What Is a Wi-Fi Adapter?
Ryan Dube is a freelance contributor to Lifewire and former Managing Editor of MakeUseOf, senior IT Analyst, and an automation engineer.
Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years’ experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries.
- Wi-Fi & Wireless
- The Wireless Connection
- Routers & Firewalls
- Network Hubs
- ISP
- Broadband
- Ethernet
- Installing & Upgrading
A Wi-Fi adapter lets you convert a desktop computer or a laptop into a wireless-capable device. Once installed, it enables you to use the internet without the need for a network cable.
There are several kinds of Wi-Fi adapters, both internal and external. The one you choose depends on the type of computer you have, available ports, and how much you’re willing to spend.
What Does a Wi-Fi Adapter Do?
A Wi-Fi adapter allows you to connect your desktop or laptop computer to your wireless router so that you can access your home network and the internet.
Without a Wi-Fi adapter, you would need to run an ethernet cable from the router to your computer and plug it into your computer’s ethernet port.
These days, most newer computers come with Wi-Fi capability built-in (as an internal Wi-Fi adapter card). However, if you still have an older computer that only has an ethernet port and no Wi-Fi capability, you’ll need to use a Wi-Fi adapter to connect to your router wirelessly.
Does a Wi-Fi Adapter Give You Wi-Fi?
There are two things you’ll need for a Wi-Fi adapter to work correctly. Just installing a Wi-Fi adapter on your computer won’t give you a Wi-Fi network. You’ll also need:
- A working internet connection to your home (typically from an Internet Service Provider or ISP)
- Modem (usually provided by the ISP) to connect to the live internet cable or DSL wire
- A router that handles wireless communication between your devices, the network, and the internet
Many ISPs provide one device that serves as both the modem and router. But in either case, you’ll need a router capable of providing a Wi-Fi network. You’ll connect the Wi-Fi adapter to the network provided by the router.
Types of Wi-Fi Adapters
There is a wide variety of Wi-Fi adapters available, depending on your needs. Choose the adapter that’s best suited for your computer setup and how you want to use your wireless network.
A PCI adapter is a card you’ll need to slide into one of the PCI slots inside your desktop computer. Before you buy one of these, open your computer case and ensure that an empty PCI slot is available. These are long, narrow slots near one side of the case where you can remove a metal covering to open up an external hole where the external antenna usually screws into the card.
A PCMCIA adapter fits into the PCMCIA slot on the side of laptops that support it. It may also include an antenna. The adapter looks like a thick credit card. It’s convenient because you can easily remove it and use it on any other laptop that supports PCMCIA adapters.
A MiniPCI or MiniPCI express adapter inserts into a PCI slot inside your notebook. You’ll need to open your notebook case and ensure you have an available PCI slot to install the adapter. The adapter is all internal and will enable wireless functionality for your notebook without having to use one of your PCMCIA slots.
A USB Wireless adapter is one of the most convenient Wi-Fi adapters because it works with both desktop and laptop computers, so long as you have an available USB slot. It’s the best option if you don’t want to open up your computer case and want a plug-and-play solution. However, you may need to install driver software that comes with the USB adapter when you buy it.
An ethernet port adapter either plugs directly into your computer’s ethernet port or comes as a box with an ethernet port and antenna. If you buy the box version, you’ll also need an ethernet cable to connect your computer’s ethernet port to the box. This solution is best for older computers that have an ethernet port but no wireless functionality.
If you choose a Wi-Fi adapter that requires internal installation, remember to follow proper grounding practices, such as wearing a grounding strap, which will protect from damaging any internal components due to static charge.
Do I Need a Wi-Fi Adapter?
If your computer is close enough to your router that a network cable will reach it, use the cable as this is usually the best option. Using a wired connection like this eliminates Wi-Fi range and interference issues and, as a bonus, allows faster transmission of data.
However, if you’re too far from the router, a Wi-Fi adapter is the best option. It lets you use your computer or laptop at any location, as long as you’re within range of the wireless router.
As mentioned earlier, most computers sold today have Wi-Fi capabilities built-in, so make sure to turn on your Wi-Fi before you decide to buy a Wi-Fi adapter.
What is a WiFi adapter, and how to pick the best one for you?
Have you ever encountered the following problems caused by an unstable network? Your video conferences slowing down to a crawl, your online games experiencing massive latency to the point you rage quit, or maybe your video streams suffering from stop-and-go buffering. All of these issues stem from poor internet connections.
But what happens when you already have a solid internet plan and a top-notch router to go with it? If you’ve done everything to set up fantastic WiFi throughout your home, maybe all you need is a high-performance wireless adapter.
Here, we will dive into several questions to explain what a WiFi adapter is, how to use a WiFi adapter, what a WiFi adapter can do, and how to choose the right adapter to match your needs.
