Wireless Network: Connect to UNC Wi-Fi

All UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, staff, and guests have access to the campus wireless network. This article offers step-by-step instructions for connecting various devices—Windows, macOS, iPhone/iPad, Android, Chromebook, Linux, TV, gaming systems, printers, and others—to available UNC-Chapel Hill's Wi-Fi networks.

 

Available Wireless Networks

The following wireless networks are available on campus.

UNC-Setup

This is used to onboard new devices to the primary Wi-Fi eduroam.

 

Guest Wi-Fi Networks

UNC-Guest

UNC-Guest is provided for short-term Internet access across most areas of the campus at UNC. It is designed specifically for guests and visitors who do not have university affiliations. This network offers convenience but comes with certain limitations such as:

  • Unencrypted Traffic: UNC-Guest operates as an open network, meaning that data transmitted over this network is not encrypted. As a result, it is not appropriate for sensitive transactions such as online banking.
  • Blocked Access to Certain Sites: Devices connected to UNC-Guest will be restricted from accessing specific university services and platforms, for example, UNC Live, Heelmail, Office, SharePoint, OneDrive etc.

UNC-Guest-PSK

UNC-Guest-PSK will continue to be the network for guests at remote UNC locations and Athletic venues. If you work at one of these locations and want to make UNC-Guest-PSK available for your site, please submit a support ticket.

 

Eduroam

This is the primary campus wireless network.

Please click the link below for instructions on how to connect your device to this wireless network.

 

Annual UNC-PSK (for example 24-25-UNC-PSK)

This Pre-Shared Key (PSK) Wi-Fi is a secondary network for the devices that are unable to connect to eduroam and for the devices that are not used by a specific individual such as TV, printer, and gaming system.

Please click the link below for instructions on how to connect your device to this wireless network.

 

Connecting Android to Eduroam Wi-Fi

 

  1. Navigate to Settings, Connections, Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap UNC-Setup. 
  4. Tap Sign in to Wi-Fi network.

 

  1. On the Sign in to UNC-Setup page, enter your Onyen and password then tap Log me in but, I promise I read the red stuff. A message will then appear stating that your device is connected to UNC-Setup. 

 

  1. Open an Internet browser such as Google Chrome and navigate to wifi.unc.edu.
  2. Tap the Click here to configure button.

 

  1. On this screen Tap Download. 

 

  1. You will be redirected to the Google Play Store to install the SecureW2 JoinNow App. From the Google Play store’s SecureW2 JoinNow application screen, tap Install.
  1. Use the back button within the Google Play Store App.

 

  1. Tap the Android OS back arrow which is typically in the bottom right corner. 

 

  1. This time on this screen, tap the JoinNow button.

 

  1. Enter a device description (i.e Samsung Galaxy S8).  Tap Next.

 

  1. At the Single Sign-on authentication prompt, enter your Onyen and password.  Tap Sign in.

 

  1. After you have signed in, an informational screen informs you that the next screen will prompt you to save a network.  Click Next. 

 

  1. When prompted for to Save this Network, tap Save. 

 

  1. Tap Go to Wi-Fi Settings.

 

  1. In Wi-Fi settings Tap the Cog next to UNC-Setup from your list of remembered networks.
  2. Tap Forget (The forget option has a trashcan icon and is usually located at the bottom of the screen). 

 

That's it! Your Android device should now be successfully connected to eduroam Wi-Fi. 

 

Connecting Chromebook to Eduroam Wi-Fi

  1. In the right-hand corner, click the Wireless icon, and select UNC-Setup from the list.

 

  1. Open up your Browser.
  2. Browse to wifi.unc.edu.
  3. On the Wireless Portal Configuration page, enter your Onyen and Onyen password.
  4. Click on the Continue button.

 

  1. Click on the eduroam Click here to configure button.

 

  1. You should be directed to Secure W2 configuration portal.
  2. Enter your Onyen, password, and Description.

  1. Press Enter. You will observe this screen until you have been successfully authenticated.

 

  1. Once processing is complete, you will see this page. This is simply an instruction page and does not do any configuration. At the same time this page opens, a new tab is opened. Click the new browser tab.

