How to Connect to the Internet for the Nintendo Wii

Internet connectivity for the Nintendo Wii makes it easy to download games, stay up to date on the latest Nintendo products, and even watch movies and TV shows online on your TV. Networking also allows you to challenge your friends to a game even when you’re thousands of kilometers apart. Follow the steps below to connect to the Wii wireless or wired Internet.

Table of Contents

Wireless Connectivity

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Make sure the network is installed correctly. The network needs to broadcast a standard signal for the Wii to enter the network. Read your router or modem’s manual for the correct network settings.

If you can connect to the network using another wireless device, the network is working fine and the Wii can access it. You don’t need to make any further adjustments.
If you don’t have a wireless router, you can attach a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB adapter to your computer to create a dedicated access point. You need to install the software that came with the adapter to your computer, then plug in the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB.

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Turn on the Wii and press the A button on the Wii remote to access the Wii main menu. Use the Wii remote to select the “Wii” button. This round button is located in the bottom left corner of the Wii Channels screen.

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Select “Wii Settings” and open the “Wii System Settings” menu. Select the arrow on the right side of the screen and drag it to the options on the side page.

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Select “Internet” in the System Settings section. In Internet options, select “Connection Settings”. This shows three different connections. If you have not established a connection before, they will show up as “None” next to the Connection number.

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Select “Connection 1: None” (Connection 1: None). Select “Wireless Connection” on the menu. Then select “Search for an Access Point”. The Wii starts searching for the active network. Once the network is detected, a screen will appear asking you to select an access point. Click OK to continue.

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Select network. You will see the network name appear along with the strength of the network signal. If you have set a password, you will see a dialog box asking for a password. Enter the password and then select OK.

If the access point doesn’t appear in the list, make sure that the Wii is still within range of your router and that the network is configured correctly.
You can manually change the encryption by clicking on the orange encryption name (WEP, WPA, etc.)
If you are using a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Adapter, access the computer at this step and allow the connection from the Wii using the installed software.
If error code 51330 or 52130 appears on the Wii, you entered the wireless network password incorrectly.

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Save settings. After entering the information, the Wii will ask you to save the connection information. Once done, the Wii will try to connect to the network to make sure it’s still working.

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Finish installation. Once done, a success message will appear and you are asked if you want to proceed with System Update. The update only takes a few minutes, you can choose to do it or not.

Connect with Ethernet Cable

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Buy a Wii LAN Adapter. To connect the Wii to a wired network, you need to purchase a Wii LAN adapter. This device is not included with Wii purchase, non-Nintendo adapter will not work.

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Plug the Wii LAN adapter into the USB port on the back of the Wii, remembering to power off the Wii before connecting. Plug the Ethernet cable into the adapter.

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Power on the Wii and access the “Wii Menu”. This round button is in the bottom left corner of the “Wii Channels” screen.

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Open “Wii Settings”. This will take you to the “Wii System Settings” menu. Click on the arrow to the right of the screen to drag to the option on the next page.

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Select “Internet” in the System Settings section. In Internet options, select “Connection Settings”. This will display 3 different connections. If you haven’t established connections before, they will show “None” next to the Connection number.

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Select the first unused connection and select “Wired Connection” on the next page.

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Select OK to save the settings and wait for the Wii to complete the connection test. If the connection is successful, you will see a confirmation window and ask if you want to proceed with the System Update. The update process only takes a few minutes, you can choose to update or not.

Use Internet

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Download more channels. Once connected to the network, you can use “Wii Shop Channel” to download more channels for the Wii. Channels include web browser, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, and more.

Open “Wii Shop Channel” and select “Start”. Select “Wii Channels” on the menu and go to the channel to download. Most channels are free, sometimes they require a subscription to another service to be downloaded.

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Internet access. You can use “Internet Channel” in the “Channel” screen to open the Wii’s web browser. Use the Wii remote to navigate and type letters.

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Watch video. Many streaming services are equipped like Wii channels. As long as you subscribe, you can use the Wii to watch videos online. You can find and download the service on the “Wii Shop Channel”. The download channel will automatically be added to the startup screen.

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Update news, weather, etc. These channels are completely free. However, since June 28, 2013, the Wii has stopped providing some channels with such content.

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Play games with friends around the world. Some Wii games let you play against other players. If you have a game disc and an internet connection, you can play along.

A “Friend Code” is generated for each game on the Wii and Nintendo DS. To add friends to the “Friends Roster” section, you need to follow the steps on the user manual for each specific game, because each game is programmed differently.

Advice

If Nintendo USB Wi-FI isn’t working, find a wireless router instead. They work much better than USB.
If the network doesn’t work, unplug the Wii, wait 5 to 10 minutes, then try again. You can restart the modem for the wired network or the router for the wireless network.
Try to keep the Wii close to the signal area to avoid network outages. The closer the Wii is to the router, the stronger the connection.

Things you need

Wii
television
Internet is working
Wireless network source (wireless router, Nintendo Wi-Fi USB)
Wii LAN adapter (with wired connection)

Steps

Wireless Connectivity

Connect with Ethernet Cable

Use Internet

Advice

Things you need

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