# Hidden Networks

## What Is a Hidden Network?

By default, all WiFi networks broadcast the so-called Service Set Identifier (SSID) every 100 milliseconds to let other devices know about their presence. If you were able to hear and understand the signals broadcasted by your router, you would probably want to cover your ears because all routers around you are constantly shouting something like, “This is BASEMENTWIFI!” or “Hi, I’m CISCO\_NETWORK!”

Well, almost all routers. Some routers don’t broadcast their SSID because the hidden network WiFi option has been turned on in the settings. This option stops the broadcasting of the network’s SSID, which effectively causes it to disappear and become invisible to all devices that connect to WiFi networks.

## How to Connect to Hidden Networks?

Because hidden networks don’t broadcast their names, it takes a few more steps to connect to them. You also need to know a few things about the hidden network you want to connect to, namely:

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " id="bkmrk-its-name%2C-also-calle"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb "><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 padding-top-65">- Its name, also called SSID (Service Set Identifier).
- The type of encryption used by the network ([WEP](https://www.netspotapp.com/blog/wifi-security/wifi-encryption-and-security.html#WEP), [WPA](https://www.netspotapp.com/blog/wifi-security/wifi-encryption-and-security.html#WPA)-PSK, or [WPA2](https://www.netspotapp.com/blog/wifi-security/wifi-encryption-and-security.html#WPA2)-PSK).
- The password used by the network.

</div></div></div></div></div><p class="callout info">By default Jacidi uses WPA-2 as encryption type.</p>

If you have all this information, you can follow the instructions below for your platform.

<p class="callout success">Jacidi will share a QR-Code to automate the connection on IOs and Android devices.</p>

#### **Windows 10**

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " id="bkmrk-open-the-settings-ap" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Open the Settings app.

</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850171563.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850171563.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850171563.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " id="bkmrk-go-to-network-%26-inte" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><span id="bkmrk--17"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Go to Network &amp; Internet.

</div><span id="bkmrk--18"></span></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850196846.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850196846.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850196846.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " id="bkmrk-select-wi-fi-from-th" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Select Wi-Fi from the left pane.

</div><span id="bkmrk--19"></span></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850213366.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850213366.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850213366.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb pb-50 " id="bkmrk-click-manage-known-n" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Click Manage known networks on the right.

</div><span id="bkmrk--20"></span><div itemprop="text">- Click Add a new network and enter the required information.

</div><span id="bkmrk--21"></span><div itemprop="text">- Click Save and wait for Windows 10 to connect to the newly added hidden network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--22"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div>#### **Windows 8 and Older**

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-open-the-control-pan" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Open the Control Panel.

</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850272029.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850272029.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850272029.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-go-to-network-and-in" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><span id="bkmrk--23"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Go to Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.

</div><span id="bkmrk--24"></span></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850282764.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850282764.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850282764.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-click-set-up-a-new-c" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Click Set up a new connection or network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--25"></span></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850313282.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850313282.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850313282.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-choose-the-manually-" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Choose the Manually connect to a wireless network option and click Next.

</div><span id="bkmrk--26"></span></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850322668.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850322668.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850322668.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-enter-information-fo" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2">  
</div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Enter information for the wireless network you want to add and click Next.

</div><span id="bkmrk--27"></span><div itemprop="text">- Wait for Windows to connect to the newly added hidden network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--28"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div>#### **macOS**

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " id="bkmrk-click-the-wifi-icon-" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 padding-top-65"><div itemprop="text">- Click the WiFi icon in the Menu bar.

</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850373410.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850373410.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850373410.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " id="bkmrk-select-the-join-othe" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 padding-top-65"><span id="bkmrk--29"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Select the Join Other Network option.

</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850386360.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850386360.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850386360.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " id="bkmrk-enter-the-required-i" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><span id="bkmrk--30"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Enter the required information.

</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850400674.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850400674.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850400674.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " id="bkmrk-click-join." itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><span id="bkmrk--31"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Click Join.

</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850413387.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850413387.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850413387.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb " id="bkmrk-wait-for-your-mac-to" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><span id="bkmrk--32"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 pb-50"><div itemprop="text">- Wait for your Mac to connect to the newly added hidden network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--33"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div>#### **Linux (GNOME)**

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " id="bkmrk-open-the-system-menu" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 padding-top-65 pb-50"><div itemprop="text">- Open the system menu.

</div><span id="bkmrk--34"></span><div itemprop="text">- Click the WiFi icon and go to WiFi settings.

</div><span id="bkmrk--35"></span><div itemprop="text">- Press the menu button in the top-right corner of the window and select Connect to Hidden Network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--36"></span><div itemprop="text">- Add a new hidden network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--37"></span><div itemprop="text">- Enter the required information.

</div><span id="bkmrk--38"></span><div itemprop="text">- Click Connect.

</div><span id="bkmrk--39"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div>#### **Android**

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-open-the-settings-ap-0" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb padding-top-65 pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Open the Settings app.

</div><span id="bkmrk--40"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850657353.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850657353.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850657353.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-go-to-the-wifi-secti" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb padding-top-65 pb-50 " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Go to the WiFi section and select Add WiFi Network.

</div><span id="bkmrk--41"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850675380.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850675380.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850675380.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-f6f7fb padding-top-65 pb-50 " id="bkmrk-enter-the-required-i-0" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Enter the required information.

</div><span id="bkmrk--42"></span><div itemprop="text">- Tap Connect and wait for your Android device to establish a connection.

</div><span id="bkmrk--43"></span><div class="clearfix">  
</div></div></div></div></div>#### **iOS**

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " id="bkmrk-open-the-settings-ap-1" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 padding-top-65"><div itemprop="text">- Open the Settings app.

</div><span id="bkmrk--44"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center">  
</div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850701612.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850701612.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850701612.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " id="bkmrk-go-to-the-wifi-secti-0" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center">  
</div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Go to the WiFi section and select Other.

</div><span id="bkmrk--45"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center">  
</div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850713283.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850713283.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850713283.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " id="bkmrk-enter-the-required-i-1" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center">  
</div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Enter the required information.

</div><span id="bkmrk--46"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center">  
</div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850724460.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850724460.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850724460.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " id="bkmrk-tap-join-and-wait-fo" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center">  
</div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-simply col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"><div itemprop="text">- Tap Join and wait for your iOS device to establish a connection.

</div><span id="bkmrk--47"></span></div></div><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center pb-50">  
</div></div></div></div></div>[![image-1675850740642.png](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/scaled-1680-/image-1675850740642.png)](https://books.jacidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-02/image-1675850740642.png)

<div class="wrap bkg-color-ffffff " id="bkmrk--16" itemprop="step" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/HowToSection"><div class="container"><div class="article-simply-wrap row"><div class="article-image  col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-center pb-50">  
</div></div></div></div>