The Best USB WiFi Adapter

Buying Guide

Every laptop and desktop computer is built with wireless functionality, which is how you connect up to the WiFi in your home, office or other location. Sometimes that connection can be spotty, though, especially if you’re taking your laptop on the road with you. For that unreliability, a WiFi adapter can come in handy.

A WiFi adapter overrides that built-in function, giving your computer a direct connection from your device’s USB port to the surrounding WiFi signal. In order to use one of these connectors, you’ll need a USB port on the device you plan to use with it, and not all adapters are compatible with all operating systems. If you use Mac or Linux, specifically, you’ll need to double-check to ensure that your chosen adapter isn’t compatible only with Windows machines.

If you’re buying a WiFi adapter, make sure you’re getting the latest technology. Today’s standard of IEEE 802.11ac is three times faster than Wireless N speeds. However, the next standard, IEEE 802.11ax, is already being built into devices so you may find your technology is bested by devices widely available next year. Still, you’ll find 802.11ac is plenty fast to give your connection a big boost.

One thing to consider as you’re picking out a WiFi adapter is the design of the device itself. They come in a variety of form factors, some more intrusive than others. You can find adapters so small that you’ll barely even notice them as they’re plugged in. However, if you’re buying an adapter for a desktop computer, it will likely be out of sight, out of mind, which frees you up to choose the adapter that perfectly fits your needs — regardless of the build.

Keep in mind that a USB adapter will take up one of your ports. If you only have one or two, as some modern laptops do, you may find you’re seriously missing the extra port. You can buy a USB port expander that will give you those extra ports you need. However, this also will take up space around your laptop, potentially getting in the way of the work you’re trying to do.

• If you have a Mac machine, keep in mind USB ports have been replaced with lightning ports. That means you’ll need to buy an adapter to connect your USB adapter to, which won’t make it quite as compact and space-saving as advertised.
• In most cases, your WiFi adapter should be “plug and play,” but in some instances, you could have to download drivers. Even if your computer immediately recognizes it, it can’t hurt to check for updates from the manufacturer’s website, especially if you experience problems or disappointing performance.
• One of the biggest benefits of a USB adapter is that it lets you upgrade your WiFi performance without buying a new computer or router.
• For intense activities like gaming and streaming, make sure you choose an adapter with a data transfer rate of at least 500 Mbps.
• Routers operate on different protocols. For best results, look for an adapter that is on the same protocol as your router. This will be either WEP, WPA or WPA2.
• For best results, look for a dual-band adapter, which works on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band. That will give you a better connection while also keeping interference at a minimum.
• If your adapter has antennas that can be adjusted, look for one with a wide range of motion. This will help you find the perfect direction.
• Some WiFi adapters serve a dual purpose. They can help strengthen a WiFi signal on a device, but they can also turn a computer into a hotspot. That means you can set up one desktop or laptop to send a signal to multiple approved devices in your area.
• The USB connector itself can slow things down. Look for the newer USB 3.0, which will keep things much speedier than USB 2.0.