What is a hidden network?

A hidden Wi-Fi network is one that does not communicate its SSID (basically, its name). Hence, it does not appear in the list of Wi-Fi networks when you go to Settings > Wi-Fi.

To connect to a hidden Wi-Fi network, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap "Other...". You will be prompted to enter the name of the hidden network (which you must know beforehand) and its password.

A hidden WiFi network is configured from the WiFi Router that provides the WiFi network. To change the visibility of your WiFi network, you’ll need to access your WiFi Routers administration page - and make changes to the configuration.

You will need to consult your Router’s User Guide - or if provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you should be able to find the necessary information from the ISPs support resources.

A hidden network attempts to hide the network name (the SSID) that is broadcast by the WiFi Router - making casual network discovery more difficult. Ironically, for technical reasons beyond the scope of this post, this feature actually weakens security - and engenders a false sense of security. The network name can be easily discovered using readily available network tools.