Autosaver's Wii U Connectivity & Troubleshooting Guide (Direct links to hardware omitted as I'm not sure if they're allowed on here)
Please try manually connecting your Wii U wireless network before trying if you can not get your connection to work. The page on is available below.
If that solution does not work, try these methods below to connect to the internet. I made this guide after experiencing some troubles which led me to troubleshoot the issue myself. I was successfully able to get the Wii U connected wirelessly and I have not suffered a single disconnection. Unfortunately, these solutions do cost some money but it's very cheap.
Three methods
1) Ethernet (Recommended - Short distance)
2) Wireless Repeater (Not recommended)
3) Power-line adapter (Recommended - Long distance)
1) Ethernet - Ethernet allows you to directly connect the console to the router. Ethernet is known to be the most reliable in getting internet access and allows the best connection. Unfortunately, when used in long distances this option becomes troublesome for many. Having a 100ft cord around the house is not convenient for many and may cost money to get the cords inside the walls.
A) The Wii U does not have an Ethernet port but it does have USB ports. To gain access to Ethernet ports, you first must buy a LAN adapter which is available from the Nintendo store below.
You also need an ethernet cord, which is available for cheap at your local retailer or online store. Buy the length of cord that is suitable to your needs. Hooking the cable should be quick and easy.
2) Wireless repeater
A) A wireless repeater allows you to bridge your current Wifi connection. Many issues with the Wii U connectivity happen due to the connection being too weak. The wireless repeater would repeat the Wifi emitted and allow the radius of connectivity to be stronger and extended. The downside of this solution is that wireless repeaters cut down the bandwidth of your internet, so it may affect online speed and performance. Wireless repeaters are easily found on online websites.
3) Power-line Adapter - Two Methods
Power line Adapters have solved major issues with poor connections and long Ethernet cords. This is the solution I found to work best in my case with getting the Wii U connected online. These adapters are very cheap ($30-75) and can be available online in 'kits' to allow you to set them up for the first time. It's incredibly easy to set them up and can be installed in less than 10 minutes.
A) You take one adapter and plug it into an outlet near your router. You then run an Ethernet cord from the router to the adapter. You then take the second adapter and plug it near your Wii U. You take a second Ethernet cord and run it from your Wii U LAN Adapter to the power-line adapter. The internet connection should go through the router, to the adapter, through your power line, to the second adapter, and to the Wii U. The connection will act as an Ethernet connection giving you direct access without the need of wireless troubles. To allow multiple connections such as one to your computer, you can purchase a wireless switch to enable more Ethernet ports. This method is excellent in cases of long distances.
B) Similar to method A, plug the adapters in and connect the first one to your router. The difference with this step is that instead of making a direct Ethernet connection to your Wii U, we will modify it so you get a wireless one. Instead of plugging the Power-Line to your LAN adapter, plug it into a SECOND router. This will allow the router to act as a wireless point, which is extremely useful when you may want to have easy access to several devices. This has allowed my Nintendo 3DS, PSP, and iPhone to easily connect online without losing connection compared to before. You need to set up the second router before hand while connected to a computer to make it act a wireless point for your Wii U. Guides are available online and an extremely simplified version is provided below.
a) Connect the router to a Power-Line so it syncs up with your original router.
b) Log onto the router page of your second router and change the settings to match the original. This includes wireless channel, security settings, SSID (aka Wireless name), and Wifi password.
c) Your second router should now act as a wireless point!
Routers are cheap online and some are on extreme discounts. I personally purchased a refurbished Netgear (WPR-2000) that was on sale for $19.99.
I hope anyone having troubles with their Wii U internet connection can look at this guide and fix it. Games in the future such as Mario Kart and Smash Bros are sure to rely on your steady connection. Future Wii U updates will also require an internet connection.