How to connect to WiFi without a password using WPS

Lets face it. WiFi is essential. Essential in the same sense of the word as  Oxygen, Coffee and Memes are. 

So when we go to a new place, we know the drill: Scan for the WiFi, ask for the password and go online. 

What if I told you there's another option? One, where you wouldn't need the name or password? Here comes WPS

What is WPS?

WPS stands for WiFi Protected Setup. It is a standard set up by the WiFi alliance. WPS allows devices to connect to routers without needing any password, by establishing a secure channel of communication between two devices. 

Why is it used?

The primary purpose of WPS is to connect devices such as printers, wifi extenders, which do not have displays or methods of taking inputs, so that they could be connected. However this works perfectly well with our devices as well. 

WPS is available only on those routers which are secured by the WPA or WPA2 encryption, but not the deprecated WPE. Since almost all modern routers operate on the former 2, WPA is fairly ubiquitous. 

How to use WPA? 

It is fairly simple to establish a WPA connection. Just follow the steps below:

1. Most routers and portable hotspots would have an explicit WPS button. Just press it. (if you do not have the WPS button, you can still connect to WPS, but would need a PIN, which would be shared by the vendor). 

2. If you have a device like a wireless printer which has an explicit WPS button, pressing it would be enough. However, in case of your device, go the the WiFi menu in your settings. In that, select the menu option in the top right corner and go to Advanced settings. Here, you will see the WPS option. Just tap it and wait for the device to detect. (do note that depending on the phone you use, the options may appear slightly different)

That's it! No names, no passwords. Also, once you have connected through WPS, you do not need to repeat the process again and the network will be saved with you. 

However, beware of one thing. WPS is easy to connect to, and its very specialty makes it insecure. WPS is enabled by default in the router and the 8 digit PIN pre-provided is comparatively easy to crack. Hence, many experts recommend disabling WPS.