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Set up Wi-Fi on a Mac

Takes about three minutes. You need your WRA username and password, and your Mac's login password for the last step.

The whole setup on a Mac, from the WRA-Start pop-up to connected on WRA-Secure

1. Join WRA-Start, then close the pop-up

Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and choose WRA-Start. There is no password.

A small window opens with a box that says Using a Mac? Finish this in Safari. That window can't finish the setup on a Mac, so click Cancel at the bottom right. If it asks, choose Use Without Internet.

The WRA-Start pop-up window with the Using a Mac message and the Cancel button

2. Open Safari and go to pf.wra.net

Open Safari (other browsers work too) and type pf.wra.net in the address bar. The sign-in page opens.

3. Sign in

Read the short acceptable-use note and click I accept the terms at the bottom.

The acceptable-use note in Safari with the I accept the terms button

Click Employee/Student Login.

The page with the Employee/Student Login and Guest Login buttons

The next page explains what the setup does. Click Sign in with Microsoft.

The Before you start page with the Sign in with Microsoft button

Sign in with your WRA email address and password, for example ellsworthj@wra.net. You will not be asked for an Authenticator code here. If it asks Stay signed in?, either answer is fine.

If you see Trying to sign you in for a while, wait. It can take up to half a minute before the sign-in box appears.

The Microsoft sign-in page in Safari

4. Create the certificate

On the One more step page, click Continue.

The One more step page with the Continue button

5. Download the Wi-Fi profile

On the Almost done page, click Download Wi-Fi Profile.

The Almost done page with the Download Wi-Fi Profile button

A Profile Downloaded message says to review the profile in System Settings. Click OK.

The Profile Downloaded message with the OK button

6. Install it

Open System Settings → General → Device Management. Under Downloaded, double-click WRA Wi-Fi.

Device Management with WRA Wi-Fi under Downloaded

Check that it says Signed … Western Reserve Academy, then click Install….

The profile details for WRA Wi-Fi, signed by Western Reserve Academy, with the Install button

Your Mac asks if you're sure. Click Install, then enter your Mac's login password and click Allow Access. The profile adds the WRA-Root-CA certificate, which only lets your Mac recognize the WRA Wi-Fi network. WRA does not use it to filter, inspect or interfere with anything you do online.

The Are you sure you want to install profile WRA Wi-Fi message with the Install button

7. Done

Your Mac switches to WRA-Secure within a few seconds. Check the Wi-Fi menu: it should show WRA-Secure. If it hasn't switched after a minute, turn Wi-Fi off and on from the menu bar.

The Wi-Fi menu with WRA-Secure connected

From now on the Mac joins WRA-Secure on its own.

Good to know

  • You don't need to forget WRA-Start. The profile tells your Mac not to join it automatically.
  • If you ever get a "This device is already set up" page on WRA-Start, just pick WRA-Secure from the Wi-Fi menu.
  • To see or remove the profile later: System Settings → General → Device Management → WRA Wi-Fi.
  • The pop-up window in step 1 can't download the profile and, while it's open, your Mac won't load any other website either. That's why the first step is to close it.

Problems? See Troubleshooting.