 

  1. Click on Choose File.

 

  1. Select the SecureW2.onc file
  1.  Click Open.

 

  1. Click on the Wireless icon in the bottom right, and select eduroam.
  2. You should see a configuration window appear. Enter the configuration settings as below:

  1. Click Connect.

 

That's it! Your Chromebook device should now be successfully connected to eduroam Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting iOS (iPhone/iPad) to Eduroam Wi-Fi

Video Instructions

 

Written Instructions

  1. Press the Menu button to open the device’s home screen and select Settings.

 

  1. From the Settings screen, select Wi-Fi.

 

  1. Make sure the Wi-Fi button is set to ON and select UNC-Setup from the list of available wireless networks.

 

  1. Open the Safari Browser and go to wifi.unc.edu
  2. On the Login prompt: Enter your Onyen and Password.
  3. Click Continue.

 

  1. Click on the eduroam Click here to configure button.

 

  1. You should see a screen with your Operating System already chosen. If not then use the drop-down menu Select your device.
  2. Enter device description (i.e iPhone 5s).
  3. Click JoinNow.

 

  1. On the Single Sign-on Authentication prompt, enter your Onyen and Password then click Sign in.

 

  1. Download eduroam certificate. Select Install.
  • If you are using the latest version of iOS then you will be prompted to download the profile. 
  • Select Allow and Close on the popup.
  • To install the profile you downloaded please go to the Settings App.
  1. If you are prompted please enter your passcode for your device.

 

  1. Root Certificate Installation Warning: Select Install.

 

  1. Select Install.

 

  1. Select Done after the wireless profile has finished installing.

  1. To join the eduroam Wi-Fi, tap Settings, Wi-Fi then choose eduroam from the available wireless networks.

 

That's it! Your iOS (iPhone/iPad) device should now be successfully connected to eduroam Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting Linux to Eduroam Wi-Fi

  1. Click the Wireless icon in the right-hand corner to display available wireless networks. Select UNC-Setup.
  2. Open a Browser and go to wifi-.unc.edu.
  3. On the login prompt: Enter your Onyen and Password. Click Continue.

 

  1. Click on the eduroam Click here to configure button.

 

  1. You should see a screen with your Operating System already chosen. If not then please use the drop-down menu to Select your device.
  2. Click on JoinNow.

 

  1. You will be prompted to download a script called SecureW2_JoinNow.run.
  2. Click Save File

 

  1. Open the Terminal App, Navigate to the Downloads folder by typing in cd Downloads and press Enter.
  2. Type in sh SecureW2_JoinNow.run and press Enter to run the script file to configure eduroam.
  3. Press Enter.

 

  1. On the Single Sign-on Authentication prompt: Enter your Onyen and Password. Click Sign-in.

  1. The Wireless icon will display a connection to eduroam.

That's it! Your Linux device should now be successfully connected to eduroam Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting MacOS to Eduroam Wi-Fi

Video Instructions

 

Written Instructions

  1. Click the AirPort wireless icon on the menu bar to display available wireless networks. Select UNC-Setup.

 

  1. Your operating system should automatically open a window asking you to login to the wireless portal. If it does not, please open a browser and go to UNC's Wireless Configuration Portal at wifi.unc.edu
  2. On the Login prompt: Enter your Onyen and password and click Let me in.

 

  1. Click on the eduroam— Click here to configure button."

 

  1. You should see a screen with your Operating System already chosen. If not then please use the drop-down menu to Select your device:
  2. Click on JoinNow.

 

  1. You will be prompted to download an application called “SecureW2 JoinNow“.

  1. Click Save File.
  2. To open the downloaded DMG file, double Click on the SecureW2 JoinNow application

.

  1. On the warning prompt about SecureW2 JoinNow, click Open.
  1. Enter device description (i.e Mac Book Pro Laptop) and Click Next.

 

  1. On the Single Sign-On authentication prompt enter your Onyen and password and click Sign in.

 

  1. When prompted, enter your Apple computer’s Username, Password and click OK.

 

  1. On the Change access permissions prompt, click Always Allow.

 

  1. Once the Wireless Configuration Portal is complete. Click on Done.

  1. The AirPort wireless icon will display a connection to eduroam.

That's it! Your macOS device should now be successfully connected to eduroam Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting Windows to Eduroam Wi-Fi

Video Instructions

 

Written Instructions

  1. Click the Wireless icon in the right-hand corner to display available wireless networks. Select UNC-Setup.
  2. Open a browser and go to wifi.unc.edu
  3. On the Login prompt: Enter your Onyen and Password. Click Log me in, but I promise I read the red stuff.

 

  1. Click on the Click here to configure button.

 

  1. You should see a screen with your Operating System already chosen. If not then please use the drop-down menu to Select your device:.
  2. Click on JoinNow.

