If you are reading this guide, chances are that you have a Nintendo DS Lite, or are thinking about purchasing a Nintendo DS Lite and want to know how to connect it to the internet.

The online capabilities of the Nintendo DS and DS Lite

The first thing I have to say is that although the DS Lite can connect to the internet does not mean that it can browse the internet. For that, you would need the Nintendo DS Browser, which is no longer made. You can still may find it new or used in some stores.

So, if you cannot browse the internet on the DS, then why connect? Well, some DS games actually have features that use an internet connection. Some will allow you to download content, some will allow you to post messages to others, and some will even allow you to play with others via the internet.

Now, not all games have online features. Games that have on-line features will have a "nintendo Wi-Fi connection" icon. This icon will appear on the game case and on the instruction booklet for the game, but will not usually appear on the game. If you buy the game used and want to know if it has online features, then you will need to check the internet. I recommend checking Nintendo's website first, then doing a web search.

Contrary to rumors, PictoChat does not allow you to connect to the internet, nor will it connect to the internet. The connection it makes is wireless, but it is a direct connection to the other DS. Plus, that DS (or DS's) must be within 30 feet (about 9 meters) for it to connect.
The "nintendo Wi-Fi connection" icon.

To get connected, you need a few things:
  • A Nintendo DS or DS Lite - while this sounds very obvious, there is a reason I put it on the list.
  • A (stable) high speed connection - such as Cable Broadband, DSL, or FiOS. You can try other connections, but they often do not work.
  • A wireless router - the DS only connects wirelessly, so you need to make sure you have this. You can get a list of all the routers that Nintendo has tested and any known issues with those routers from Nintendo's support website.
  • A DS game with wireless features or the Nintendo DS Browser - the only way to access the DS's wireless set-up is through these.
  • To know if your router has wireless security set up and what the "key" or "passphrase" is - The DS only supports no security or WEP security. If you have no idea what kind of security your wireless router has, then you need to find out. Also, if you don't know the "key" or "passphrase", your wireless router will not allow the DS to connect.
Notice how I left off the Nintendo USB Connector. While you can possibly connect using that device, I do not recommend it. The reason why is because the USB connector uses your computer's connection to connect to the internet. And, when it does that, it has to bypass all the Firewalls, Virus Scanners, Adware and Spyware blockers, and anything else that may be set up on the computer to keep it safe. If you want to use it, you can, but I am not going to cover it.

In addition to the things you need, there is also some things that are nice to have in case you run into issues. Here are those things:
  • A computer connected directly to the wireless router
  • The IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS of a computer connected directly to the router. You can find how to get that information here.
  • The username and password used to open the wireless router's configuration program
  • The SSID of the router's wireless network
Now that you have everything you need, it is time to connect. Put the DS game with the wireless features into the DS and turn it on. Now, each game access the wireless settings a different way. Most will do it from the game's menu, while others will do it while in the game. Once again, you will need to check either the game's manual or online to see how your game does it.

Connecting to a wireless router using "Search for an Access Point"

Step 1

This is fairly straight-forward. Just select, "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Settings".

Step 2

This is where you will select which file to set up your connection. The DS will allow you to set up 3 different connections. This is so if you have a few different places where you can connect to the internet, you can save the settings of three of those connections.

As you can see, I already have set up "Connection 1", so I am going to use "Connection 2" for this tutorial.

If you had a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, this would be the screen where you would select the option to connect to it. But, as I said at the beginning of this tutorial, I'm not going to cover it.

Step 3

The choice here would be to select "Search for an Access Point".

However, if you know that your SSID is not being broadcast, then you will need to select "Manual Setup". You will need to know your SSID to set up the connection if you choose "Manual Setup".


The option, "AoSS" is for a certain family of routers/networking devices. This option should not be used unless you know you have one these devices.

Step 4

The DS will now search for you router. If the SSID of the router is being broadcast, it will come up.

As you can see, the two SSID's listed have colored locks. There can be three different locks:
  • Blue: The network has no security set up
  • Red: The network has WEP security
  • Gray: The network has WAP security
As long as the lock is Blue or Red, the DS can connect. If it is Gray, you will get the error message, "The access point's security settings are not supported by the Nintendo DS."


Possible errors: If your SSID is not being broadcast, you will not see it on this screen. Also, if your router has any other type of security than WEP, you will not see anything listed, you will simply get the message, "The access point's security settings are not supported by the Nintendo DS."

Step 5

If the lock was Blue then it will ask to test the connection and you will done.

If the lock was Red, then you will need to input your WEP Key. After that is done, just test the connection and it will be done.

Connecting to a wireless router using "Manual Setup"

Step 1

This is the same as the "Search for an Access Point" option. Just select, "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Settings".

Step 2

This is where you will select which file to set up your connection. The DS will allow you to set up 3 different connections. This is so if you have a few different places where you can connect to the internet, you can save the settings of three of those connections.

As you can see, I already have set up "Connection 1", so I am going to use "Connection 2" for this tutorial.

If you had a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, this would be the screen where you would select the option to connect to it. But, as I said at the beginning of this tutorial, I'm not going to cover it.

Step 3

The choice here would be to select "Manual Setup".


The option, "AoSS" is for a certain family of routers/networking devices. This option should not be used unless you know you have one these devices.

Step 4

Now it is time to enter all the information. You may ge able to add just the SSID and WEP key, or you may need to add more.

Step 4a

If you need to enter the IP address, then select "No" on "Auto-obtain IP Address" (as shown in the last Step). Of course, in addition to the IP address, you will also need to enter the Subnet Mask and Gateway

Step 4b

If you need to enter the DNS, then just select, "No" on "Auto-obtain DNS".

Once you are done, click on "Save Settings" and then "Test Connection".


Error messages

With every wireless connection always comes some issues. Maybe you'll be one of the fortunate who will not get any issues (like I did), or maybe you'll be an unlucky one who will. If you do have an issue, make sure the first thing you do is write down the error number or message.

Most of the time, you will get an error number. Fortunatly, Nintendo has an online utility where you can look up most error numbers. You can find that utility here. As for errors without numbers, there are a couple of possibilities:
  • "The access point's security settings are not supported by the Nintendo DS." - This error is caused by the wireless router that the DS is trying to connect to having any other security type on it other than WEP or none.
  • "Install your Nintendo Wi-Fi Connector software and then insert the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connector into your computer's USB port. Tap OK to continue." - This means that you selected the "Connect to your Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector" selection, which is not what you need to connect to a wireless router.
  • "Confirm that you are using an AOSS-compatible access point. Then, press the AOSS button on the access point until the AOSS lamp flashes. This process may take up to one minute." - This means that you selected AOSS instead of "Search for an Access Point" or "Manual Setup"
If you are getting any other error messages, like I said, write them down. Do a web search for the error message, and if that does not work, then call Nintendo.