4 Ways to Make Your Computer Receive WiFi
As you know, the only way to connect to the internet on desktop computers is via an Ethernet cable that runs directly from the router to the port on the motherboard. Although this has its advantages, as Ethernet cables provide stable speeds and lower latency. But it is also difficult to ignore the many benefits of Wi-Fi as well.
With a wireless network, you can easily move your computer and place it anywhere in your home or office as long as there is a power outlet nearby—you never have to worry about the length of your Ethernet cable again. Adding Wi-Fi to your computer can also be useful even if it already has an Ethernet connection. You can create a hotspot , allowing other devices to connect through your computer instead of directly to your router.
But how can this be achieved? In fact, there are 4 simple and very inexpensive ways that will make any computer able to receive a Wi-Fi network and connect to the Internet without cables, let us explain them to you in this article.
The first method: Buy a Wi-Fi USB flash drive
Buying a Wi-Fi flash drive is the easiest way to make your desktop computer wirelessly connect to the internet via any nearby Wi-Fi network. It is a small USB device that you simply plug into any USB port on your computer case like you would a flash drive , and then it will be able to receive Wi-Fi. Simple, right?!
But after connecting the Wi-Fi flash drive, you may need to install its driver to make it compatible with Windows 8 or Windows 10. Sometimes you may not need to install the drivers yourself because Windows does it automatically. So, you need to read the user manual that comes with the flash drive to know how to operate it properly. But in general, this is a very easy task.
This method is inexpensive, as you can buy a Wi-Fi flash drive for less than $10 from any computer store. Then, you can leave the flash drive plugged into your computer and forget about it, or take it with you so you can connect to the Wi-Fi network on any desktop computer you come across at work.
Second method: Buy a PCI Wi-Fi card
You can also add a Wi-Fi card or card to the motherboard inside the computer case. It is similar to installing a graphics card to your device, where all you need to do is install this card in the PCI Express slot or PCI Express Mini slot or depending on what type of PCI slots your motherboard supports in your device.
This method is somewhat better than the previous method because Wi-Fi cards usually have better signal reception than USB Wi-Fi flash drives, and they usually come with a large antenna on the back of the computer to find distant networks and make the connection more stable if you are connected to a nearby Wi-Fi network. Expect to pay between $15 and $35 for an internal Wi-Fi card.
But before you buy, make sure your computer has an empty and unused PCI slot, or that the installation process will not be difficult for you. If you can remove the side door of the case, you will not need to do much.
Just shut down your computer completely, plug the card into the slot on the motherboard and make sure it is secure with a screw, then close the case and restart your computer. The driver will be installed automatically by Windows, or you may need to install it yourself. After that, you will be able to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi easily.
Method 3: Buy a motherboard with Wi-Fi
If you are building a new computer and want to make it capable of receiving Wi-Fi, or you have an old computer and want to upgrade some components in it to be able to connect to the Internet wirelessly instead of Ethernet, you should consider buying a motherboard that supports Wi-Fi technology, as it has a built-in wireless network receiver like laptops.
These motherboards aren't common, but there are a few well-known companies that make motherboards with built-in Wi-Fi. For example, MSI has the MPG Z390I motherboard , Gigabyte has the Z390 I AORUS PRO motherboard , and ASUS has the ROG STRIX Z370-G GAMING motherboard. ZOTAC may not be as well-known, but it also makes the ZOTAC Z77-ITX motherboard .
There are many models, just before buying check the motherboard features to see if it supports a Wi-Fi receiver or not. But in general, this method is no different from the previous one in terms of results, as the built-in receiver is as powerful as Wi-Fi cards that are installed via the PCI slot, but if you do not want to waste PCI slots in favor of graphics cards, this method will be the best solution.
Method 4: Use your mobile phone as a Wi-Fi adapter
This method may not be as effective and practical as the previous methods, but at least it will help you connect to the Internet on your computer in case you are unable to connect via an Ethernet cable for any reason.
The idea of this method is that you use your Android phone as a Wi-Fi signal connector for the computer via a USB cable. So, the first step you should take is to connect to the Wi-Fi network on your phone, then connect the phone to the computer via a USB cable, then go to Settings - Network & internet - Hotspot & tethering and there activate the USB tethering option.
The computer will immediately become connected to the Internet via the Wi-Fi network your phone is connected to, and that's it. You can now browse the Internet on your computer without an Ethernet cable.