Service overview
McGill's wireless service allows you to connect your laptop and mobile devices to the McGill network to access the Internet, restricted sites* and resources* such as Library databases, etc. without having to plug into a network jack.
There are different WiFi network names (SSIDs) to use depending on your location and needs.
Guest WiFi
Visitors to McGill can sign into guest.mcgill.ca by themselves, either by registering for a temporary username and password, or via social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. See Signing into Guest WiFi.
NOTE:
If you have devices that do not support WPA2 Enterprise, such as gaming consoles or smart home assistants (e.g., Alexa), you can register them and then connect to the wireless network mywifidevice.mcgill.ca See Register and connect a WiFi device with an assigned password.
Who can use this service
The table below shows the different user types and which wireless networks they may access.
| McGill students, faculty, staff and alumni |
Sign into the appropriate WiFi network name (SSID) using your McGill Username and Password credentials: wpa.mcgill.ca - on campus and in residences For non-WPA2 devices, you can register and connect to mywifidevice.mcgill.ca |
|---|---|
| Guests on campus (parents, friends, conference attendees, etc.) |
Guests can sign into the guest WiFi network, guest.mcgill.ca This network provides a 24-hour period of connectivity to the Internet. You can either self-register or use Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn credentials. |
| Visiting lecturers and researchers requiring additional resources | If the person requires access to secure McGill resources, such as departmental shared drives, a sponsor, who is a full-time McGill faculty or staff member, may request an Affiliate Account. |
| eduroam users from other educational institutions | Visitors to McGill from eduroam-participating institutions can access the McGill wireless network without having to obtain a guest account.
See participating eduroam institutions in Canada and globally. Sign into eduroam using the credentials from your own institution. |
How to request / access
- Students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees, with valid McGill username/password credentials
See the Index of Wi-Fi setup articles to find instructions for your operating system. - Guests on campus may use guest.mcgill.ca (for Internet access)
See Signing into Guest WiFi. - Visiting professors, researchers or temporary employees, who require access to additional resources
A McGill sponsor, who is a full-time faculty or staff member, must request an Affiliate Account on your behalf. Once you have obtained McGill credentials, you may sign into wpa.mcgill.ca using instructions in the Index of Wi-Fi setup articles
Cost
There is no cost associated with this service for staff and students on campus. For students the cost is covered under the IT portion of your student fees.
Availability
Wi-Fi is available in all buildings and surrounding areas on the downtown and Macdonald campuses, as well as McGill residences and the Gault Estate. Access extends to many outdoor areas on the downtown campus.
Shuttle buses running between downtown and Macdonald campuses also provide wireless connectivity.
This service is available 24 X 7, except during scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Check the homepage of the IT Support site for announcements regarding service interruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the requirements for connecting to the wireless network?
- McGill Username and Password (except for the Guest Wireless Internet)
- Wireless-enabled mobile devices supporting Wi-Fi 2, Wi-Fi 3, Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6 protocols (IEEE 802.11 a/g/n/ac/ax), with the latest drivers.
- The device must be able to support WPA2-Enterprise security, except devices that are registered (see Register and connect a WiFi device with an assigned password).
- What is the speed for McGill wireless connections?
McGill wireless network provides up to 300 Mbps; subject to network traffic and location. - How can I remove saved wireless connections from my device when my credentials have changed?
See Deleting existing wireless connections
Best practices
- Keep the drivers for your wireless card up to date. This ensures the best performance and provides you with bug and security fixes.
- Keep your operating systems up to date, both mobile and desktop.
- Make sure you are using antivirus software and run regular updates.
- Make sure your firewall is on.
- Make sure your computer is using the current date/time settings.
Training & documentation
See the Index of Wi-Fi setup articles.
Support
- For help with wireless connectivity issues, contact the IT Service Desk.
- To request installation of a new wireless access point within the MUHC network, please contact the MUHC Information Services at 514-934-8484