What is a WiFi adapter?
A WiFi adapter allows your wired device to pick up WiFi signals. So if you have a desktop computer, you can connect it to a network wirelessly. A WiFi adapter can also serve as a hardware upgrade to your laptop, strengthening its wireless reception or updating it to the latest WiFi generation.
How fast is a WiFi adapter?
Usually, internet service providers provide several different network bandwidth packages like 20 Mbps, 60 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 300 Mbps. If you subscribe to only 20 Mbps for network bandwidth, then the speed for your wireless adapter will not be high. Similarly, the wireless adapter won’t achieve a high speed when using a lower-end wireless router. The router and the bandwidth affect a wireless adapter’s speed. If you want your wireless adapter to do its best, ensure you have a good router and network bandwidth.
In the following section, we will introduce various types of WiFi adapters so you can have a basic understanding of WiFi adapters and find the ideal one for your situation.
Types of network adapters
An independent network adapter is a device with its own processor, internal memory, and network line interface. It can be connected to the computer motherboard through the PCI-E interface. If the built-in network adapter on the computer motherboard breaks, you can buy an independent network adapter to replace it.
An integrated network adapter is an accessory with a signal receiver and a transmitter. It can integrate an independent network adapter into the motherboard of the computer. Compared with an independent network adapter, it is smaller in size and thus saves space, but it cannot work independently.
A USB adapter connects to a computer’s USB port to grant wireless connectivity. It is small in size and easy to carry. Compared with PCIe adapters, the USB adapters sacrifice a bit of performance for convenience.
A PCIe wireless adapter is plugged into the computer’s PCIe interface. It provides a more stable and faster transmission speed. However, compared with the USB adapter, its installation requires more than just plug-and-play. Therefore, before installing a PCIe adapter, make sure it is compatible with your computer.
3 Tips for choosing the right WiFi adapter
Tip 1: Operating System Compatibility
When purchasing a WiFi adapter, the first thing you should pay attention to is its compatibility. Some are only suitable for Windows systems, while others are available for both Windows and Mac systems. Make sure the WiFi adapter is compatible with your computer; otherwise, the WiFi adapter will be useless.
Tip 2: Driver Installation Type
WiFi adapters usually require driver installation. Some come with an installation CD, while others need users to download the driver from their official websites. So, when choosing a WiFi adapter, you should understand how to install the driver and make sure you have the right installation method.
Tip 3: Bracket and other accessories
If you are buying a PCIe adapter, you will need to pay special attention to whether it is compatible with the built-in equipment of your computer. Some PCIe adapters come with a standard bracket and short bracket, giving you the flexibility to mount the adapter anyway you need.
Recommended WiFi adapters
Founded in 1996, TP-Link is a global provider of reliable networking devices and accessories involved in all aspects of everyday life. The company is ranked by analyst firm IDC as the No. 1 provider of WiFi devices for 11 consecutive years, supplying distribution to more than 170 countries and serving billions of people worldwide. WiFi adapters make up some of the best sellers. TP-Link provides a variety of safe and high-quality networks adapters, allowing you to easily solve your network problems and enjoy a smooth internet experience.
With IEEE 802.11ac, Archer T9UH lets your PC or laptop enjoy connections 3× faster than Wireless N with Wireless AC technology. It also supports dual band WiFi—with the 5 GHz band for lag-free gaming and HD streaming and the 2.4 GHz band for video calls and shopping online.
Archer T2U Nano receives WiFi signals on two separate bands. 256-QAM technology increases the 2.4 GHz data rate from 150 Mbps to 200 Mbps for 33% faster performance. 433 Mbps on 5 GHz is ideal for HD video streaming and lag-free online gaming, while 200 Mbps on 2.4 GHz is perfect for normal use, such as web surfing with legacy devices.
With two high-gain antennas built in one, Archer T3U Plus boosts your signal reception and data transmission more than traditional single-antenna WiFi adapters. This means greater WiFi coverage and a more stable WiFi connection without WiFi drops and lag, even from farther away or across multiple walls.
Combined with the latest 10GBase-T technology, TX401 reaches blazing-fast data rates up to 10 billion bits per second—10× faster than standard Gigabit Ethernet. It also comes with a CAT6A Ethernet cable and a short bracket for a more convenient experience.
With the latest WiFi standard, WiFi 6, Archer TX50E provides extreme speeds and ultra-low latency. WiFi 6 comes with 1024-QAM and 160 MHz bandwidth, for powerful, continuous WiFi. Bandwidth-intensive applications like VR demand high speeds, which WiFi 6 delivers—3× faster speeds than WiFi 5. Just insert Archer TX50E into your PC for fully immersive VR experiences.