 

  1. You will be prompted about Downloading application. The application is called SecureW2 JoinNow but the file is named WiFi_University_of_North_Carolina_-_Chapel_Hill_Wrapper.exe

 

  1. If it prompts like the above, click Open File from your browser – it may take a little bit to open. Skip to step 11.
  2. If not prompted to open file, Save the file and then double click on the downloaded file to install it.
  3. On the warning prompt about the SecureW2 JoinNow, click on Open.
  4. On the User Account Control dialog box (asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device”), click Yes.
  5. You will be instructed that a separate dialog will open to sign-in with your account: Click Next

 

  1. On the Single Sign-on Authentication prompt: Enter your Onyen and Password.

 

  1. You will be returned to the onboarding process. Enter your device description and click Next

 

  1. You will then see a screen that shows the progress with Configuring… and eventually Joined:

  1. Once the progress bar and message indicate Joined, click on Done.

 

  1. The Wireless section will display a connection to eduroam.

That's it! Your Windows device should now be successfully connected to eduroam Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting Android to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

Step 1: Finding Your Device's Mac Address

  1. Open the Settings app.

 

  1. Select About Phone > Status Information.
  2. Record the value in the Phone Wi-Fi Mac Address field. 

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Mac Address

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

Step 3: Getting Current PSK Password

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet
  2. Visit the Current UNC-PSK Wi-Fi Password article to note the current academic year's UNC-PSK Password

Step 4: Configuring UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

  1. In Settings, select Connections.

 

  1. Select Wi-Fi.

 

  1. From the list of Wi-Fi, select UNC-PSK Wi-Fi (for example 24-25-UNC-PSK)
  2. Enter the PSK Password.

 

 

  1. Select View More.

 

  1. In the MAC Address Type field select Phone MAC.

  1. Scroll back up and select Connect.  

That's it! Your Android device should now be successfully connected to UNC-PSK Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting Chromebook to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

Step 1: Finding Your Device's Mac Address

  1. Click on the wireless icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

 

  1. Select the Network tab (No Network).

 

  1. Click the Network Info (small ‘i’ in the bottom right-hand corner).
  2. Write down the information listed after the word Wi-Fi. This is your device's Mac address.

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Mac Address

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

Step 3: Getting Current PSK Password

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet
  2. Visit the Current UNC-PSK Wi-Fi Password article to note the PSK Password

Step 4: Configuring UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

  1. Click on the wireless icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

 

  1. Select the Network tab (No Network).

 

  1. Click on the the UNC-PSK network.

 

  1. Input the PSK password in the password field and click Connect.

  1. If successfully connected, then the greyed-out wireless icon will become white.

 

That's it! Your Chromebook device should now be successfully connected to the current academic year's UNC-PSK Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting iOS (iPhone/iPad) to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

Step 1: Finding Your Device's Mac Address

  1. Press the Home button or swipe up to open the Menu screen.
  2. Tap Settings.

 

  1. Select General > About.

 

  1. Scroll down to Wi-Fi Address to view your device’s Wi-Fi ID (MAC address).

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Mac Address

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

Step 3: Getting the Current UNC-PSK Password

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet
  2. Visit the Current UNC-PSK Wi-Fi Password article to note the current academic year's UNC-PSK Password.

Step 4: Configuring UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

  1. Tap Settings

 

  1. Select Wi-Fi

 

  1. Tap the information button for the current academic year's UNC-PSK (example 24-25-UNC-PSK).

 

  1. Tap the Private Address to turn it OFF.  When Private Address is off, the address displayed should match the Wi-fi ID/MAC address that you found and registered in the sections above.

 

  1. Go back to Settings > Wi-Fi and select the current academic year's UNC-PSK from the list of available wireless networks.

 

  1. Type the Current UNC-PSK Password.
  2. Click Join.

That's it! Your iOS (iPhone/iPad) device should now be successfully connected to the current academic year's UNC-PSK Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting Linux to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

Step 1: Finding Your Device's MAC Address

You should be able to find your device's MAC Address by one of the following ways:

  • Often times the MAC Address is written on a sticker on the back of your device. For example, 00-06-29-95-5B-3E.
  • In most versions of Linux you can run the ifconfig -a command. (There are multiple variations of this command for the different versions of Linux). 
  • Visit your device manufacturer's website or contact the device vendor to obtain the MAC Address.

 

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Wi-Fi ID

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

 

Step 3: Getting the Current UNC-PSK Password

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet
  2. Visit the Current UNC-PSK Wi-Fi Password article to note the current academic year's UNC-PSK Password.

