Does McDonald’s Have Free Wi-Fi?

Most McDonald’s restaurants offer free Wi-Fi. Fortunately, it’s easy to see which ones offer an internet connection. But there are some other things you’ll want to be aware of, like how to stay safe when using the internet at McDonald’s, and some common scams that people run at McDonald’s locations, trying to charge for something that’s free.

Check to See Which McDonalds Offer Wi-Fi

If you’re planning ahead — perhaps you’re hoping to work out of one for a few hours — you can use the McDonald’s Restaurant Locator to see which locations offer Wi-Fi. Just select the restaurant you’ll be visiting then scroll down to the ‘Services’ section. If you don’t see Wi-Fi on the list, like you do below, it means that particular location doesn’t have Wi-Fi.

Once you arrive at a McDonald’s with Wi-Fi, there’s no limit to how long you can stay connected, and there’s no payment necessary: The connection is available to all customers for free. In fact, you don’t even need to be a customer to use the Wi-Fi at McDonald’s — it doesn’t ask for proof of visit, so you could connect from the parking lot if you wanted to.

The McDonald’s Wi-Fi network name is usually “McDonald’s Wi-Fi” or “MyMcDonald’s Wi-Fi.” To connect, you will need to agree to the terms of service, which may include providing your name and email address. Ignore any other networks you see, especially those asking for payment information, as McDonald’s does not charge for Wi-Fi at any locations.

How to Stay Safe When Using McDonald’s Wi-Fi

Keep in mind that McDonald’s Wi-Fi isn’t a private network. While it’s totally safe for working and browsing, you’ll want to be aware of the information you’re entering, as you aren’t sure who else is connected to the network, looking to intercept your data, so as a rule of thumb don’t enter your credit card number, passwords, addresses, or anything sensitive.

You should also consider installing a VPN to encrypt your traffic, and create a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, making it harder for hackers to intercept. In fact, we’d go as far as to say anyone who is using a public internet connection should have a VPN installed on their device. They’re available for phones, tablets, and computers.