Technology Services Wi-Fi Help Portal - Visitors and Guests

Welcome to the University of Illinois. This page will help guide you to get connected to our Wi-Fi network so that you can obtain general network connectivity while you visit. Please follow the instructions below to get started. If you have any issues or questions, please don't hesitate to contact our help desk at (217) 244-7000 or (800) 531-2531.

IllinoisNet_Guest is a wireless network intended to offer temporary access to visitors and guests to the campus. It can offer temporary access to anyone who completes its registration, even without a University account.

Existing University accounts can also be used to set up longer-lasting guest account registration, and to register individual devices as guests.

Wi-Fi Access for Guests Without Illinois Account

Follow these instructions if you do not have an Illinois NetID.

  1. In your device's wireless settings, select the IllinoisNet_Guest network.
  2. Your device will be prompted for a captive portal. Some devices automatically open their web browser, while others will show a notification saying that the network needs you to sign-in.
    If this does not happen, open a web browser and try to load a website such as https://illinois.edu/ and the login screen may appear instead.
  3. The login screen will offer two buttons; choose Guest Wi-Fi Access.
  4. Enter your name, phone number, and email address, accept the terms of use, and click the orange Register button.
  5. The site will show your email address as a username, and a randomly-generated password. Record these, then click the orange Login button.
  6. After a moment of spin, your device will fully connect and receive an internet connection through IllinoisNet_Guest.

This guest registration will expire at 4:00am, but can be repeated again the next day.

The password recorded in step 5 can be used to sign in to IllinoisNet_Guest on other devices during the same time-frame.

Wi-Fi Onboarding for Illinois Accounts

Follow these instructions if you have an Illinois NetID; IllinoisNet_Guest will be used as a staging network to download configuration files for the full IllinoisNet.

  1. In your device's wireless settings, select the IllinoisNet_Guest network.
  2. Your device will be prompted for a captive portal. Some devices automatically open their web browser, while others will show a notification saying that the network needs you to sign-in.
    If this does not happen, open a web browser and try to load a website such as https://illinois.edu/ and the login screen may appear instead.
  3. The login screen will offer two buttons; choose Student/Faculty/Staff Wi-Fi Access.
  4. Enter your NetID and password, accept the terms of use, and click the orange Log In button.
  5. Your device will receive an internet connection from IllinoisNet_Guest, and load a screen that looks very similar to step 3, but with different buttons.
    Select Faculty, Staff, Students: Setup IllinoisNet Here to be taken to the IllinoisNet onboarding site.
    If you leave this screen without proceeding, your device will remain on the _Guest network, and will not transition to IllinoisNet.
    If your device is getting stuck in a loop and returns to step 3, choose Guest Wi-Fi Access instead, then go to https://go.illinois.edu/IllinoisNetSetup to continue setup.
  6. The onboarding site will automatically detect your device's operating system and guide you through more permanent configuration of the full IllinoisNet network.
    Detailed per-device instructions for this process can be found here: Technology Services Wi-Fi Help Portal-Illinois Faculty, Staff and Students

72-Hour Guest Accounts Proxied by an Illinois Account

Existing University accounts can be used to pre-configure guest accounts to provide to visitors who do not have an account of their own. Rather than expiring overnight, these registrations will last for 72 hours (three full days).

To prepare one of these temporary guest accounts:

  1. Visit the Wireless Guest and Device Management Portal and log in using your NetID and password.
  2. Click on Guest and Device Manager.
  3. Click Create a New Guest Account.
  4. Fill out the form for the guest:
    • Guest Name
    • Guest email address
    • Account activation (can be a date in the future, or deactivated from here)
    • Notes (this is for your own reference)
    • Terms of Use (agree before proceeding)
  5. Click Create. Your guest's account will now be active for 72 hours.


KeywordsWi-Fi Help Portal guest account 72 hour 72-hour network sponsor sponsored 3 day days access register management portal wifi wi fi wi-fi internet   Doc ID90280
Ownerwireless w.GroupUniversity of Illinois Technology Services
Created2019-03-09 20:18:24Updated2024-03-12 16:48:09
SitesUniversity of Illinois Technology Services
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