What is Wi-Fi Protected Setup & how to use it to connect?

Most routers come with a special feature that allows any device with Wi-Fi to connect with a password. It’s called WPS or Protected Wi-Fi configuration Standard. Although support for WPS was removed in Android, it was never present on Apple devices, the Windows 10 operating system still supports it. In this article, we will share about Wi-FI protected configuration and how you can use it to connect.

What is Wi-Fi Protected Setup or WPS

Although you can connect to any router using a password, it does mean sharing the password. If you don’t want to share the password, WPS is the way to go. Technically, it is a network security standard created by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It allows routers to temporarily open to devices that request a connection via WPS. Once the device is connected, the arrangement is permanent. During the process, the router generates a unique password, different from the router password. The machine automatically uses the same password each time it connects to the network.

Benefits:

• More comfortable to connect because you do not need to share the router password
• The password used in WPS is different from the router password

The inconvenients:

• Not all devices support WPS
• Vulnerable to brutal attacks

Note: This functionality is now available on all routers and, at the push of a button, the devices can join the Wi-Fi network. Only if the router uses WPA Personal or WPA2 security protocols, WPS can be activated.

Which operating systems support WPS and which do not?

Windows 10 still supports WPS, but Android and Apple’s iPhone and macOS don’t even recommend it due to security vulnerabilities.

How to use WPS to connect devices to the router

Enable WPS on the router

1. Configure password-protected Wi-Fi using WPA Personal or WPA2
2. Depending on the router configuration, enable WPS on the router
3. There can be more than one APS to activate WPS
   • A button on the back or top of the router
   • Unifi routers allow you to activate by a long press on the screen.
   • Software button available in the administration interface of the router.
4. Once activated, you should notice a flashing LED on the router or a means to indicate that the computer can establish a connection.
5. The router is now ready to accept a request.

Connect to WPS from Windows 10

1. Click on the globe icon in the system tray
2. Find the WIFI network for which WPS has been activated
3. Click on the network to which you wish to connect via WPS
4. Note that instead of asking for a password, it will automatically connect
5. If you connect to the network before WPS is activated, the text box disappears automatically as soon as WPS is activated.

Finally, even if you discover the Wi-Fi password used to connect to WPS, it will not work on other devices. It is strictly linked to the device.

I hope the message was easy to follow, and not only do you understand WPS, but you can also connect your Windows 10 device to the router via WPS.