WiFi: Common Troubleshooting Tips

Overview

Below is a list of common troubleshooting tips that resolve issues faculty, staff, students, or guests are having with WiFi on campus. If none of the suggestions below resolve your WiFi issues, contact the ITS Service Center.

Login First With an Ethernet Cable

If you are connecting for the first time on campus, it is often helpful to connect to the wired network via an ethernet cable.

Determine Correct Network

MWireless
is designed for students, faculty, sponsored affiliates, and staff with a valid uniqname and password. Members of the campus community are strongly urged to use MWireless when working on campus.
eduroam
is an alternate, secure WiFi network designed for students, faculty and staff. It is available at the university and other universities and colleges worldwide and acts as one large, world-wide, wireless hotspot.
MGuest
is a limited WiFi network for university guests. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged not to use MGuest as their primary network, as it is less secure and speed limited. MGuest requires that guests enter their email address and agree to the university’s terms of service.

Note: The WiFi Setup Tool​ is a network setup tool that assists in configuring personal devices for our networks. It configures both MWireless and eduroam automatically and is the easiest way to set up your personal device.

Network Specific Tips

MWireless & eduroam
Requires that your device supports WPA2 Enterprise, a standard method for providing security on wireless networks.
MGuest
Requires that your device have a built-in web browser.
Sometimes requires guests to remove the current MGuest wireless profile, reboot their device, and re-join MGuest.

Turn WiFi On

Many devices have a physical swtich or button that turns on and off the WiFi antenna. Double-check that your antenna is turned on so it can receive network signals.

Unplug Ethernet Cable

On many devices, if an Ethernet cable is plugged in, the device will default to that connection instead of WiFi. Unplug your wired connection if you prefere to connect wirelessly.

Confirm Availability

There are some campus buildings and locations where WiFi is not available. To confirm whether you have WiFi in your location, check the WiFi Coverage Map. If you have successfully connected in this location before, contact the ITS Service Center to report connection issues.

Check for Interference

WiFi interference can also come from cordless phones, microwave ovens, printers, projectors, and other WiFi enabled devices. If you are located near one of these devices try moving to see if your connection improves.

Check for Campus Outage

ITS posts known outages on our status page.

Check UMICH Password

Check if you can login to Wolverine Access. If you can login to Wolverine Access, but cannot login to MWireless, you need to change your UMICH password.

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Last Updated: 
Thursday, June 9, 2016 - 00:00