 

Step 4: Configuring UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

There are many graphic interfaces for configuring wireless cards in various Linux distributions (Yast for Suse, etc) and we encourage you to use them when available.

If a graphical interface is not an option, however, a command line approach is needed. Find the appropriate drivers for your card. Most popular companies release a compatible Linux driver for their cards, some are made by power Linux users, and all are usually available online. Research from Konsole / Tuxmobil is a good place to start for information on a laptop (sorted by model).

Once you have a driver and your computer is recognizing its presence, connecting to UNC’s network is fairly simple. Open a new shell and enter the following (case of all letters is important!):

$ iwconfig eth1 essid 24-25-UNC-PSK $ iwconfig eth1 key *** restricted $ iwconfig eth1 key on $ dhcpcd eth1

You can load these settings to install automatically in various places, depending on your distribution. Some newer distributions save these settings on shutdown and may not require entering every time.

 

That's it! Your Linux device should now be successfully connected to the current academic year's UNC-PSK Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting macOS to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

Step 1: Finding Your Device's MAC Address

  1. Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.

 

  1. Under the Internet & Wireless preferences group, click the Network icon.

 

  1. Choose Wi-Fi from the navigation list to the left and then click the Advanced… button in the bottom right.

 

  1. Your MAC Address is displayed under the Hardware tab. Record it EXACTLY as it appears on your screen.

 

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Wi-Fi ID

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

 

Step 3: Getting the Current UNC-PSK Password

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet
  2. Visit the Current UNC-PSK Wi-Fi Password article and note the current academic year's UNC-PSK Password.

 

Step 4: Configuring UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

  1. Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Preferences. (You can also click the System Preferences icon in the Dock).

 

  1. Under the Internet & Wireless preferences group, click the Network icon.

 

  1. Choose Wi-Fi from the navigation list to the left and then click the arrows to the right of the Network Name field.
  2. Select the current year's UNC-PSK Wi-Fi (example 24-25-UNC-PSK).

 

  1. Enter the UNC-PSK password you obtained earlier.
  2. Click Connect. 

 

That's it! Your macOS device should now be successfully connected to the current academic year's UNC-PSK Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting Windows to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

 

Prerequisite: Disable MAC Randomization

  1. Select the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen.

 

  1. Select the gear icon to go to Settings.
  2. Select Network and Internet.
  3. Select Wi-Fi.
  4. Set Use random hardware addresses to Off.

 

 

Step 1: Finding Your Device's MAC Address

  1. Type CMD in the Search field.  Press Enter.

 

  1. In the new screen that appears, type ipconfig /all and press enter.

 

  1. You will see the Windows IP Configuration information. Your screen will be similar to this, but your numbers will be different.

  1. Write down the physical address from the wireless LAN adapter section exactly as it appears. In this example, 00-1F-3B-99-34-7D is the physical address for the example wireless LAN adapter.
  2. Close the command window.

 

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Wi-Fi ID

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

 

Step 3: Getting the Current UNC-PSK Password

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet
  2. Visit the Current UNC-PSK Wi-Fi Password article and note the current academic year's UNC-PSK Password.

 

Step 4: Configuring UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

  1. Click on the wireless icon in the bottom right Taskbar
  2. When presented with a list of Wi-Fi networks click the Connect button next to the current academic year's UNC-PSK (example, 24-25-UMC-PSK).

  1. Enter the UNC-PSK password that you obtain previously.
  2. Click Next.

 

That's it! Your Windows device should now be successfully connected to the current academic year's UNC-PSK Wi-Fi.

 

Connecting  TV, Game System, Printer, and Other Devices to Annual UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

Step 1: Finding Your Device's Wi-Fi ID

  1. Please visit your device manufacturer's website for more information about how to obtain your Hardware Address.

 

Step 2: Registering Your Device's Wi-Fi ID

Once you have obtained your Wi-Fi ID (Mac Address) you will to need to register it by doing the following:

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Onyen Services page.
  3. Choose the DHCP Registration link
  1. Follow the instructions on the DHCP Registration page to complete the device registration process.

 

Step 3: Connecting to UNC-PSK Wi-Fi

  1. Go to a computer or device already connected to the Internet.
  2. Visit the Current UNC PSK Wi-Fi Passphrase article to obtain the current year's PSK password.
  3. Once you have the PSK password, use it to connect your device.

 

AI-Edited: Some contents of this article were edited by Generative-AI.

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